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Thorne, other Tri-Valley mayors off to Washington
Trip will coincide with Obama's inauguration

by Jeb Bing

Mayors from the Tri-Valley have headed to Washington, D.C., with the hope of gaining more federal funding for area-wide communications systems and improvements to I-680, I-580 and Highway 84.

Pleasanton Mayor Jerry Thorne, who left for Washington on Wednesday morning, told the City Council on Tuesday night that his agenda is packed with meetings with legislators representing the Tri-Valley, as well as meetings with various federal agency representatives.

This will be Thorne's first trip as mayor with the other four local city leaders, an annual trip that has often resulted in additional federal funding for Tri-Valley roadways and programs.

It will also be the mayors' first meeting with newly elected Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), who now represents the 15th Congressional District.

Thorne said that while in Washington he will attend the winter meeting of the U.S. Mayors Conference and the inauguration next week of President Barack Obama to his second term in office.