(Simi Valley, CA) – Today, Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten and Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub endorsed former U.S. Naval Officer and fighter pilot Mike Garcia for Congress.

Totten has held Ventura County’s top prosecutor title since November 2002 and was re-elected to his fifth term in 2018. He joined the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office in 1982 after graduating from the Pepperdine University School of Law and holds leadership positions at the California District Attorneys Association and the National District Attorneys Association.

DA Totten commented: “Mike Garcia’s extraordinary service to this country as a Naval Aviator reflects his longstanding commitment to public service and the depth of character we need in the 25th congressional district.   Mike is also a strong supporter of law enforcement, who will work hard as a United States Representative to support our efforts to keep this wonderful community safe.  I am very pleased to join many others in supporting Mike Garcia, and am confident he will serve his constituents with great distinction and honor.”

Sheriff William “Bill” Ayub was elected to serve as the 20th Sheriff of Ventura County on June 5th, 2018. Bill joined the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in April of 1996, after serving as a police officer for several years in the City of North Las Vegas, Nevada and the City of Port Hueneme. Originally from the Ventura area, Bill began his law enforcement career in 1985 as a police cadet and reserve police officer with the Santa Paula Police Department. He went on to attend and graduate from the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center in 1990, earning top honors in firearms marksmanship, physical fitness, and personal traits.

“Serving our community is the most important aspect of law enforcement.  Accountability, both personally and organizationally, must be a priority,” said Ayub.  “Mike Garcia has exhibited this quality as a patriot and is conducting his campaign with the utmost of integrity.  This is what defines a leader and I look forward to working with him.”

In endorsing Mike Garcia for Congress, District Attorney Totten and Sheriff Ayub join former LA District Attorney Steve Cooley as well as former Ventura County DA Michael Bradbury.  Additionally, over 20 current and former elected officials including Governor Pete Wilson and Congressmen Elton Gallegly and Buck McKeon, 160 veterans, and more than 100 volunteers are supporting Garcia’s candidacy.

“The endorsement of Sheriff Ayub and DA Totten is flattering and humbling,” said Garcia.  “Their leadership in protecting the citizens of Ventura County is the gold standard and I look forward to learning from them and working with them.”

Mike Garcia is a candidate in both the regular Congressional primary and the special election primary on March 3, 2020.

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Mike Garcia believes in a strong national defense and is a pro-business, pro-taxpayer, political outsider with nearly 20 years of service to this country as one of the first Super Hornet strike fighter pilots in the Navy and is a highly decorated US Naval Officer.  Garcia is a first-generation American whose father immigrated to the US in 1959 and has lived in the 25th district for nearly all of his life.  Garcia lives in Santa Clarita with his wife and two sons. He was recently named to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Young Guns program as one of the top 40 GOP candidates in the country.

The 25th district encompasses the cities of Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster and the northern part of the San Fernando Valley.  The median income is $76,866 and the ethnic breakdown is 45.8% White, 8% Black, 7.7% Asian and 35.3% Hispanic.  The only Democrat, prior to 2018, to carry the district in the last 18 years was Obama, by less than 1%.

To learn more about Mike and his campaign for Congress, visit www.ElectMikeGarcia.com.