|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Dublin City Councilman Eric Swalwell has unseated Pete Stark for the 15th Congressional district.
As of early Wednesday morning, with all precincts reporting, Swalwell held a lead of 6,332 votes. Swalwell received 74,007 votes, 52.23% of the total vote to Stark’s 67,675 votes, about 47.2%.
Stark made a brief stop at Pleasanton’s United Democratic Campaign Headquarters on Stoneridge Drive around 5 p.m.
By 9 p.m., Stark had headed to his home in Fremont and was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Swalwell’s party at the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Alameda County offices on Owens Drive was just getting warmed up, with hundreds gathering to watch the final results.
Swalwell, an Alameda County deputy district attorney, said his victory “reflects the hard work that we put in.”
“We hit about 20,000 homes in the last 10 days,” Swalwell said, describing a last ditch effort that included Pleasanton, Dublin and Castro Valley. “”We had over 100 volunteers just this weekend.”
The two were battling over a redrawn 15th district, one of the new districts established in the statewide realignment of federal, regional and state voting districts based on the 2010 census.
Stark, 81, served for nearly four decades in his original 9th district.
The race took a number of turns that included criticism of Stark, a multimillionaire former banker, for allowing his minor children to collect social security.
Swalwell vowed to work to close what’s been described as the “rich kid loophole.”
Beyond that, in April, Stark accused Swalwell of taking “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” from a prominent real estate development family.
Swalwell threatened legal action if Stark did not apologize, which he did the next day.
Both Stark and Swalwell are Democrats, but were pitted against each other due to changes in California election law that allows for voters to choose between the top two contenders, regardless of party affiliation.
Hooray! We no longer have the craziest of the crazies for our Congressman. Stark was so loony that he stood out as a super-loon among the left-wing loon Bay Area Congressional delegation (and that’s saying a lot since Queen Pelosi is in that group). It would be nice if a criminal investigation were held concerning his kids receiving Social Security, and for him falsely claiming he lives in California. But, we all know that will never happen.
The other benefit of Swalwell winning is that it put a great big ol’ roadblock in the path of the Hippy Mayor, who has been craving a Congressional seat for years. Now she will have to lower her sights and run for the California Loonislature, or better yet, if she still has designs on a Congressional seat she will have to move out of the district!
“It would be nice if a criminal investigation were held concerning his kids receiving Social Security…”
I didn’t like the news about Stark’s kids receiving Social Security either. There doesn’t seem to be anything criminal about it. That’s just the way the rules currently are. But I thought that a man of integrity wouldn’t exploit a loophole like that, and voted against him because of that.
Congratulations to Eric Swalwell! I’m glad to have someone who has made a commitment to remain rooted in this community representing us in Washington, and with more moderate views, compared to Pete Stark.
Congratulations also to our former Congressman Jerry McNerney, who was elected in the 9th district to the East of Pleasanton.
I hope that they will work together with other California representatives to find pragmatic consensus on key issues in Washington D.C.
Can’t wait for the pay-to-play articles starting to appear in the Washington Post. I just love the Washington Post. This one is great
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/former-pr-georges-exec-jack-b-johnson-is-sentenced-to-7-years/2011/12/01/gIQAKa7iZO_story.html
wp, regarding “Can’t wait for the pay-to-play articles ” what is your point. You think that Eric will expect money to speak with him?
If yes, you are well not informed. Just sprewing out gargage like this does not add to a meaningful dialogue. In a small town like Dublin we find out really fast who is “fast.”
The East Bay Express has documented the issues involving Swalwell and pay to play here http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/eric-swalwell-and-pay-to-play/Content?oid=3372038 The no bid contracts and huge donations are part of public record.
I’m sure the Washington Post will have a field day once this guy is put in office.
old socialist out; young socialist in. tell me what is the difference?
Stark headed home to Fremont? The reports indicated that his “home” was in San Leandro.
Whether you are Republican, Tea Party member or Democrat, the Tri-Valley is very fortunate to have Eric Swalwell. But, he will face a battle from the very far right in our district that he has not had to face with Dublin city council. I hope he has a very thick hide.