Steve Hilton courts abandoned Latino voters with promise to restore the California dream

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Steve Hilton promised to bring back the “California dream” and accused Democrats of abandoning Latino voters during a campaign stop in Los Angeles County.Hilton, who is running to replace term-limited Gov.Gavin Newsom, rallied supporters in Bell Gardens, where many attendees wore “Latinos for Hilton” shirts as he pitched himself as the candidate for working-class Californians.“Let’s fix California together!” a fired-up Hilton told the crowd at Cristo Rey Lutheran Church.“I’m going to fight every single day between now and the election,” he added.The British-born, now US citizen candidate promised a major overhaul of California’s public schools, calling the current system a “disaster.”“Less than half the kids in our public schools can read properly,” Hilton told the crowd.

“We have to prepare our young people for the jobs of the future.”His plan, he said, includes “bringing back skills training in every school.”Hilton also vowed to cut government spending, promising to “get rid of ridiculous bloat” and eliminate the state’s annual $800 small-business tax.The candidate appeared alongside Gloria Romero, a former state senator and candidate for lieutenant governor, and Araceli Martinez, who is running for California’s 30th State Senate District.Adding some old-school flair to the event, Hilton arrived in a 1948 Buick Super Eight driven by its owner, Roman Rangel.The 54-year-old Avocado Heights building contractor said Hilton’s message on taxes, crime and homelessness resonated with him.“I like what everybody else likes about Steve.He wants to lower taxes, get rid of the gas tax and do something about homelessness and crime,” Rangel told The California Post.“That’s important to a lot of people.”Speaking exclusively to The Post, Hilton had a blunt message for voters ahead of the November election.“Why would you keep voting the same way and expect a different result?“We obvious...