It’s usually a big plus to have a favorite son in a political
race. In the case of Francisco Dominguez running for the 28th
District state Assembly seat, it’s more than that
– it’s an opportunity
It’s usually a big plus to have a favorite son in a political race. In the case of Francisco Dominguez running for the 28th District state Assembly seat, it’s more than that – it’s an opportunity to elect someone who just might not “forget where he came from.”
The first-term Gilroy Unified School District Board of Trustee member not only has a shot to win the whacky, geographically gerrymandered district, he has a chance to become a Democratic party renegade, which he says he’s willing to do.
Time will tell, of course, but when Dominguez says candidly that public employee benefits are far beyond affordable and that a two-tier system has to be put in place, it’s incredibly refreshing. Common sense – especially fiscal common sense – is in such short supply.
He also doesn’t tow the teacher-union inspired party line about class size reduction. Though it makes classrooms more manageable, there’s no solid evidence that it’s a boost for student achievement, he says. Weighing that against the enormous expense in a time of economic difficulty, he concludes that reductions just aren’t paying off.
Dominguez, unfortunately, is still vague and broad when it comes to fixing the state’s crushing and insane $26 billion deficit. Voters want specific answers as to where he would make reductions. A specific outline, akin to the plan candidate for governor Tom Campbell has developed, would be a welcome cornerstone to his position sheet. In fact, anytime a candidate can speak specifically, rather than in broad, vague terms, the more credible the candidacy becomes.
As a moderate Democrat, Dominguez has a chance to succeed in the “district that makes no sense.” The 28th includes Gilroy, part of San Jose, none of Morgan Hill, all of San Benito County, slices of Santa Cruz County and chunks of Monterey County, including the metropolis of San Ardo. A child using a crayon for the first time could have done a better job than the legislature drawing up this district.
Anyway, the Dominguez candidacy is a welcome one as will be the refinement of his positions. The expectation is, of course, that he will continue to serve those who elected him as a trustee well throughout the Assembly campaign.
If he’s elected, perhaps he will be one of the few who remembers that the further away the money gets from the people, the less accountability there is. Stealing money from school districts and City Halls for the benefit of the state is almost always a bad idea. Amen to that, and best of luck to Francisco Dominguez.
