Tagged: politics

On Tuesday night Hanford Republican Andy Vidak scored what many are calling a surprise victory in the special election to replace former state senator Michael Rubio in the 16th senate district. Despite a sizable voter registration edge for Democrats, Vidak carried over 50 percent of the vote, enough to avoid a July runoff with the top Democrat, former Rubio staffer and current Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez.

This week on Valley Edition we look at the future of politics in California, in the wake of a November election that saw Democrats gain a two-thirds majority in the Legislature, and Republican voter registration drop below 30 percent. FM89's Joe Moore brings us the second report a two-part series on the impact of California's new "top-two" election system. This week we learn how the new reforms may force some of the state's smaller political parties off the ballot entirely. 

This week on Valley Edition, we preview the upcoming June primary election and talk about this year's ballot measures and candidates. We also debate the pros and cons of attachment parenting with moms and with an expert in child development. And finally we get a preview of this year's Nights in the Plaza Friday night concert series at Arte Americas in Fresno.

On Valley Edition May 15, 2012: