October 9, 2006

Fresno Chamber Urges Support For Political Reform

Mayor Alan Autry joined forces with the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and others today at Sal’s Mexican Restaurant to ask Fresno residents to join them in vote yes on Prop. 11.

“We are all here today to urge our friends and neighbors to vote yea on Prop. 11 because it will remove the fundamental conflict of interest that exists when legislators draw their won lines and will help restore accountability in Sacramento,” said Fresno Mayor Alan Autry. “As a Mayor I know firsthand how much local governments suffer when Sacramento faces a budget crisis or fails to address a crucial issue for our community. Prop. 11 will give us a tool to hold Legislator’s feet to the fire when they do not produce results on the issues we sent them to the State Capitol to address.”

Prop. 11 will take away legislator’s power to draw their own district lines and guarantee their own reelection – whether they do their jobs or not. Instead, this power will be put into the hands of voters in an open and transparent process.

“I am here as a business owner, employer and member of the National Federation of Independent Business/California to show my strong support for Proposition 11 because we need representatives in Sacramento that listen to our needs as a community,” local business owner Lorraine Salazar said. “Legislators are not effectively addressing the state’s problems that directly impact me and my employees; important issues like education and health care.”

“The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce supports Prop. 11 because it will help get California get back on the right track,” said Amy Huerta with the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce. “Prop. 11 is a first good step, supported by nearly 2,000 groups and individuals, which will help us address the dysfunction in Sacramento.”

Prop. 11 was carefully crafted by the League of Women Voters of California, AARP and Common Cause and has gained the support of a broad based group of nearly 2000 good government organizations, civil rights advocates, elected leaders across California, businesses, cities, community associations and individuals.

“The Fresno County Farm Bureau supports Prop. 11 because we need change in Sacramento that will result in water and agricultural policy that will ensure the Central Valley continues to serve as the bread basket of the world. As the current system stands- nothing happens and no solutions are found,” said Teresa Plascencia of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. “Prop. 11 will help us hold legislators accountable so that they will finally have some incentive to work together to deal with the big issues.”

Eligio Nava, of the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said, “Prop. 11 will ensure that voters’ needs are put ahead of special interests and incumbent protection. In the last election, 99 percent of state legislators were reelected- at the expense of our communities. Prop. 11 will change this and I ask Californians to take a positive step toward taking control of our government back by voting yes on Prop. 11.”

“It’s time that we look at reforms that will fundamentally make government better in California,” David Schecter, Professor at Cal State Fresno said. “Prop. 11 will remove the inherent conflict of interest and will help to make politicians more accountable to the people that elected them- creating a more responsive legislature and a more engaged public.”

Prop. 11 will create a 14-person independent citizens commission to draw fair legislative districts – keeping communities, cities and counties intact. The commission will be comprised of five Democrats, five Republicans and four individuals from neither major party.

“Communities across California have been carved up into unexplainable districts to protect legislators in office- Stockton, just north of Fresno, has four assembly representatives, which divides the voices of constituents and business owners,” Dora Westerlund of the Fresno Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said. “It’s time that we restore voter confidence in Sacramento and vote yes on Prop. 11.”

For more information, please visit www.yesprop11.org