Health & Fitness
Fellow Dubliners! You've been re-districted.
The former 11th Congressional district is now the 15th and Pete Stark is your representative.
I started seeing the signs a few weeks ago.
"Pete Stark for Congress".
I thought, why I am seeing signs for Pete Stark? He's not my congressman. Jerry McNerney is. With the election coming up, I decided to find out what was going on.
Find out what's happening in Dublinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
I'm embarrassed to say, I wasn't aware until now of the fate that had befallen me and my fellow Dublin residents -- and others.
I've been redistricted.
Find out what's happening in Dublinwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Yep, folks, you are no longer living in the 11th Congressional District. You are in the 15th Congressional District. And Pete Stark is your representative.
When did this happen? August 15, 2011
Why did this happen? As a result of the 2010 Census, the redistricting effort was initiated.
Who did this? A commission of your fellow citizens. http://www.redistrictingca.org/
In the past, the State Legislature did the redistricting. In 2011, a commission of citizens did the deed.
I am sure many of you have been aware of this for awhile. And others realized it when we got our sample ballots in the mail a few weeks ago. Others, like me, 2 days before the election, are still not aware of it. Hence, I thought I'd post this blog.
You have three choices: Pete Stark (D), Eric Swalwell (D) and Chris Pareja (I). And those choices are regardless of your party affiliation. Yes, there is no Republican on the ballot. The top two vote getters will be on the ballot in November.
"What's this 'top two' thing", you might be saying. We have a new "top two" system, approved by voters with the passage of Prop. 14 in 2010. Voters can select their preferred candidate regardless of political party. The top two finishers in each primary will appear on the November ballot. This does not include the presidential primary.
Regardless of your political affiliation, I strongly encourage everyone to fulfill their civic duty and vote. I call myself a "militant voter". If you don't vote, I'll buy you a plane ticket to the country from which my parents escaped in 1963... Cuba. You can live there and not have to vote. Oh sure, they "vote" and it counts for nothing.
Over the history of our country, countless men and women have died so that you can have the right to vote. Don't dishonor their memories. Be a citizen. Take the time to prepare for Tuesday's election. And vote.
