In one of the major upsets of 2006, Jerry McNerney, who had never served in elected office, won the 11th Congressional District seat held by the powerful Richard Pombo. In the two years since, McNerney has learned a lot about Washington and a lot about the 11th District, which stretches from Lodi to Gilroy.
His performance has been impressive in several ways:
• He initiated "congressman on the corner" meetings with constituents that take him to cafes and elsewhere. McNerney says he will keep these informal meetings up if re-elected.
• He convened advisory committees on agriculture, education, health and other topics, putting him touch with experts and constituents.
• He released to the public his entire list of earmarks – not just the money he got, but all that he requested. McNerney also has backed legislation calling for government openness.
McNerney has sided with Democrats on social issues such as raising the minimum wage and expanding health coverage for children. And he has gained a good knowledge of valley issues such as agriculture and has worked with Republicans when appropriate.
He brings an unusual expertise to Congress as an engineer specializing in wind power. For that reason, he was chosen for the House Committee on Science and Technology and a select committee on energy independence and global warming. He has also focused on improving veteran benefits, influenced in part by his son, who joined the Air Force following Sept. 11. He has managed to negotiate the fine line of supporting the troops while opposing the war in Iraq.
McNerney calls himself a moderate, and we see him that way, too. In contrast, his opponent, Dean Andal, has a long record of rigid conservative views. Andal served in the Assembly in the early 1990s and spent eight years on the state Board of Equalization ending in 2002.
Residents of the 11th District have been well served by McNerney and they should send him back to Washington for a second term in the House of Representatives.
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