A California mayor is moving his entire family out of the Golden State — and to Kentucky — once his term expires at the end of 2024.
According to this mayor, he’s looking to raise his family in a “more conservative, Christian environment”, something that he says California doesn’t have at all.
A California Mayor Is Leaving the State
Bret Daniels, the mayor of Citrus Heights, has announced his intent to fully leave the state and raise his family elsewhere in the United States to local media.
Daniels has been active on the city council of Citrus Heights, a city 15 miles northeast of Sacramento of 86,000, between 1999 and 2005. In 2016, he returned to the local government and is now mayor of the town.
Why Daniels Is Leaving
When asked about his decision to leave, Daniels revealed a slew of reasons. According to the mayor, California is no longer what it used to be.
The mayor explained that he feels local municipalities can no longer govern correctly, as they are becoming overly burdened by the state government and its mandates.
Controlling One’s Destiny
Daniels further opened up about his decision to leave, claiming that the California state government no longer allows people and local governments to truly control their own destinies.
He said, “We’re seeing an erosion of local control and being able to control our own destiny.”
Looking for More Conservative Communities
However, this isn’t the only reason why Daniels has decided to leave the Golden State for good at the end of this year.
He also explained that he wants to raise his 7-year-old daughter and his entire family in a “more conservative, Christian environment.” He doesn’t see this happening anywhere in the state.
Moving to Kentucky
To find a community that better suits him, Daniels has decided to move his family — his wife and daughter — with him to Kentucky.
Once his term is over at the end of this year, the family will make their way to Corbin, Kentucky to begin a new life far away from California.
Other California Issues
While Daniels was mainly focused on looking for a more Christian and conservative environment, as well as criticizing California’s mandates and the state government, the mayor also gave a few other reasons why he no longer wanted to live in California.
Daniels also explained that the ongoing housing issues in the state have become a problem.
California’s School System
Daniels also expressed his real concern over the state’s school system, which he believes has become a massive issue.
“[They are] taking away what I will call parental rights and being able to raise your child in a certain way,” he stated.
A “Culture of Evilness”
Daniels has assured many that he’s not leaving for any political reasons — even if it may seem like he is. Instead, he’s just leaving the entire culture of California that he feels is “evil.”
He said, “It’s not a political difference. In my eyes, it’s a culture of evilness.”
Leaving Citrus Heights
While Daniels did open up about how California can no longer be a home for him and his family, thanks to the many issues that he has with the state, he also took the time to express his gratitude to Citrus Heights.
“I’ve done my part and, in the process, hopefully, made Citrus Heights a better place, but I think it’s someone else’s turn to try and do that,” Daniels explained.
A California Exodus Continues
Daniels isn’t alone in deciding to leave behind his home state of decades. Many other Californians have also made the difficult decision to find a home in another U.S. state, for a variety of reasons.
Because of this mass migration seen leaving the state, analysts have theorized that this California Exodus will be seen for at least the next few years to come.
Finding Different Communities
Recently, a California councilman also revealed he would be leaving his town, as he was fully priced out of owning a home in the community that he had lived in for decades. Many other Californians have expressed the same reasoning for leaving behind the Golden State.
However, others, such as Daniels, have expressed their desire to leave because the California community no longer fits them. Daniels said, “We just think we need an environment that’s a little more towards what our beliefs are.”
