Anna Caballero announces run for State Senate

California State Assembly Member Anna Caballero has announced her plans to run for State Senate.

“I want to provide rural Californians with a pathway to strength and prosperity and I can best do that in the California State Senate,” Caballero said as she announced her candidacy for State Senate District 12, a rural, agricultural district that includes the Salinas Valley, San Benito County, Merced County and parts of Fresno, Madera and Stanislaus County.

Caballero has always represented rural agricultural communities, first as Mayor of Salinas and then in the California State Assembly.

“Rural communities need a strong voice in the California State Senate because the big city Senators do not listen to us unless we make noise and fight for what we rightfully deserve. I can provide that voice in the Senate just as I did in the State Assembly, where I led the efforts to provide safe and adequate water via a water bond and to help rural families who faced tough times paying their bills through earned income credit.”

Caballero warned that a political storm sweeping across the country will seriously damage rural California unless people elect the right persons to represent them.

“Like many of you, I have been watching as earthquakes, hurricanes and fires create storms that damage our homes and businesses, and that cause immeasurable pain among families,” Caballero said. “But not all of the storms that threaten our home, our families and our communities are natural disasters,” Caballero added. “Sometimes we need to recognize political storms and political disasters that are threatening us.”

Caballero described a political storm fed by words that seek to engender fear so that people do not trust each other and are afraid of everybody. She pointed to the divisive rhetoric coming from Washington D.C. She added that the political storm is also fed by intimidating sexist behavior coming from some state legislators in Sacramento.

Caballero offered a simple solution: political leaders need to honor their word and keep their promises.

“All elected officials take an oath to promote justice for all and to provide equal protection for everyone,” Caballero said, “we do alright when our leaders honor that pledge.”

She pledged to use her campaign to convince all voters that they can make a difference.

“We will reach out to those voters who have lost faith in themselves and our democracy, not just to people who always vote,” Caballero said. “We cannot keep our home safe unless we are all working together to prepare and respond. We will work together to adopt policies that produce affordable housing, safe drinking water, quality education and an environment that takes care of our planet.”