Assembly member offers insight on district
Anna Caballero, who has been the state representative for the
28th Assembly District since 2006, is considering a run for state
senate in District 12. Denham, who will term out, is running for
lieutenant governor.
Assembly member offers insight on district
Anna Caballero, who has been the state representative for the 28th Assembly District since 2006, is considering a run for state senate in District 12. Denham, who will term out, is running for lieutenant governor.
“I have an exploratory committee, and I’m meeting people in the senate district,” Caballero, a lawyer and former Salinas Mayor said by phone May 14. “I have expressed an interest in talking to people. That is where I am right now.”
If Caballero does decide to forego a second run for Assembly, there are several prospective candidates who are ready to fill her seat. Caballero shared a few thoughts on the issues that are most important in the 28th Assembly District, which incorporates South San Jose, Gilroy, and parts of San Benito, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
“One is unemployment – unemployment in Salinas Valley at one count was at 20 percent,” she said.
She also pointed to the significant number of foreclosures in the region.
“Water in particular in San Benito and Santa Clara” is another issue, she said. “The Federal Water Project has stopped imports and San Benito agriculture has been affected.”
She also stressed the need to curb youth violence, but said the most important issue is the state budget.
“The state budget is going to affect local government when the state comes in and takes more money from cities and counties,” she said.
Caballero also had some ideas on the qualities that a successor will need to possess if she does leave an open seat.
“The qualities that are necessary are the ability to listen, and that is really important. People need to know that you are listening,” she said. Other qualities would include the ability “to problem-solve, which means to take in diverse information and be able to synthesize it and figure out what strategy to use to try to solve it.”
She stressed other traits, as well.
“I think it needs to be someone with a lot of energy,” Caballero said. “It is a big district and you have to be flexible – you need to travel all over and be all over the place. And ideally, someone who has some experience in how government works because that helps a lot.”
