Two candidates for California’s lieutenant governor position are
coming to town this week.
Hollister – Two candidates for California’s lieutenant governor position are coming to town this week.
State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi and State Senator Liz Figueroa, both democrats, will speak at separate events in Hollister as they vie to become their party’s candidate for California’s second in command.
“I want democrats and citizens in the county to understand what democrats are all about, so when they vote democratic they know what they are getting,” said Jeanie Wallace, chair of San Benito County’s Democratic Central Committee, which organized the Garamendi appearance.
Garamendi will speak at 4pm on Friday at the Ridgemark Golf & Country Club for about 30 minutes. The event, which costs $30 per person, will begin at 3:30pm and include a buffet dinner. Congressman Sam Farr and Assemblyman Simon Salinas have also been invited to speak about their vision for the future of the Democratic Party.
Currently California’s insurance commissioner, Garamedi has been involved in both state and national government for more than 30 years. His political career started in 1974 when he was elected to the state assembly. Two years later he became a state senator. In 1995 President Bill Clinton appointed Garamendi deputy secretary of the United States Department of Interior.
About 65 tickets have been sold for the event, and space is running out. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to cover expenses. Any left over money will go to the county’s Democratic Party, Wallace said.
Wallace expects Garamendi to focus on healthcare during his speech Friday.
The Democratic Central Committee does not endorse specific candidates, but Wallace hopes to bring more democratic candidates to San Benito County before the party’s June primary so voters can make informed decisions about the democratic candidates they choose, rather than just, “voting the party line,” she said.
“I think what we need to see statewide our leaders are as loyal to the day to day needs of people as local leaders are,” Wallace said. “Statewide people get wrapped up in the politics of compromise and lose touch.”
Important issues facing California include healthcare, the environment and the minimum wage, she said.
On Saturday night State Senator Liz Figueroa will be the keynote speaker for the 35th annual Cinco de Mayo Scholarship Banquet in the Veterans Memorial Building.
Micki Luna, treasurer and former president of the Mexican American Committee on Education, expects Figueroa to speak about education.
Starting her political career in 1994 in the state assembly, Figueroa has worked as state senator for Alameda and Santa Clara Counties for the past seven years.
The event, which is sold out, was organized to raise scholarship money for local students in need, Luna said.
Luna, who counts Figueroa as one of her personal friends, supports the senator’s bid to become lieutenant governor.
“She has a lot of experience in the state assembly and senate. She is vocal and works well with people,” Luna said. “She’ll be up front with the people and not always behind the governor. She will get things done.”
Luke Roney covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
