Central Valley Democrats Laying Foundation for 2008 California Elections as Part of 58 County Strategy

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Randy Bayne
The Bayne of Blog's California Notes

Democrats from across the Central Valley gathered in Fresno on Saturday to hone their focus on the coming three election onslaught that is headed our way in 2008. Starting with the February 5 Presidential Primary there will be three statewide elections in the coming year. Of course, you already knew that, but a little reminder of the work we have ahead is often helpful.

That is what this convention amounted to, a reminder of what lies ahead and a encouragement that the fight is winnable.

State of the Valley

The convention started with a panel discussion on the "state of the valley." The panel consisted of Juan Arambula, Assemblyman from the 31st District; Michael J. Rubio, member of the Kern Co. Board of Supervisors; Dr. John Suen, Professor, CSU Fresno; Lloyd Carter, a local attorney and host of a month radio talk show on KFCF in Fresno; and Tom Boyajian, a Fresno mayoral candidate.

A wide range of subjects were discussed: Education, water, development, air quality, crime, a seemingly unending list of issues that need to be addressed in the valley. Each one could take an entire article, and I won't go into details here. The discussion left me with a feeling that we need to stop being shortsighted and looking for the short answers to complicated and wide ranging problems that are as related and intertwined as they are diverse.

CDP Chair Art Torres

After the panel, CA Democratic Party Chair Art Torres addressed the crowd. Most of his comments centered on the current attempt by the Republicans to steal the 2008 election in California by placing an initiative on the ballot to change the way electoral college votes are divided. He referred to a recent news report that I also commented on about homeless people being given meals in exchange for their signatures on petitions. Torres also said that if the initiative qualified, he would immediately file a law suit to keep it off the ballot.