Smart Voter
State of California (Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma Counties) June 2, 1998 Primary

DISTINGUISHING QUALIFICATIONS

By Mike Thompson

Candidate for United States Representative; District 1

This information is provided by the candidate
1) Connection to District 2) Bipartisan Support 3) Fiscal Expertise 4) Continuity of Service

1) Connection to District

Unlike my primary rivals in this race, I was born, reared and have lived all of my life in this district. My wife is a nurse in the same hospital where I was born. Our roots run deep here. Thatís why I traveled to every portion of this district last year and asked friends, neighbors, supporters and community leaders where I could best serve them after my final term expires in the Senate this year. Nearly 5,000 local residents signed a petition last spring urging me to run for Congress. More than 5,000 additional people signed my nomination papers this year. I didnít make this decision in a vacuum. It came after thoughtful counsel with many of the people who live here and who I have developed relationships with after a lifetime of experience here.

2) Bipartisan Support

No other candidate in this race has garnered the bipartisan support I have generated. More than 110 local elected officials have endorsed me, including Republican and Democratic supervisors, mayors, city councilmembers, school superintendents, sheriffs and district attorneys. I have been endorsed by organizations ranging from the conservative California Farm Bureau to the Democratic Party and most groups in between. I have a proven record of bipartisan leadership my opponents fail to demonstrate.

3) Fiscal Expertise

As chair of the Senate Budget Committee, I have balanced the budget of the worldís seventh largest economy over the past three years. I have firsthand experience in understanding the critical relationship between local, state and federal finances. I hope to use this expertise to obtain key committee positions in Congress that will directly benefit our district.

4) Continuity of Service

Our district has been ill-served by the disruption of representation caused by this Congressional seat changing hands three times in the last four elections. I believe our rural district can best be served by a representative who has the political capital and commitment to remain in office long enough to gain the power necessary to deliver for our area. Unlike my opponents, I have proven the ability to build governing coalitions of consensus and purpose needed to be an effective leader.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: June 2, 1998 09:45
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