Nichols, Tom

Meet the Candidate

Running For:
State Assembly
District:
8
Political Affiliation:
Libertarian
Phone:
(559) 977-1681
Age:
58
Occupation:
Telecommunications Tech
Education:
BS engineering, Cal Poly
Biographical Info:
Born and raised in Southern California. After college I worked on various construction projects in Washington, Arizona, Texas, and Tennessee. Upon returning to California I worked for Pacific Bell (now AT&T) on microwave infrastructure in Inyo County before transferring to special services in Fresno County in 2006. My wife and I live in Squaw Valley with our horses and other animals, and enjoy outdoor activities. Our six children are adults now and we have three grandchildren. I volunteer on projects with the Libertarian Party of California, and any spare time I roadrace motorcycles and am a club champion.
Statement:
On the surface, our working class is overworked and underserved. Philosophically, we’ve devolved to an authoritarian state where individuals become conditioned to accept government as the ultimate authority and solution to all problems. We can do better by looking to private solutions and cooperation, restoring grace and charity in our communities instead of mandatory taxes to fund bloated state bureaucracy, and moving control back to local levels and communities. I want to assist in this inevitable movement.

Survey

Response Legend

  • YYes
  • NNo
  • Declined to Respond/Undecided, Position Unknown/Unclear
  • *Comment
  • Declined to respond, Position based on citation

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. Should California amend its Constitution to remove current limitations and codify abortion until birth as a constitutional right? (e.g., Prop 1, 2022) N* While the issue of abortion is complex with valid arguments on both sides, I don’t believe that the decisions made between a woman and her doctor need to be codified in a state constitution.
2. Should California require medical providers to undergo “cultural competency courses” on racial politics and sexual and gender identity to have their license renewed by the state? (e.g., AB 2194, 2022) N* More government overreach that has nothing to do with the delivery of medical services.
3. Should California adult citizens be required to pass a background check before buying ammunition? N
4. Should California require high school students to take an Ethnic Studies course that teaches Critical Race Theory before graduating? N* Parents have the ultimate choice in what their children are taught, period.
5. Should California women’s prisons be required to admit biological males who self-identify as female? N
6. Would you (or did you) support requiring all insurance plans to provide elective surgical abortions for free, with no deductibles or copays copays? (e.g., SB 245, 2022) N
7. Should minors age 15 or older be allowed to consent to vaccines without parental permission? (e.g., SB 866, 2022) N
8. Would you (or did you) support the legalization of loitering for prostitution? (e.g., SB 357, 2022) Y* I don’t believe it’s government’s place to regulate relations between two consenting adults. Loitering may be a legitimate issue.
9. Would you (or did you) support the establishment of government-sponsored drug injection centers? (e.g., SB 57, 2022) N
10. Would you (or did you) support legislation prohibiting employers from making hiring decisions based on an employee’s use of cannabis away from the workplace or traces of non-psychoactive cannabis found during drug testing? (e.g., AB 2188, 2022) N* While I support cannabis use, and use it myself, I also support private employer’s rights to make hiring decisions as they see fit.
11. Should California taxpayers fund transgender treatments for minors, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-change operations? (e.g., AB 2218, 2020; AB 2521, 2022) N
12. Should California require Peace Officers to undergo a “bias evaluation” that includes sexual orientation and gender identity? (e.g., AB 2229, 2022) N* At this time, I don’t trust the state to make a fair, comprehensive bias evaluation.