From soliciting votes at the Farmers’ Market to becoming the first elected congressman from Pleasanton three years later, it doesn’t get much more grassroots than that. Newly-elected Congressman Jerry McNerney, who describes himself as a Progressive Democrat, isn’t about to forget or neglect his roots as he starts his second month representing the 11th Congressional District.
His is almost a David and Goliath story played out over two primaries and two general elections since he started campaigning in February 2004. A political novice who had never held an elected office, McNerney took on Republican Richard Pombo, one of the most powerful members of Congress. The Democratic Party largely ignored him in 2004 and many party leaders wanted to choose someone else this time around. But McNerney prevailed, defeating Pombo last November with 53 percent of the vote in a district where Republican voters outnumber Democrats 46 percent to 39 percent.
McNerney was helped by a Democratic sweep across the country both in congressional and state races, as well as an all-out effort by Democrats and several large special interest organizations to boot Pombo out of office. Already, potential opponents are lining up to challenge McNerney in 2008, which is keeping the freshman congressman focused on his 11th District constituents.
“So far, we’ve been able to wrap up our business in Congress Friday afternoon in time for me to catch the 7 p.m. flight home, and then I get back to Washington on a late flight Sunday or early Monday in time for any votes,” McNerney said during a recent interview in his new district office at 5776 Stoneridge Mall Rd.
He’ll be here next Saturday to officially open the office with his District Chief of Staff Erich Pfuehler and Office Manager Adrienne Brown. Those who want to join in the festivities should call Vicki at 737-0733 for information and directions.
McNerney, who lives on Menlo Court, made his decision to try for Pombo’s seat just two weeks before the 2004 primary. He knew it would be a long shot, but Democratic Party leaders considered the six-term congressman from Tracy too entrenched and the district too Republican to spend hard-earned funds to challenge him.
“Actually, it was my son Michael, who was a second lieutenant in the Air Force, who talked me into running,” McNerney said. “We were both concerned when we realized the Democrats had put up no candidate in the March primary to oppose Pombo. We both felt that wasn’t right and that it was my responsibility as a citizen cocncerned over the direction this country is going to jump in the race and work for the progressive values I believe in.”
It wasn’t easy. With his wife Mary, he campaigned at the Farmers’ Market and at Tri-Valley forums, when he received an invitation. The family, including Michael, daughter Windy and another son Greg also pitched in, sending out leaflets and making hundreds of phone calls. They worked to get at least 10 percent of the number of registered voters who cast ballots in the previous 11th District election–or 1,740–to write McNerney’s name on their Democratic primary ballots. Returns that night showed McNerney had lost, but it was so close that he asked for a recount. There were enough uncounted or missing ballots in Contra Costa County to qualify him as the official Democratic candidate.
That November, again without many Democrats contributing to the campaign, McNerney lost, 61 to 39 percent, with Pombo heading back to Washington for his seventh term in Congress.
A wind energy entrepreneur and specialist on alternative fuels, McNerney regrouped with his supporters to plan for another try in 2006. First, McNerney had to fight off challenges from fellow Democrats Steve Filson and Steve Thomas of Contra Costa County, winning 52.6 percent of the primary vote to become the Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2006 election.
“I had the support not only of my party but also many other organizations that wanted Pombo out of office,” McNerney said. “In this campaign, where we were fighting corruption in Congress and policies of the Bush administration, we had strong support, many speaking opportunities and funding from constituents throughout the district and both parties.”
Even former Peninsula Congressman Pete McCloskey, a Republican who had unsuccessfully challenged Pombo in the primary, offered his support to McNerney.
Since his election, McNerney, 55, who has a PhD in mathematics and is considered the alternative fuels expert in Congress, has been given prime committee assignments by fellow Bay Area Congresswoman and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. He has also been given floor time during legislative debates on renewable energy, transportation and the environment. Last week, as a newly-appointed member of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, McNerney introduced his first bill as a member of the 110th Congress, the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007. He joined U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Walnut Creek) in sponsoring the bill that would authorize funds to increase useable water supplies.
“With parts of California experiencing one of the driest Januaries ever and the impact on California’s water supply caused by rising global temperatures, this will authorizes critical funds to develop alternative sources of clean drinking water,” McNerney said.
McNerney has also been appointed to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Committee on Science and Technology and the Highways and Transit Subcommittee. He said he will work to secure funds to widen Interstate 580 and extend BART farther east, although not to Tracy, as he was quoted as saying.
“That would be nice but quite a reach,” McNerney said.
McNerney also was the first freshman congressional co-sponsor on the Clean Energy Act of 2007, a bill that would repeal $14 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for large oil companies.
“As someone who has spent more than 20 years researching the benefits of clean energy sources, I know that moving towards a sustainable energy future is critical and will create good-paying jobs and a more secure United States,” McNerney said.
He is also opposed to sending more American troops to Iraq, telling the House that this “will significantly hinder our ability to effectively combat the global terrorist threat.”
McNerney urged anyone in the 11th District to write him, read and respond to his new blog, or call or visit his district office in Pleasanton to discuss their concerns and viewpoints. His blog is available at www.jerrymcnerney.org.
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