Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, announced Thursday morning that he would seek a second term in Sacramento.
Gordon, a veteran San Mateo County supervisor who was elected to the state Assembly in 2010, touted in his announcement his success during his freshman term. Of the 19 bills he proposed, 15 were signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, including proposals to extend tax exemptions to public land trusts and to exempt volunteers from prevailing-wage requirements for public-works projects. He was also one of the architects, along with state Sen. Joe Simitian and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, of a proposal to blend Caltrain and high-speed rail on the Peninsula -- a proposal that the California High-Speed Rail Authority largely endorsed in its latest business plan.
Related story: Reps: High-speed rail should merge with improved Caltrain system in San Jose (April 18, 2011)
As chair of the Assembly's Budget Subcommittee on Resources and Transportation, he has been heavily involved in reviewing the latest plans for the controversial rail line. He also serves on the Budget, Health, Local Government, Joint Sunset Review and Revenue and Taxation committees and is a member of the Environmental and LGBT caucuses.
"Over the last year, it has been an honor to represent the residents of the Peninsula," Gordon said in a statement. "I am proud of what we have accomplished, in particular on issues regarding the environment and government efficiency. Yet there is still much more work to be done."
Gordon's reelection campaign has already received endorsements from a host of state and federal officials, including Eshoo, Simitian, Santa Clara County Supervisors Liz Kniss and Ken Yeager, Palo Alto Mayor Yiaway Yeh and all five members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Related story: Assembly candidate profile: Rich Gordon (May 7, 2010)
Comments
Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Jan 19, 2012 at 3:43 pm
on Jan 19, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Ever wonder why Rich Gordon refuses to stop supporting high speed rail? Perhaps the fact that 27% of his total campaign contributions come from unions and the lawyers & lobbyists category. These groups donated $188,982 to Gordon and it was clearly a good investment on their part as he has refused to stop support for high speed rail. See for yourself at
Web Link
Midtown
on Jan 19, 2012 at 11:37 pm
on Jan 19, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Send a message and vote for anyone but Gordon. Don't elect someone controlled by special interests. The fact that Gordon won't represent the views of the vast majority of his district and lead the fight to kill High Speed Rail is enough evidence that Gordon is in the pocket of special interests.
another community
on Jan 20, 2012 at 11:16 am
on Jan 20, 2012 at 11:16 am
The fact that Gordon is supported by Simitian is enough to give Gordon a NO vote. Simitian has been in Sacramento a long time, is adequately bright, and is a member of the majority party, so was well positioned to give us legislation dealing with the tough stuff, like the state's financial pickle. But no. Instead, we get nanny bills and a train to nowhere, and the tough stuff is left undone. Too bad for us, and too bad for Santa Clara county if this career politician gets elected as supervisor.
Crescent Park
on Jan 20, 2012 at 10:24 pm
on Jan 20, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Gordon has been a big disappointment in Sacramento, especially in regards to High Speed Rail. Does the man have an opinion on the topic? If he does, I've never heard anything more than the same "High Speed Rail done right" drivel that Simitian regurgitates, and of course, exactly what "High Speed Rail done right" is never articulated by either candidate. I'm guessing it's campaign dollars flowing into their re-election accounts from big labor in exchange for hundreds of billions of tax payer dollars to build the biggest boondoggle of the century thus far.
I won't vote for either of these guys.