May, 2026 
Next Speaker Luncheon
Meet Chad: A Life of Service and Leadership
From small-town roots to Sheriff of Riverside County, Chad Bianco has built his life on integrity, perseverance, and commitment to protecting California families.
A Proven Leader for a Safer, Stronger California
California deserves a governor who understands the challenges we face and has the experience to deliver real solutions. Born into a hardworking family and raised with strong values of integrity and personal responsibility, Chad Bianco knows what it means to earn respect and build a better future.
From Protecting Our Communities to Leading Our State
Chad Bianco’s story is a California story. In 1989, he chose our state for its promise of opportunity and a place to raise a family. He dedicated over 31 years to protecting our communities as a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy, graduating top of his class and demonstrating unwavering commitment to public safety.
Addressing California’s Challenges, Together
As Sheriff, Chad Bianco confronted the realities of California’s struggling public safety system. He inherited a department facing a budget crisis, dwindling morale, and fractured relationships with local law enforcement. He tackled these challenges head-on, stabilizing finances on strict budgets, rebuilding partnerships and collaboration and ensuring our deputies had the support they needed.
Chad Bianco understands that safe communities are the foundation for a thriving California. He’s been a vocal advocate for reforming state laws that have eroded public safety, leading the charge for Proposition 36, which restored common-sense sentencing on crime. He knows that to truly address crime, we must support law enforcement and ensure accountability.
Beyond Politics, a Commitment to Service
Chad Bianco is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and his wife, Denise, are active members of their community, grounded in faith, family, and a commitment to service above self. Sign up for the luncheon here
NOTE: Sheriff Bianco will begin his remarks at 11:30 but PLEASE check in by 11:15 so that the ladies working at the registration table can take their seats and listen to the speaker.
MENU:
Herbed roasted pork loin with honey mustard bourbon raisin sauce, creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Vegetarian option (Must be requested at registration): Asian salad with tomatoes, crispy wontons, bell peppers cucumbers, Dacor, sprouts, cashews and soy sesame dressing.
Dessert: Lemon cheesecake with raspberry sauce and berries.
GGRW California Primary Voting Guide
JUNE 2, 2026 CALIFORNIA PRIMARY ELECTION VOTER GUIDE (Approved by the GGRW Executive Board 4/28/2026)
Governor - Steve Hilton or Chad Bianco
Lt Governor - Gloria Romero
Secretary of State - Donald P. Wagner
Controller - Herb Morgan
Treasurer - No Opinion
Attorney General - Michael Gates
Insurance Commissioner - No Opinion
State Board of Equalization - Mark McComas (He is an associate member of our club so one reason to support.) There are four Republicans running for this office.
United States House of Representatives - No Opinion
State Senator - Aaron Smith
State Assembly - No Opinion
State Superintendent of Public Instruction - Sonja Shaw or Gus Mattammal (Come meet Gus on May 13th at 7:00 pm at a private home in Novato. Sign up here and get the address.)
District 1 County Supervisor - Mark Galperin
District 5 County Supervisor - Andy Podshadley (long-time friend of Golden Gate Republican Women)
Sonoma Rail Measure B is a NO as less than 10% is paid by riders. The rest is paid by taxpayers. The management of the not so SMART train gets their fair share and then some. The General Manager's total pay is $461,217.56. The General Counsel makes $382,902.49, and the CFO makes $370,078.34
All School District & Library Tax increases are a NO. The public schools in Marin should be combined into one district with one superintendent. Due to drop in enrollment, some schools may have to close. We need accountability. Current expenditures in CA from all sources are over $25,000 per student.
President's Report
Dear Wonderful Members:
On May 19th Golden Gate Republican Women’s luncheon speaker will be Sheriff Chad Bianco. If you have not had a chance to hear him in person, now is the time! Please bring your husband, friends, and other guests to this not to be missed meeting! RSVP early as this could be a very large crowd.
We have several other events to put on your calendar. Gus Mattammal who is running for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction is bringing his “Gus Bus” to Novato on May 13th at 7PM. The address of the private home that he is appearing at will be emailed to each of you or you can sign up here and get the address.
June 7th is our next Trump Victory Party and you can sign up for that now online and get that address at the same time.
Unfortunately we have had to raise our lunch price by $5/mo. We kept the price the same for the last three years, but as you all know, food costs have continued to go up. The Country Club raised our price this year and we think that $5 will cover our costs. Unlike some clubs, our lunches are not a fundraiser. We try and pay exactly what we take in. Over the first three months of the year we lost money on the luncheons because The McInnis Club was charging us $42 and we were charging our members $35. We wanted to cover those three months because we were asking you to change venues and change your calendar dates from 3rd Tuesday to the 2nd Tuesday of the month. It all worked out, just barely! We are happy to be back at Marin Country Club on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Warmly, M
Welcome New Members
Happy 100! We’re excited to share that our club has reached 100 members! Thank you to everyone who has brought guests to meetings, spread the word about our group, and helped us grow. As always, you are our greatest source of new members! To keep up the momentum, we’ll continue offering new members a discounted $30 membership, and any current member who recruits someone will pay only $20 for our June luncheon – a 50% discount!
Our May meeting is an excellent chance to invite potential members. Our featured speaker, gubernatorial candidate Chad Bianco, promises to be engaging, especially after Eric (“Sexy") Swalwell’s withdrawal from the race and how we saw Dems at the most recent debate refusing to give anything less than an A- for Newsom’s performance. Bring a friend and let’s fill the room while expanding our club.
We have a variety of fun events planned for both current and prospective members throughout the year. The White House trip has sold out, and another happy hour is in the works. If you have ideas for member activities, please let us know—we’re always eager to find new ways to enhance your experience!
Happy Birthday to our members and associates celebrating May birthdays!
5/17 - Wendy Hromada
5/20 - David Raub
In Case You Missed It
Christopher Starling, Col. USMC (Ret) took us through the mostly-tumultuous history between Iran and the USA from the 1950s, through the 444-day Hostage Crisis, Iran’s use of proxy forces to kill American soldiers in Lebanon and Iraq, and the disastrous Obama JCPOA nuclear agreement. One of the biggest challenges of today’s conflict is its asymmetry. Iran is using $20,000 “suicide” drones that have to be shot down with THAD missiles costing upward of $2 million, and they can use these drones to throttle the multibillion-dollar industry of oil shipments. It seems clear however that the US blockade of Iranian ports is a disaster for Iran’s economy which provoked its citizens to riot even before Epic Fury. Starling predicted that the region’s influence in the oil trade will decrease, with the U.S. and Russia gaining influence. China will also be a loser.
News You Can Use
Source: Joe Garcia for CalMatters, April 22, 2026
State legislators are taking aim at California’s parole system after two high profile sex offenders were granted opportunities for release from prison last year.
David Allen Funston and Gregory Lee Vogelsang each had been convicted of multiple sexual assaults against young children in the Sacramento region, but were both found suitable for parole in 2025 by California’s Board of Parole Hearings.
Under elderly parole statutes, many convicted felons with life sentences may become eligible for their first parole hearing if they are at least 50 years old and have served at least 20 years.
Funston is 67 and Vogelsang is 57, and politicians are challenging the notion that 50 is an old enough benchmark for sex offenders to age out of criminal behavior.
Lawmakers put forward several bills that would restrict parole for sex offenders, a change they say reflects the severity of the crimes as well as doubts about the potential for sex offenders to safely reenter society.
Some civil rights and prisoner advocacy groups are raising concerns about the proposals, arguing they could weaken parole laws that have proven effective in reducing the state’s incarcerated population.
One of the main bills is authored by Democratic Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen of Elk Grove, who represents the region where Funston and Vogelsang committed their offenses. Her bill would raise the earliest parole age for sex offenders with life sentences to 65.
“I think rehabilitation is a thing — people can rehabilitate,” said Nguyen, who stressed she is not trying to repeal elderly parole altogether. “But when you’ve done things like molested little boys, ages 5 to 11, I just don’t know that you can change from that.
It doesn’t matter 20 years. I don’t know that you can necessarily change yourself from wanting or stopping yourself from molesting little children. And as a mother to two young girls, this scares me.”
Funston earned parole at 67 years old after serving 27 years. He had originally been sentenced to three consecutive 25 years-to-life terms, plus an additional 20-year sentence.
Vogelsang earned parole at 57, also after serving 27 years. He had originally been sentenced to 355 years-to-life.
Nguyen’s proposed legislation would also require the parole board and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to refer sex offenders with life sentences for psychological evaluation through the Department of State Hospitals, which can choose to commit a person indefinitely to treatment if they deem them to be a “sexually violent predator.” Read more here
