Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) has announced the launch of his re-election campaign for the 17th District, which includes Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, as well as much of San Luis Obispo County.
Laird was first elected to the California State Senate in 2020. The primary election will be held March 5, 2024.
“When I ran for the Senate in 2020, I promised to hit the ground running and that’s exactly what I have done,” Laird said. “I promised to work on climate change—and led a climate change working group of 12 Senators that resulted in a major legislative package signed into law. I promised to focus on our education system—and last year, as Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education, the largest year over year increase to K-12 education in modern times was secured. I promised to work on housing—and we produced $3.5 billion for higher education housing, to benefit both students and their surrounding communities. I’m proud of the progress made on many key issues. I’m energized to continue to meet the challenges, as well as the opportunities, we face on the Central Coast and in California.”
During Laird’s first term in the State Senate, he sent 29 bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk that were signed into law. Legislative highlights include: helping save Watsonville Hospital; funding to reduce future flood risks along the Pajaro River; progress addressing climate change (including sea level rise, data forecasting and greenhouse gas emissions tracking); fentanyl overdose reversal drugs; survival benefits for families of fallen officers; services for foster youth who attend community college; support for older Californians living with HIV; and protections against excessive rents for mobile home residents.
Laird also has secured tens of millions of dollars for important priorities and investments throughout the Central Coast.
Through the state budget, he secured funding to restore UC cooperative agricultural services, as well as provide key support to CSU agricultural programs, such as those at Cal Poly; provide support for public schools so they could reopen after pandemic lockdowns, including support to address the learning loss of students during the pandemic; fix a long-term funding issue for the City of Atascadero; provide funds for water projects on the Monterey Peninsula and the reservoirs in southern Monterey County; address issues related to homelessness in Santa Cruz; secure help for the Point Sur Lighthouse and Garrapata Park trail system in Monterey County; provide key support to help Cal Poly rebuild its Swanton campus facilities; and, working with colleagues, ensure continued support for state food banks and more.
Other key wins include support for Community Human Services’ Shuman Heart House in Monterey, the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement project, Camatta Ranch in San Luis Obispo County, Toro Coast Preserve Project, Cayucos Veterans Hall, Creston Road Active Transportation and Bike and School Access Improvements in Paso Robles, and SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit in Monterey County.
Representing an estimated 993,921 people, the 17th Senate District includes all of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties, as well as much of the population of San Luis Obispo County. Following the 2020 Census, the district boundaries were changed to include San Benito County and the Salinas Valley in Monterey County, while no longer including Santa Clara County and portions of southern San Luis Obispo County.
Still trying to find the part in the article where his opponent is even mentioned. Hmmmm
Oh wait, it’s just a hispanic man with integrity and an excellent resume. He’s not a D though so we don’t care. #journalismisdead