‘Save with Steve’: Governor candidate Steve Hilton visits Fuel Depot, offers $3 a gallon gas
Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor, breezed into Fuel Depot on Storke Road in Goleta on Tuesday to shake hands with motorists, yuck it up with the media—and offer $3 a gallon gas.
“Save with Steve!” he declared, as he prepared to stick the gas nozzle into a vehicle. “$3 gas is on me.”
Hilton, swarmed by his social media team, members of the media and supporters who fueled up, wore blue pants and a blue shirt that said “$3 gas is on me.” He said the price was “a preview of what you will get with me.”
Hilton is facing Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra in the Nov. 3 election.
Gas station owner John Price hosted Hilton. Price said Hilton the Hilton campaign was paying for the discounted gas—up to $12 gallons, for the first 150 customers.
The wait was real.
Motorists gathered as early as 8 a.m. and by 11 a.m. the line had snaked down Storke Road and into the private residential development Storke Ranch.
The event featured an all-star team of conservative activists, including Christy Lozano, Bobbi McGinnis, chair of the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, Bob Smith, congressional candidate in the 24th District, and Charles DiMauro, leader of the 805 Patriots.
“$3 gas is very practical,” said Lozano, a teacher, who was No. 13 in line. “I like action and even if it is only $12 gallons and doesn’t fill my truck, I like it. He’s here. He’s in person. He wants to talk to people in person. That doesn’t happen enough.
A few cars down was Patricia Escalera, driving a Suburban. The 12 gallons of gas for $3 is just a bonus, for her.
“I would love to meet Steve Hilton,” Escalera said. “I am excited about the fact that he is running for governor. I just like him.”
Escalera said she used to be a Democrat and was a “tree hugger,” but increasingly her “eyes are open,” and she disagrees with much of what the government is doing.
“Politically I can’t help but think there’s been a lot of fraud going on in Santa Barbara as well,” she said.
The Fuel Depot crew did its best to manage the traffic. They directed motorists to turn into the bays, and Hilton zig-zagged his way around to meet with motorists, shake their hands and pump their gas.”
But not everyone was a Hilton fan.
Salli Hershberger was the first person in line. She heard about Hilton’s arrival from a viral post by John Palminteri, who broke the news on Monday evening. Hershberger arrived at 8 a.m. and had been waiting two hours for the gas.
“I am disabled,” she said. “I need the gas. “I am not going to vote for him.”
She proudly pointed to the T-shirt she was wearing, which said “Aunt” on one line and “Tifa” on another.
“It’s the only time we are going to get money out of a millionaire,” Hershberger said.
But on the other side of the gas station was Jacob Ward, a lifelong Santa Barbara resident. He work a hat that said “Make America Charlie Kirk Again.”
He welcomed the discount and he supports Hilton.
“I am voting for Steve Hilton,” he said. “I have had enough of having to pay at the pump. $5 a gallon to pay. Even in a small car it costs me $60 to fill up. The price of everything is going up. It makes me want to leave. If this state flips, I might stay.”
Hilton kept his comments brief and on point. He smiled, shook hands and presented a populist message.
“That’s what’s gonna change,” Hilton said. “We are going to lower your costs. Lower tax, cheaper gas. Save with Steve. That’s the plan.”
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