Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, spoke glowingly of Republican Danny Gilmore during an interview this morning with KMJ radio's Ray Appleton. It appeared to me that she was endorsing her former Republican opponent for her 30th Assembly District seat. She didn't say the word "endorse," but she came very close to saying Gilmore should be the next Assembly member in the 30th.
And Parra didn't duck the reason: Her enemy, Democratic Sen. Dean Florez, is running his mother for the seat that Parra is vacating at the end of this term, Parra said new blood is needed in the Legislature and Gilmore and his wife are fine people. She said the Valley doesn't need another Florez -- in this case Shafter Mayor Fran Florez -- in the Legislature.
She admitted in the radio interview to still being angry that Dean Florez ran one of his staffers against her father, Pete Parra, taking him out of his longtime seat on the Kern County Board of Supervisors. She also said that the senator worked behind the scenes to help a previous Republican opponent, Dean Gardner. Parra had two tight races against the Republican.
It's clear that the Parra/Florez feud is still very bitter, so much so that Parra would rather see a Republican in her seat than a Democrat -- at least one related to Dean Florez.
So Parra has begun handing off her seat to Gilmore to prevent Fran Florez from getting early political traction.
Parra announced earlier that she would not seek another legislative office after her term ends. She told Appleton that she had has several job offers and probably would do something in Sacramento involving corporate or government relations. She said she has had many conversations with potential employers.
Sometime down the road, Parra, 38, said she might want to run for Congress. But seeking a state Senate seat is out for now.
Wow. That's so hard to understand because Dean Florez is so nice, humble, and gracious. I've never met anyone who didn't love him.
In actuality, what goes around, comes around. Florez is probably the least liked Senator in Sacramento and his condescencion in the face of the incredibly lousy job he has done is audacious.
Perhaps she has noticed that even though Florez is a Dem he might not be a team player for the Dems. This is exactly what we need is this country like Parra going for a Rep shows that if they overlook what party they are in they could most likely accomplish more in our best interest. It is imperative that everyone work together for the common good. It does look like she has hard feelings about her fathers loss thus not going to push for his mom.
How ironic Florez ran a staffer who was a true democrat against Parra’s father who was an acting republican and she’s mad about that?
Also, I clearly remember literature in Parra’s general election for her current assembly seat from Florez supporting her. So it must be that Parra left office because she no longer has any democrats supporting because she too became like her father, like a republican.
The Fresno Bee continues to serve us readers well by publishing stories on what more needs to be done to clean the air in Fresno and the Valley.
In those articles, Florez is always fighting Agriculture, Dairies and others to do there part to clean the air.
Parra on the other hand is seen as fighting against those measures to clean the air.
I'm sure everyone remembers the fights a few years ago on this and more recently about the Air Board appointments to include a doctor on asthma.
I think most people would agree that we need a Florez, someone willing to stand up and fight for what's best for us, ie clean air. I think Parra is dead wrong on this issue.
In most cases, Democrats seem to be more the environmentally friendly type and Republicans the business friendly type.
If these politicians really care about what's best for our kids and our community then they should support these ideas of cleaning the air and doing something about the cost of my 7 year old taking an inhaler to school.
Democrats should support TRUE Democrats that do what's best for our families.
Color me cynical, but isn't Parra planning to become a Sacramento lobbyist? Maybe she thinks Gilmore will be more friendly to the interests she will be representing. Throwing a monkey wrench in Florez' plans is probably just icing on the cake.
Why would a Democrat like Parra endorse or intend to endorse Gilmore? It makes no sense?!?.
Need I remind everyone that it was because of the Democratic Party that she was even elected to serve her full time in the Assembly!
It was Parra who spent 2 million in 2004 to get re-elected and then millions more again in her last race to get re-elected? Parra has consistently cost the party and contributers millions just to barely hold onto her seat and now this is the way she thanks everyone? are you kidding me??? This should be viewed as a big slap in the face to any Democrat and especially all of the Democrats that helped her get re-elected.
Does she really think she's helping the party by speaking "glowingly" of Gilmore?
I agree with Mike D. post, maybe she cares more about herself and trying to get in good since she's looking to become a lobbyist in Sacramento instead of doing whats best for the party and what's best for the people who live here in the area.
I guess she has a short memory about what the party has done for her!
This situation maybe that she was looking out and considering what is the best interest of the people and or community. I know that Parra has looked out for public safety and some stood for some logical sense decisions. I know this for a fact as I personally had problems with the golden cow reformed Worker's Comp system as a state public safety officer. I was injured on duty and had many denials and delays since my injuries from 2003 and before. After contacting Dean Flores's office I was told he represented the state and to contact Richard Alarcon's office which in turn told me to write the Governors office. After doing so and getting form letter responses I contacted Kevin McCarthys office and even was on KGOV tv about wasted time tax dollars and the cottage industry of Workers Comp, I received a sympathetic statement but only received real action from Parra's office from Mr. Sanders, her aide, who tried to pursue my case but was told by the system that this is a personnel matter. My case is scheduled to settle but it had been a struggle for several years. I thank Parra's office and staff for being truly concerned.
Dean Florez is just as much of a DINO (Democrat in Name Only) as Nicole Parra is. Dean Florez has stated that he does not support gay marraige or civil unions. The only difference between the two is that Nicole Parra is more pro-business and socially liberal, while Dean Florez is more pro-environment and socially conservative.
http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=16459
I think the correct take is that the Democratic Party let down Nicole Parra because she was representing her constiutents and following more realistic Federal guidelines and refused to "toe the line" and vote the way someone else wanted her to.
I now live in Napa, but grew up in Bakersfield and rural Arvin. I believe that this is personal rather than partisan. Up here in Napa, I have heard from friends in Bakersfield that the reason Nicole is not running for office again is that she plans to get married and start a family. That makes sense to me at the age of 38. I really doubt that there are ulterior motives beyond the personal animosities, which may or may not be justified. I do not feel that Nicole's endorsement, or lack of endorsement, should be of any more importance or interest than that of any other prominent person in the South San Joaquin.