Steve Hilton holds $3 gas campaign event in Goleta

Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton held a campaign stop in Goleta, California, where his campaign subsidized gas prices to $3.00 per gallon at the Fuel Depot on Storke Road. The promotion, which lasted until 1:00 p.m., allowed the first 150 drivers to purchase up to 12 gallons of regular unleaded gas at the discounted rate.

During the event, Hilton criticized California's high fuel costs and taxation, arguing that residents are being “ripped off.” He specifically opposed the state's high-speed rail plan and suggested that California should pump offshore oil into local refineries rather than importing fuel from abroad.

Fuel Depot owner John Price, who donated $750 to the Hilton campaign, noted that the number of refineries in the state has dropped from 42 in 1975 to six today. While the promotion drew large crowds, local gas prices remained significantly higher, with nearby stations selling regular unleaded for between $5.85 and $7.00 per gallon.