BREAKING NEWS: Stockton Mayor Ed Chavez backs Jerry

I have some really exciting news to report.

Just a few minutes ago, Stockton Mayor Ed Chavez lent his support to my reelection campaign.

Chavez has served as Stockton’s mayor since 2005.  Before that, he spent 30 years with the Stockton Police Department, including the last 10 as Police Chief.

I’m honored to receive Mayor Chavez’s endorsement. 

I’ve worked hard and reached across party lines to represent the people of our region – by returning home each weekend to meet with community members and hear their ideas and concerns.  And I’ve delivered on that commitment by working to combat the scourge of meth, to improve infrastructure like our crucial levies, roads and interoperable communications equipment, and ensure our veterans receive the benefits they earned through their service.

As Stockton Mayor and Police Chief, Ed Chavez understands not only the great challenges we face as a community, but also how by working together we can achieve important victories.

Earlier today, Mayor Chavez explained his endorsement.

“I have been impressed with what Congressman McNerney has done in his short tenure in office.  He’s back in California every weekend – in fact, it’s nearly impossible to spend a Saturday in Stockton without running into him.  He’s worked with Republicans, Independents and Democrats to deliver for veterans, for children and for the first-responders in our community, our police officers and firefighters, who put their lives on the line daily. 

“Congressman McNerney has served his constituents well by helping create family-wage jobs in renewable energy, bringing home federal funds for important infrastructure projects in our region, working to make sure veterans have access to services they’ve earned, and being open, available and accessible to members of our community.”

“He puts the needs of his constituents first; that’s why he earns my endorsement.”

In his tenure as Mayor, Chavez has worked to promote and strengthen Stockton’s diverse neighborhoods, promoting economic development and tackling methamphetamine, graffiti and crime.

Mayor Chavez was born and raised in Stockton and attended local schools.  He obtained an A.A. from San Joaquin Delta College in 1970, earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice from California State University - Sacramento in 1972, and a M.S. in Management from Cal Poly Pomona in 1992.

UPDATE 10:41AM: Ben van der Meer wrote about the endorsement over at PolitickerCA

UPDATE 10:47 AM: Randy Bayne blogged about the endorsement on The Bayne of Blog

UPDATE: 11:22AM: Josh Richman and the Contra Costa Times' Inside Politics Blog wrote too