Redistricting complaints continue, except here State, National, International, posted by Editor, Pleasanton Weekly Online, on Aug 26, 2011 at 12:16 pm
With the final vote of the 14-member California Citizens Redistricting Commission last week, Pleasanton will be part of the newly created 15th Congressional District next year with veteran Congressman Pete Stark (D-Fremont) already campaigning for reelection. For years, Stark has represented the 13th District, which included a sliver of Pleasanton's northwest side. Now he will have the entire city, replacing two-term Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), who also will seek reelection, this time in the newly drawn 9th Congressional District that takes him out of Pleasanton and puts the district solidly in San Joaquin and east Contra Costa counties.
Read the full story here Web Link posted Friday, August 26, 2011, 12:00 AM
Posted by Stacey, a resident of the Amberwood/Wood Meadows neighborhood, on Aug 26, 2011 at 12:16 pm Stacey is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com
Taking the power of redistricting away from the political parties goes hand-in-hand with open primaries. Californians increasingly do not join political parties. Partisan ballots only facilitate the extremists of the parties to get nominated and voting becomes the unfortunate exercise in picking the lesser of two evils. An open primary (it is hoped) will create much more competition between candidates to appeal to everyone, not just within their party bubble. Couple that with new districts and it won't be about who is Democrat and who is Republican, but can best represent the best interests of their constituents.
Posted by Sick And Tired, a resident of Dublin, on Aug 27, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Watching Stark take on the Tea Party is amusing. It's about time the GOP noise makers who represent only a vocal faction of their party get their comeuppance. Stark silences and battles the Tea Party with their very own special brand of noise making. It's great theater and seeing a master politician not back down and cite facts against their rhetoric is brilliant. I'm glad he's on my side, defending citizens vs the GOP defending and being used by corporations.
Posted by How old?, a resident of the Bonde Ranch neighborhood, on Aug 27, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Fortney Stark is now 80 years old! Do you people realize that? He has not authored legislation in years. Come on Pete, the unemployment in the state is now over 12%! Give up the job to someone who actually wants to effect change and now just watch what is happening. Saw him in a Mossimos in Fremont and it was embarrassing. Let's get some new blood in office with good ideas. Can't be worse than what we have seen. Someone above wrote he was defending people against corporations? Give me a break he is in the pocket of big business in Fremont and has been for years.
Posted by Kay, a resident of the Vineyard Hills neighborhood, on Aug 31, 2011 at 2:25 pm
The one good thing about having Stark as our representative is that we will be subjected to few rants about McNerney from jim0f and steve here on the PW boards.
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