John Cox Aims To 'Clean Out The Barn'

. For John Cox it is clean out the barn. The slogans similarity is intentional. Cox admits he voted Libertarian in 2016. He is now a strong supporter of President Donald Trump. Cox a Rancho Santa Fe lawyer, businessman, venture capitalist Peggs's net worth at around $200 million. Money has not brought him political success. His previous runs for Congress, Senator, even Congress has all -- present has all fallen short. He may move on to the November general election. And Adler of capital public radio asked Cox why voters should choose him as the next governor. >> I am the only one who is a businessman who built his own business. That is a differentiating factor. I am also the only one that is talking about reforming government at its core. I am talking about the affordability of life in the state. We have got the highest level of poverty in any state of the country. We have a business climate that is 49th out of 50. The quality of life in the state is ranked 50th out of 50. People cannot afford to live here. We are chasing away business. 9000 have left in the last seven years. I think people want a business person in office. A lot of other states have also done this. States like Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Arizona, they have had good success. They see the track record and success in the improvement in quality of life. That is the message I am caring across the state. >> Reporter: To sum it up, what is your vision for California? What are you trying to do that Jerry Brown is not doing now? >> I think California needs to have economic success. It does not now. It's got incredible amounts of poverty. It's got a housing cup -- crisis. The cost of housing is driving up local, state, and business budgets. A lot of businesses are leaving because there employees cannot afford to live here. We are a laughing stock around the nation in terms of business. Most businesses would not dream of locating here. We are the number one judicial hellhole in the country. On top of that, we have politicians that are touting the sanctuary state idea which is the violation of the role of law. I think that has made our politicians not only a laughing stock, but it has created dangerous for people in the state. People are looking for a change in direction. >> Reporter: And yet the economy is as healthy as it's been for quite some time at the macro level. Your point could be well taken that not everyone in the state is benefiting. If you look at California economically, it's been on the rise for years. >> There is to California's. The thin layer of people at the top the very wealthy looking around saying the economy is great. The taxes are high I don't like the fact that I can't deduct them any longer. Life is pretty good. Then you have the vast majority, the other 99% who are saying I have to look at living somewhere else. It has gotten too expensive. The crime rate has gone up. The roads are horrible. The schools are terrible. We have to make sure we have a state that attracts people not repels them. >> Reporter: You mentioned the high cost of living in California. That is a concern of many Californians. What specifically would you do to make housing more affordable. >> Increase supply. You have to make it so developers want to develop. I've had so many tell me that it is 150, 200, 300,000 in some areas with regulations, fees, lawyers fees, environmental costs, before you turn a spate of dirt. That drives up the cost. I built apartments in Indiana for $80,000 a unit. It is 500,000 in San Diego, 700,000 in the bay area. People just cannot afford the rents when the cost of that high. It really makes the quality of life bad. You can have all the great sunshine you want. If you're working two jobs to afford your rent, what good is it? >> Reporter: Is there a proposal in the legislature you would make that you would send to the lawmakers if you are governor ? >> yes making it so the approval process does not take years. I would try to work as a leader with local governments to work out local plans that would allow more building, more single-family homes. In some areas it would be more apartments and more distantly -- density. >> Reporter: You did not support President Donald Trump in the 2016 race. What would you say to Californians who question whether they should vote for you? >> I had to make a decision. I was not sure that President Donald Trump was a conservative. I had never seen him. I've been a conservative activist for 37 years. I was on Jack Kemp's presidential committee back in 1987. I was a Ted Cruz supporter. I was not sure. I also knew my vote would not matter in California. Hillary was going to win the state and the landslide. I did not vote for the president. It was a mistake. I admitted. I like what he has done. I have a different personality. I don't agree with some things he says and Tweets. That we did not elect a pope. We elected someone who will put good policy in place. He has done that. Tax cuts, regulation cuts, judges, defeating ices, moving the embassy to Jerusalem. I think this is the president that is standing up for the American people. Unfortunately, the media likes to focus on his personality more than policy. That is regrettable. I think Newt Gingrich who endorsed me has written many times that the president would be much better served if he just talked about the policies and the impacts in the economy and the things he has done very well and stay out of the personality staff. >> Reporter: Let's turn the question around. In order to get elected governor of California, you will have to win the votes of millions of Californians who did not vote for President Donald Trump. How would you earn their support? >> By promising to do what I said I was going to do. Improve the quality of life. People are looking for a business approach. They are looking for someone who has forged solutions in the private sector. Drain the swamp. That is why they elected President Donald Trump. I think it was all about trying to get rid of this political class that has mismanaged the state of California. I think on the minds of all Californians I believe that is. You can look at what is going on with the forest, road system, schools, they can say we have had rotten political management in the state. It is time that it changes. I am out to get rid of the special-interest corruption in the state. I think special interest corruption is what is leaving the state downhill. If people really want a sustainable economically viable state going forward, we have to address the corruption in Sacramento. I am the guy who is going to do it. I'm going to clean house. We are going to clean out the barn.