In vast, Republican-majority Senate District 4, two Democrats go head to head
In California Senate District 4, one of the most conservative in the state, two Democrats are facing off after six Republicans diluted the vote and were edged out in the June primary.
The district includes all of Stanislaus County and parts of 11 other counties south and east of here, ranging from Nevada County north of Lake Tahoe to Death Valley in Inyo County.
Tim Robertson is from Keyes and works in Modesto as executive director of the nonprofit North Valley Labor Federation, a six-county labor union partnership. He serves on several boards and committees, including the Keyes Community Services District and Stanislaus 2030, which he described as a collaboration among businesses, workers, elected officials, education leaders and community interests to explore and implement economic development strategies to grow the local economy.
Marie Alvarado-Gil lives in Jackson in Amador County. She is a school administrator and a commissioner on the state Advisory Commission on Special Education.
During a recent forum organized by the Modesto Bee Editorial Board, Alvarado-Gil described herself as an independent thinker whose motto is to “listen before I lead.”
A moderate Democratic with some right-leaning beliefs, Alvarado-Gil said, “I am running because our district needs courageous, principled leadership. I will champion policy to build a strong economy and I will stand up against aggressive government overreach in our homes and our communities.”
Alvarado-Gil said that means opposing taxes, addressing gas prices and inflation, securing the water supply, adding educational opportunities, attracting employers with livable wages and expanding internet connectivity in rural areas.
She said she has endorsements from Democrats and Republicans alike. “I have taken on this campaign not as a Democrat but as an opportunity to unite Senate District 4.”
Robertson said he has a long history of working in a bipartisan manner in this community.
“Housing and good jobs, job training and good, safe schools are all issues that don’t have a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ next to their name,” he said.
Improving the economic conditions of working families is Robertson’s top priority.
“We need to create better jobs, job training programs, and expand quality education,” he said. “We need access to healthcare, more secure retirement, and lower costs — especially for gas and housing.”
Answers on environment, taxes, more
During the forum, the candidates were asked about a number of issues, including the environment, education, reproductive rights and gun control.
On his plan to address increasingly devastating wildfire seasons, Robertson said hundreds of millions of dollars need to be invested now in fuel reduction, home hardening and creating defensible spaces. He said there must also be an investment in rebuilding and healing the forests and ensuring fire insurance is affordable.
Alvarado-Gil, who’s had to evacuate her home twice due to wildfires, said forest management programs are essential. She also wants to see rebates offered to homeowners for home-hardening projects like replacing wood or shingle roofs and covering vents and eaves.
Alvarado-Gil said she opposes Proposition 30, which would impose an additional 1.75% tax on residents who make more than $2 million annually to fund zero-emission vehicle programs and wildfire response and prevention activities.
“I don’t support any tax increases,” she said. “We have to do more with the money that we have. Efficiency, effectiveness, not more taxes.”
Robertson said he supports the tax because it is only for people who make more than $2 million and 20% of the funds go to wildfire management. He questioned why his opponent would oppose the the initiative.
“I think it is a little dissident to say that we want to invest and give rebates to communities when we are opposing raising revenue for that,” he said of his opponent.
On the state’s plan to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, Robertson called it ambitious and expressed concern about the lack of electrical vehicle charging infrastructure and the high cost of electric vehicles.
Alvarado-Gil said the idea isn’t ambitious, it’s ridiculous. With the average cost of an electric vehicle at $66,000, “this is an elite decision in California that just does not make sense,” she said.
Where the two agree
The candidates were more aligned on other issues.
Both support Proposition 1, which would amend the California Constitution to include a person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the right to abortion or to refuse contraceptives.
They also both support the Second Amendment.
Robertson said he believes in people’s rights to responsibly own guns and has no plans to pursue any new gun control laws, which Alvarado-Gil used as an opportunity to criticize him.
She said she was surprised to hear his position and challenged him to rescind his endorsement from the California Democratic Party “being that he is such a strong Second Amendment proponent.”
“I am authentic,” Alvarado-Gil said. “I don’t change my website or platform to align more with the issue of the district. I come in directly with who I am with authenticity and accountability and I don’t waiver.”
Robertson pointed to his long record of bringing people together through his nonprofit work and civic engagement.
“I have a career built on bringing people together across party lines ... across interest lines, getting labor and business to work together, educational leaders and community leaders to come together to the same table and figure out ways that we can move our communities forward,” he said. “I want to continue to do that ... throughout Senate District 4.”
