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Gubernatorial Candidates Meet With Central Valley Residents

Laura Tsutsui
/
Valley Public Radio
Gubernatorial candidates Delaine Eastin and Antonio Villaraigosa met with Central Valley residents.

Two California gubernatorial candidates spent the day in the Central Valley, talking to local residents about their priorities.

 

The idea was to show the unique experiences of residents in the Central Valley. Antonio Villaraigosa and Delaine Eastin were the only candidates to attend. They first met constituents in Orosi, and then visited Southwest Fresno.

 

Villaraigosa, former Mayor of Los Angeles, emphasized his record of fighting inequality.

 

“The best way to fight the policies of Donald Trump is to do a better job of lifting people out of poverty, at educating more of our kids, at addressing the fact that we have a prison pipeline,” said Villaraigosa.

 

Eastin is a former state superintendent who is focused on education and healthy environments.

 

“If budgets are statements of values, we need absolutely to understand, it's time to reinvest in our children,” Eastin said.

 

Residents told candidates about their personal experiences with homelessness and struggling to pay for higher education. The visit was organized by Faith in the Valley with a coalition of other community organizations.

Laura Tsutsui was a reporter and producer for Valley Public Radio. She joined the station in 2017 as a news intern, and later worked as a production assistant and weekend host. Laura covered local issues ranging from politics to housing, and produced the weekly news program Valley Edition. She left the station in November 2020.