The California Farm Bureau Federation has endorsed Congressional candidate Ricky Gill (R-Lodi), a family farmer running against incumbent Congressman Jerry McNerney in California’s 9th District.

“Ricky Gill has grown up in the Central Valley and has firsthand experience in small business, dealing with regulations and encouraging the expansion of trade to grow our economy and create local jobs,” California Farm Bureau President Paul Wenger said. “His family’s roots in agriculture have guided his life’s path, and he will make the needs of farmers and ranchers a priority as he represents his district in Washington.”

“I’m honored to receive the Farm Bureau’s endorsement,” Gill said. “I look forward to standing up for our farmers and ranchers so they can create jobs right here in the 9th District, where my family has been farming for 30 years.”

“Ricky will be an energetic advocate for his constituents and will support policies to help turn our economy around, to provide jobs and business opportunities for the next generation,” Wenger said.

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 74,000 members statewide and as part of a nationwide network of more than 6.2 million Farm Bureau members.

About Ricky Gill

Ricky Gill is a native of San Joaquin County who was born and raised in Lodi, California. The son of immigrant parents, Ricky is a small business owner, a family farmer, and a former member of the California State Board of Education whose story speaks to the power of the American dream. Ricky grew up helping manage his family’s vineyard operation and serving the community as chair of the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission. He has played an integral role in his family’s small business, which employs 60 people in the San Joaquin Valley, for several years. In 2004, he was appointed by the Governor to the California State Board of Education, where he served as the sole representative of more than six million public school students. Ricky now serves as a member of the Lodi Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University, Ricky earned his Juris Doctor at the University of California, Berkeley earlier this year.The National Republican Congressional Committee has named Ricky a “Young Gun” candidate.

California’s 9^th Congressional District includes about 70% of Antioch.

Meeting gives residents opportunity to address city council candidates

The Commons at Dallas Ranch will host a “Meet the Antioch City Council Candidates” Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at The Commons at Dallas Ranch, 4751 Dallas Ranch Road, Antioch.

The Commons at Dallas Ranch, the premier Independent, Assisted, and Memory Care Senior Community in Antioch will welcome the Antioch City Council Candidates for a Town Hall Meeting. During the town hall meeting, each candidate will be given the opportunity to present a brief introduction of themselves and their election platform. The candidate presentations will be followed by a question and answer period by the moderator and the audience.

“This is an opportunity for our residents and the community to have the opportunity to ask questions and hear first hand what the candidates bring to the table.” “We are honored to host the event.” says Dina Osakue, Community Relations Director at The Commons.

For more information or to submit questions for the candidates, contact Dina Osakue at (925) 754-7772.

The Antioch Police Officers Association (APOA) has announced, after interviewing the four candidates for Mayor of Antioch, that its members voted unanimously to endorse former Antioch mayor and mayoral candidate Don Freitas.

APOA president Tom Furhmann stated, “Our city is operating in the worst state budget crisis ever. Sacramento is raiding the budget we count on for essential city services like police, public safety and other essential city services. Now more than ever, we need experience and effective leadership at City Hall. Don is that leader. We don’t expect to agree with him on everything, but we know this: Don Freitas doesn’t beat around the bush. What you see is what you get. He brings proven experience and effective leadership ability – leadership that Antioch needs to successfully navigate the challenges ahead.”

A lifelong Antioch resident and career County employee, Freitas served as Antioch’s elected mayor from 2000-2008, after being elected in 1998 to the City Council, and having served 16 years on the Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors. Today, Don Freitas, who recently retired as the County’s Clean Water Manager.

“I am thrilled,” said an enthusiastic Freitas. “I was honored to serve as Antioch’s mayor from 2000 – 2008. We accomplished a lot during that time by partnering with the APOA and others. Sadly, the past four years have been a different story. Receiving the APOA’s support at this critical time means the world to me. Working together we can create stability at City Hall and restore community optimism to move our city forward.”

During his first term on the Antioch City Council Freitas voted to give the police the “three percent at fifty” retirement benefit that has been a cause of increased costs for cities and counties throughout the state. It allows current sworn officers the ability to retire at age 50 with an annual income equal to 3% multiplied by their highest year’s salary, again multiplied by the number of years worked. That benefit was changed, this year, to 3% at age 55 and is calculated on the final three year’s salary for new hires, reducing the pension costs to the city budget.

Then in 2007, during his last term as Mayor, Freitas voted to give the police a six year contract, which included two pay raises. That contract was to run through the end of this year, but the current council worked with the Police Association to adjust their compensation package, requiring they pay 9% toward their retirement, and eliminated the two pay raises allowing the city to avoid two, multimillion dollar balloon payments to cover the costs of those raises.

Two of the other three candidates running for Mayor, current Mayor Pro Tem Wade Harper and Councilman Gary Agopian, voted to implement the new, less expensive contract.

The election for Antioch mayor will be decided on the November 6th ballot. Last June, Antioch voters decided by more than 84% to keep the city’s system of electing its Mayor. “Residents want an independent, strong, effective leader. This will always be my goal if voters give me the privilege of serving as Antioch mayor once again,”said Freitas.

For more information contact Don Freitas directly at 925-778-1161 or via email at dpfreitas@comcast.net.

Publisher Allen Payton contributed to this article.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Political Action Committee endorsed Meuser for the California Senate. They stated “We believe you will be an excellent representative for taxpayers and look forward to working with you in the years ahead.” Meuser is honored to have received this endorsement. Meuser stated “It is time for the citizens of Contra Costa and Alameda counties have a representative who will fight for the taxpayer.”

DeSaulnier has been an Assemblyman or a Senator representing Contra Costa for the last six years. During these years, DeSaulnier has received an F grade each year. According to Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Report Cards, DeSaulnier has been one of the worst representatives for the taxpayers. DeSaulnier’s grades are as follows:

2007 – 3.4%

2008 – 12.3%

2009 – 0%

2010 – 15.2%

2011 – 14.9%

2012 – Not yet released

Average grade 9.16%

After seeing DeSaulnier’s voting record, Meuser replied “This year the choice is real clear for the citizens of Contra Costa and Alameda county. Do they want a representative who works for the taxpayers or do they want someone who works against the taxpayers.”

Meuser is an attorney based in Walnut Creek, running against incumbent Mark DeSaulnier who is seeking his second and final term in the California State Senate. For more information on the Meuser campaign visit www.MarkMeuser.com.

Congressional candidate Ricky Gill, running against incumbent Jerry McNerney (D) in California’s 9^th District, which includes most of Antioch, was one of a handful of Congressional candidates from across the country who were given the opportunity to speak at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday.

Gill delivered the following remarks, yesterday:

“My name is Ricky Gill, and I am humbled to stand before you today as a Republican nominee for Congress – and a proud son of California’s San Joaquin Valley.

My parents immigrated to the Valley from India and Africa with only their love for each other, a strong work ethic, and the enduring desire to pursue their American Dream.

We all work hard in the Valley, and we’re proud to live there. But today we face crippling unemployment and foreclosures-even the bankruptcy of Stockton, our largest city. Young people leave — or drop out of school to help their families make ends meet. Our friends and neighbors are suffering.

But the Valley is a cautionary tale of failed policies, not false ambitions. No one in this country dreams of dependency; no one hopes for mediocrity. We are ready again to seize the measure of our ambitions – not because the government says we can, but because we believe we can.

We need a new generation of leadership to chart the path – to fight for policies that create jobs, rather than red tape — and to help small businesses succeed, rather than helping green energy companies fail.

Like you, we Valley folks are tough, independent, and faithful – and we are ready to rebuild our American Dream.

Thank you, and God Bless America.”

To see a video of Gill’s speech on C-SPAN’s website, click here.

Gill is a 25-year-old, recent law school graduate from Lodi. If he wins, he’ll be the youngest member of Congress.

For more information about C-SPAN’s election coverage, please visit their Convention Hub at http://www.c-span.org/RNC/.

Ricky Gill speaks at Antioch headquarters opening

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Ricky Gill, Republican candidate for Congress against Democrat incumbent Jerry McNerney, chose a location in Antioch for his Contra Costa campaign headquarters. He and his staff held an opening attended by about 25 volunteers and supporters on Saturday, July 22.

“We have the opportunity to send a fresh face to Washington,” Gill said. “Let’s send a message to the national political scene. We can make history. I’ll be the youngest member of Congress and the youngest Republican elected to Congress since the first World War.”

The 25-year-old, Lodi native is running in the newly created 9th District which includes most of Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Byron and Discovery Bay, as well as Stockton and most of San Joaquin County.

The campaign headquarters is located at 5109 Lone Tree Way, between Hillcrest Avenue and Vista Grande Drive.