With less than two weeks before Election Day, Brian Pacheco says he’s in the final stretches of a long journey that has only increased in intensity and significance.
The candidate for the District 27 seat in the State Assembly is spending a significant amount of time in Merced County, as well as many parts of Madera and Fresno counties, reaching out to voters in a multitude of ways.
“We are doing as much direct, in-person voter contact as we can,” Pacheco says. “I have a tremendous group of people helping me. We’ve also done mailers, digital media, TV, radio — all forms of communications to try and get our message out to voters in District 27.
“Basically it comes down to making life more affordable for families in the valley. I’ve served 12 years as a county supervisor, and I have a proven record of getting things done, working with people from all political backgrounds and points of view. But we always manage to find common ground, and that’s what I believe is what politics is all about. My opponent has tried to label me as another Sacramento Democrat, but I’m not. … I’m not interested in party labels or extreme politics. … I believe I represent what our country was founded on. People who work at home, and go to do their public service, to help their community, and then they return back home, when that time is done. And that’s what I’ve done.”
Pacheco is running against Mike Murphy, a former mayor of Merced and a Republican candidate who is calling for change in Sacramento, and describes District 27 as a critical “swing district” to bring balance back to the Legislature.
Pacheco responds: “This particular seat is very important to both parties. Nobody wants to lose a seat, and the other side always wants to gain a seat. But my opponent has said that this seat will help him bring balance to the State Legislature, and that is simply not true. If this seat were to switch, it would not do any of that. Last I checked, you need 41 votes to pass any legislation in the State Assembly, and they would be well short. What I believe is that my opponent and his party are not only not going to get this seat, but they’re going to lose two more seats, and that’s the reality we face. But again, it’s up to the voters in each Assembly district to decide who they feel will best represent them and do the job in Sacramento. And that’s where I believe I have the advantage. If I am fortunate enough to win this seat, I will be in the position to bring resources home to the district. I am in the majority party, and I don’t believe there’s any dispute about that.”
Pacheco, who currently serves as a Fresno County supervisor, says he wants Merced County residents to know that prior to his elected position, he was the chairman of the board of California Dairies — the second largest milk co-op in the United States, and the largest in California.
“I have represented the people of Madera and Merced County as the chairman and a longtime member of their milk cooperative board. And I will go on to boldly say that, under my leadership as chairman, we had some of the most successful years of our milk cooperative. So I know a lot of people throughout the district, obviously, especially the Portuguese and Dutch people, for my years of service.”
The candidate points out that District 27 is large with many cities and rural towns to represent to take care of, but he has spent three to four days a week in Merced County since January, logging more than 27,000 miles on his vehicle, attending community events and meeting with local residents and getting to know their concerns.
“One of the first things I learned when entering this race was from Merced Mayor Matt Serratto, who told me ‘Merced loves those who love Merced. So you need to be there and show the love.’ So I’ve been in Merced at many events — even more so than the former mayor himself. People know me when I walk the streets of Merced. They call me by my first name.”
Pacheco says he has been well received in the district’s rural communities, “because when it’s all said and done, whether you live in Kerman or Dos Palos, Atwater or Las Banos, we’re all from a rural community, and we all have a similar vision and ideas as to what we want to make our lives better.”
The candidate added that if he wins the District 27 race, he plans to staff the same district office space in Downtown Merced that was set up by current Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria.
Supervisor Pacheco appears confident that he will become this region’s next representative in the State Assembly.
“For me, the only poll I care about is the poll on Election Day, and that’s where the rubber hits the road, and that’s the only poll that matters to me. I’ve worked very hard as a dairyman. We don’t know any other way, but to work hard. It’s a seven day, 24-hour-a-day job. I’ve applied that same work ethic and enthusiasm into this job, and I believe we will have positive results on Election Day. But again, it’s up to the voters of Assembly District 27.
“I’ve spent my life in the valley, and I’m going to fight for the valley. Since I started my campaign, I’ve spent much of my time listening to the people. I believe I’m in the best position to get them what they need, starting on Day 1. And that’s what it’s all about. It’s representing the people and delivering resources to the community.”