Merced Democrat Cardoza to retire from House

WASHINGTON – Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, announced his retirement today, culminating a San Joaquin Valley political career that dates back to a college internship three decades ago.
Cardoza, 52, said he will step down at the end of 2012 rather than battle it out in a newly redrawn congressional district with his long-time friend and colleague, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.
"I love the people of the Central Valley, and thank them for the confidence they have placed in me," Cardoza said in a statement. "While I plan to retire from public service after this term in Congress, I will energetically continue my efforts to improve California as a private citizen."
But in voluntarily leaving a job he first won by unseating a former boss in 2002, Cardoza also is departing a Congress where he decries the loss of fellow moderates and the media focus on partisanship.
"The constant focus on ‘screamers’ and the ‘horse race’ of elections is smothering useful discourse and meaningful debate of public policy," Cardoza said.

Cardoza did not specify his career plans once he leaves the House of Representatives and its $174,000 annual salary. He and wife Kathleen, a physician, live in a new, 4,130-square-foot house on two acres in rural Maryland. They have three children, two of them adopted.
Cardoza's decision leaves Costa as the favorite to represent the newly redrawn 16th Congressional District, which spans Merced and Madera counties and part of Fresno County. Democrats enjoy a 48% to 33% voter registration advantage in the new district.
Cardoza's decision did not surprise his colleagues or other political professionals, who had been reading the tea leaves for months. Tellingly, Cardoza's fundraising slowed considerably since July, and newly filed statements show his campaign treasury currently has only $62,471 available.
By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau

Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/20/2583811/merced-democrat-cardoza-to-retire.html#ixzz1bKrG8aTK

Press Release: Jose Hernandez to Announce Candidacy for Congress Jose Hernandez - Former NASA Astronaut Announces Campaign to Restore the American Dream

**MEDIA ADVISORY**
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: AJ@joseforcongress.com
October 9, 2011 (415) 652-0042
Jose Hernandez to Announce Candidacy for Congress
Former NASA Astronaut Announces Campaign to Restore the American Dream
Tracy,
CA
–
Valley Native and retired NASA Astronaut,Jose Hernandez will formally announce his candidacy
for the 10th Congressional District.
What:Campaign Announcement

Tuesday, October 11,
11:00 AM

Modesto Centre Plaza
1000 L Street
Modesto,CA 95354
Participants:
Jose Hernandez and local community leaders.
##
About Jose Hernandez:
Born in French Camp, California, Jose spent his childhood with his family as migrant farm workers. With his family’s encouragement he went onto the University of the Pacific in Stockton
to study electrical engineering. After completing graduate school Jose worked at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory where he helped develop the first full-­field digital mammography imagingsystem. Jose then went onto to work for NASA at the Johnson Space Center in Houston where in 2004 he was accepted into the astronaut training program. In 2009,Jose flew on STS-­128the Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission to the International Space Station as a Mission Specialist.

The Central Valley Democrat Supports Debra Bowen

The Congressional race in California's 36th district is heating up and we at the CV Democrat are in support of Secretary of State Debra Bowen's candidacy.  We would like see her continue the peoples work in Washington.

National Health Care Reform - One Hundred Years of Delay.

Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Edward Kennedy, Bill and Hillary Clinton and now Barack Obama have each endeavored to bring a better Health Care system to the American people. For one hundred years the attempts have been blocked by the fear of change that fills the conservative heart. Today the fear remains but it will no longer deter Democratic determination to do what is best for America.
We are on the cusp of a better era in Health Care.

Where costs were soaring out of control our Bill will lower them, cut the deficit by over $100 billion in the first decade and by a trillion dollars in the second.

Where the Health Insurance companies denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions our bill will ban their abuses by law.

Where thousands died every year because families couldn't get care due to lack of insurance with our bill people will live because coverage will be expanded by over thirty million Americans.

Lower Costs, an end to insurance company abuses, and the gift of life to thousands every year.

The vote will come within a week. Call your congress member. Even if you have never made such a call in your life and are nervous about doing it, make the call. Tell your congress member to vote yes.

Vote yes for life!

Dale Parkinson