Gilmore on party ties

question:

The Capitol can be a very polarizing place. Gerrymandered districts make for safe seats, allowing office holders to appeal to the most extreme factions of their party. Most votes are along party lines. Independence is hard to find. Name two very specific issues in which you are willing to go against the conventional wisdom of your party.

answer:

I am strong a proponent of redistricting. Our current method of having politicians draw their own district lines has proven to be disastrous. As they are currently drawn, most seats in the California state legislature never change party hands, which doesn’t encourage bipartisan decision making.

Fortunately, in the Central Valley, we are blessed with a number of legislators who have put aside partisan differences and work together to bring more resources and attention to our area. Many of our legislators, past and current, have fought side by side to bring us funding for roads, highways and other important projects. They have demanded that the Central Valley receive its fair share, after years of watching our Sacramento tax dollars get redirected to projects in LA and San Francisco.

I would continue the efforts of our representatives to put partisanship aside and work for the betterment of our region.

fresno elections 2008