The day you've been waiting for...

You burned up shoe leather from the streets of Stockton to Pleasanton. You stuffed envelopes night and day. You wore out several mouse pads spreading the word to everyone you know. You contributed your hard-earned dollars to "The Boot" -- multiple times.

And now, that participatory investment in your democracy is paying off.

Today, in our nation's Capitol, Jerry McNerney is being sworn in as the elected Representative of California's 11th Congressional District.

You don't have to say "-elect" anymore. It's Congressman Jerry McNerney now.

In the lead-up to Congressman McNerney's first hours in office, local reporters have produced several interesting reports in recent days, including an in-depth profile in the Contra Costa Times. Curious about the coverage? Check out the following print, blog and radio reports that appeared in the Stockton Record, Contra Costa Times, and KQED's "California Report":

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Stockton Record
Thursday, January 4, 2007

McNerney to be sworn into House seat
By Hank Shaw, Capitol Bureau Chief

SACRAMENTO - Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney will officially become Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, once he takes the oath of office at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., this morning.

McNerney, who defeated seven-term incumbent and former House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, last fall, has become a minor celebrity in Washington for ousting Pombo, who became the first committee chairman to lose in a decade.

McNerney this week is expected to face a whirlwind of parties and receptions as well as cast his first vote - a Democratic package of new House rules that will, among other things, prohibit lawmakers from traveling on corporate jets free of charge.

Click here for the rest of the Stockton Record article...

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Contra Costa Times
Saturday, December 30, 2006

Somehow, McNerney always lands on his feet
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Times Political Columnist

When Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney strolled into the freshman orientation reception in a Washington hotel earlier this month, heads turned.

And why not? He's the most famous freshman in the upcoming 110th Congress.

McNerney even has a nickname, the "dragon-slayer," in honor of his wildly unexpected triumph Nov. 7 over seven-term incumbent and powerful committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy.

Click here for the rest of the Contra Costa Times article... 

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Contra Costa Times Politics Weblog
Wednesday, January 3, 2007

Rep.-elect McNerney moves in
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Times Political Columnist

That click you heard this morning was Rep.-elect Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, turning the key in his Washington, D.C., office for the first time.

It's at 312 Cannon Office Building, a three-room, 1,000-square-foot suite with royal red carpets, fresh paint and a lovely view of the parking lot next to the Capitol South Metro train station. His official plaque was already installed on the wall outside the door: "Jerry McNerney. California. 312."

It was a morning full of firsts.

Staff picked up the mail for the first time from the floor where it had landed after being pushed through the slot. The daily newspaper bundle arrived for the first time, with the New York Times and the Washington Post. The phone rang as McNerney swung open the door.

Click here for the rest of the Contra Costa Times blog post...  

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KQED's California Report
Tuesday, January 2, 2007

California's Newest Congressman
By Cy Musiker, Reporter

The 110th Congress convenes in Washington on Thursday. California voters are returning to office all the incumbents who ran for re-election, except Republican Richard Pombo. Pombo represented the 11th District, which sprawls from Stockton in the San Joaquin Valley to the Bay Area suburbs, but he lost this year in an upset to political novice and Democrat Jerry McNerney.

Click here to listen to audio of KQED's California Report (the segment on McNerney starts a few minutes into the program) ...

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What are your thoughts?

When Jerry sent you a message about his national Democratic Radio Address to America last Saturday, you responded with 100 robust comments on Jerry's Blog. The 101st comment came from the Congressman himself, who wrote about how "your feedback shows that people are yearning to hear the truth, that people want a change."

Click here to read Jerry's comment and 100 others from your fellow supporters.

If you have a comment in reaction to any of the newspaper and radio reports above or you would like to congratulate Jerry on this momentous day, post your comments below and your new Congressman will likely post a response very soon!

And remember -- with your shoe leather, mouse pads and hard-earned dollars, you made this historic day possible.

Thank you!

Team McNerney

Comments

[Amy Lam]

Congratulations Jerry, I mean, Congressman McNerney! Happy New Year, and best wishes to your family and staff.

[Vicki Kourkoulis]

My congratulations to Jerry McNerney and his supporters for defeating the "Prince of Darkness," Richard Pombo. Veterans, as well as animal life, will now have a guardian angel in the administration. The election of Jerry McNerney and the disposal of Richard Pombo is a demonstration of good triumphing over evil. Bravo!

Vicki Kourkoulis
President, Yin-Yang Animal Rescue
Former Wife of Ret. Col. John A. Dramesi, Author, "Code of Honor"

[Brian]

Even though I live in Ohio, Congressman McNerney's victory is my favorite memory from 2006. I'm trying not to let my expectations get out of control - he is just a freshman, after all. But! What a happy day.

[Peter Bowen]

Congressman,
Don't allow Bush to proceed with his "business as usual" philosophy. Do everything you can to stop this surge of additional American troops into Iraq. It's a failed plan. As Barney Frank said on MSNBC last night, "this administration has been wrong about everything, at every step of the way, now this is the right decision?"

You've got to stop these guys.

PB

[james Gray]

Congresman McNerney,

This AM watched C-span coverage of the Swearing. What a grand site! Congratulations to you!

Do you realize that you may be the instrument of the Great Decider's Administration's salvation?

Ol' GW had an interest in wind power - yeah. According to Friedman(NY Times) he'd shown a great deal of enthusiasm for it while governor of Texas, but like everything else it disappeared down the rat hole of Cheney special oil interest grovelling. Wouldn't it be nice if you could get this tired old president to clear the webs from his brain and revisit that enthusiasm? Certainly he'll be scouting for some alternative to a failed regime and the energy issue may be just his rope. It'll take someone with the experience you have to light his fire, but there you go - what a thrill that would be.

Good Luck Congressman,

James Gray

[Ceara]

Jerry, you sounded great giving your vote to the Speaker and you did a fine job on the floor, defending the rules package. You and Mary were sweet walking down the halls, holding hands, going to your new offices. I wish I could be there to shake your hand and thank you for helping us TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK.

[Catherine Godlewski]

Congratulations on your swearing- in to office, Representative McNerney.

This morning on the "California Report" on KQED you spoke very, very passionately about the crisis situation in Iraq and that America's response to it requires immediate and decisive change. Hopefully, these impassioned thoughts will be foremost in your mind as you start your new position as CA-11's representative. The catastrophe that has been playing out in Iraq must come to an end. Your constituents, supporters, and others have pinned our hopes on you and other like-minded, determined legislators to do just that.

[Vicki Madrid]

I am so happy and excited to see you take your place as our representative in Morgan Hill, CA! I happily donated a few bucks to your campaign (I'm retired) and put up signs on my property and my mom's.

I subscribe to many progressive organizations and through them I have signed many petitions and letters to the White House complaining about their many wrong headed policies. I'm still getting emails from these organizations asking me to let my Senators and Congressman know what I expect them to do now that the Democrats have the majority in Congress. But! I don't have to anymore because we have two excellent Senators and one terrific new Congressman that will know what is right and what is wrong.

Following your statements I have concluded I do not have to worry about how you're going to represent us in our government. You are exactly the right person for the left :-)

Congratulations and try and keep your sense of humor. It's going to be a tough time in the next two years.

[Christina Howells]

Congratulations, Congressman McNerney. What a wonderful day for you and for all of us who live in CA-11.
Thank you!

[Jim Edwards-Hewitt]

Welcome to Washington, Congressman! I'm so proud to have had a small role in bringing you here.

[Richard Linville]

Congratulations Congressman McNerney,

Let me know if you need help drafting articles of impeachment, for instance lying to and withholding vital information from Congress and the American people, domestic spying without a warrant, kidnapping, torture, and crimes against humanity.

[Robert Rackerby]

What can be done to keep a permanent Democratic majority in Congress or at least long enough to correct the mess Republicans have made of certain aspects of this nation. It's going to take a lot of sweat but we have to quit being stupid.

[John C. Chendo]

Way to go, Jerry!!! I'm glad Clean Energy is one of the 6 priorities on Nancy Pelosi's Plan for the First Hundred Hours. It's important to have a thoughtful plan and implement it, in order to put America back together. The Bush-ites have not done that, and have indicated they will not . Bush is reversing the Iraq Study Group Plan, which was to have been adopted by December 31,2006; the only thing Bush has done about Iraq by Dec.31 was to preside over the dungeon-style killing of Saddam, which was not part of the Iraq Study Group's Plan for "national reconciliation." I trust the American people are ready to turn to evidence-based government and away from faith-based platitudes masking oily greed.

[MichaelBeer]

Dear Jerry,
Congratulations! All I hope is that you will remember that you were elected by persons who saw a progressive candidate. We have had it with so-called "business Democrats," moderate Democrats, Democrats like Joe Leiberman who betray their party, and Democrats who have never heard of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Get in there and fight the good fight for working people.

[John Williams]

I hope you will help the people WIN the war on science. The Republicans are living in a state of denial, even when it comes to things as obvious as our energy policy. It is time we learn how to FIT within nature and reason.

[Chris Finnie]

I went to DC for the open house and reception. What excitement to see Jerry standing in his mostly empty office on Thursday--and the staff already hard at work by Friday. Though I missed his maiden floor speech, some of the folks on the Capitol tour got to see it and were so pumped!

The letdown started on Saturday morning with flight delays and missed connections galore. By the time I'd spent somewhere around a million hours in airports in a single day, I was in tears--wondering if I'd ever get back to my car and get to drive home. But, at 7:00 pm PST (I'd left DC at 3:15 am EST), I finally found myself with 3 other people on the shuttle to the parking lot. One man asked where I'd been and I told him where and why. The other man asked what congressman I'd worked for and gone to see sworn in. I told him McNerney and watched a big grin spread across his face. He said, "I don't know which I'm happier about, that McNerney is in DC, or that Pombo isn't." Turns out he'd done phonebanking with Defenders of Wildlife and was so excited to hear about my experiences in DC. When we got out, I thanked him for his work for the campaign. But I have to tell you, that guy on the shuttle made the rest of a tiring, frustrating day all worthwhile! Chris

[Richard Linville]

Congressman McNerney,

Sorry about the double post, but you’ll never guess what I found in my Saturday mail. Remember all those political mailers we got in the weeks leading up to the election? The RNC smear-machine is at it already. Apparently the cat is out of the bag Jerry. Someone leaked the fact that you want to give $5.2 billion to aliens, Martians I guess I didn’t really read it. Normally I would wait until someone has been in office more than 2 days and established a track record of some sort before I make up my mind on supporting him for reelection. The RNC just nudged me over the top. -- Reelect McNerney 2008 --

[Chuck Jones]

Congratlations sir. Now please act to oppose the imminent escalation of the war in Iraq!!

[Richard Fellows]

Jerry 'Dragon Slayer' McNerney -

I like that.

I am delighted to have you as my congressman.