With the new open primary system in California, all registered voters, including independents, are free to vote for any candidate for most offices, including the U.S. House of Representatives. The open primary is on June 5th, and vote-by-mail ballots start going out on May 7th. The top two vote-getters in the primary election will advance to the general election in November.
The new 4th Congressional District encompasses most of Placer county, and extends southward through the eastern halves of Madera and Fresno counties. I am a moderate Democrat from Lincoln running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
With the poverty rate in our District at over 30% and unemployment rates at 20% in parts of the District, we need a moderate approach to bring new infrastructure and new job opportunities back to our district.
I will work to ensure that the essential effort to reduce our national debt is shared fairly by everyone, and not simply loaded onto the backs of middle income families.
I will also work to free small businesses and farmers from constantly changing and conflicting new federal regulations.
I will work with local officials to turn local work projects into reality.
With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from MIT, and with a lifelong career as an engineer and manager, I have always been all about getting the job done.
In order to bring our country back to its pre-recession strength, I believe it is essential to invest in the resources that have made our national great: our education system, both college and trade schools; and rebuilding our infrastructure, so that our streets, highways, bridges and utilities are capable of supporting a vibrant, 1growing economy. Those are the kinds of investment that will provide America with a skilled and educated workforce and the jobs needed to maintain our position as a global economic leader.
In these tough times, spending cuts are essential, too. But they must be prudent spending cuts, that will ensure the future viability of our Social Security and Medicare systems critical for maintaining the quality of life for our seniors today and in the future. I would work to reduce the burdensome, and constantly changing, federal regulations that create barriers to prosperity for our business owners and farmers.
Most importantly, I believe that the best ideas come from discussions that include all points of view. The challenges we face are not party specific, and our best solutions will come from gleaning the best ideas from across the political spectrum.
At this critical juncture in our nation's future, it is essential that we elect a Congressman who will listen to all sides of an issue before acting. I would appreciate your vote.