No party is a real alternative

This year, voters can begin voting in California’s first top-two open primary. Previously, candidates running for office appeared only on their own party’s ballot. Now, under the open-primary law, all candidates running, regardless of their party preference, will appear on a single combined ballot. For the first time, voters can also select a no-party-preference candidate in the primary election. This change will give voters the option to select a moderate candidate that balances the views of both parties. Once in office, a no-party-preference candidate holds a powerful split vote to break stalemates between the parties. This vote can be instrumental in passing budgets, approving projects and making decisions.

I am the no-party-preference candidate for California’s 7th Congressional district. This new district represents the Sacramento County suburbs. It’s a more compact district and was designed by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to eliminate the gerrymandering which snaked the previous district all the way to the Nevada border. In my opinion, it’s a better district for the voter, because it is centered in Sacramento County to more effectively represent the needs of a growing suburban population.

As the no-party-preference congressional candidate, I am focused strictly on addressing our economic recovery and not on fighting political ideology. My goals are to create jobs by landing a company headquarters along the Highway 50 and 99 corridors; reduce commutes by building a bridge across the American River between Watt Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard; and to interconnect Elk Grove to El Dorado Hills via a byway.

To create jobs for our area, I recently wrote George Lucas, creator of the Star Wars movie series, to invite him to locate his new Lucas Films digital arts campus at Mather Field or at the recently annexed expansion of Folsom. This was in response to an announcement Lucas had made about pulling his operations out of Marin County.

As congressman, I will continue to invite employers to locate here, and I will do everything I can to retain the employers we already have. This is what Chicago did to encourage Boeing to move its headquarters there from Seattle. This is what I will do if elected your congressman. Please consider a no-party-preference candidate this election, and break the party stalemate.