Villines 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 regularly work across party lines to make positive changes in our state. At the beginning of our current 2007-2008 Legislative Session, I worked with Governor Schwarzenegger and the other legislative leaders to pass the historic bipartisan prison reform measure, AB 900, which adds over 50,000 new beds to our prisons to reduce overcrowding. Taking this step also alleviated the need to let prisoners out into our community before they have served their time.

I am currently working with Speaker Nunez to reform the way California’s political lines are drawn. Right now, political districts are so gerrymandered in favor of one party or another, that fair elections are virtually impossible. We must restore the voice of the people to their government. Voters should pick who represents them, rather than politicians picking who their voters will be. Only by giving the power to draw district lines to an independent citizens’ commission can we draw fair lines that will result in competitive elections. Doing so will make politicians more accountable to their constituents.

I don’t think bipartisanship is defined by going against the conventional wisdom of your party. Bipartisanship exists when the two parties come together to find common ground and do what’s best for the people of California. I have worked in a bipartisan manner in the State Assembly and will continue to do so if re-elected.

fresno elections 2008