Tim Sheridan is currently running for Congress in the 42nd District in California as a proud Democrat who wants to put People First. He is running against the Republican incumbent, Ken Calvert, who has accomplished almost nothing after 20 years in Congress and has little popularity at home. Tim has lived in the District for years, and has worked tirelessly to build his campaign with grassroots support and a LOT of volunteer effort. He has the support of Riverside County Democrats, and is working to receive the endorsement of the California Democratic Party in advance of the June Primary. In that spirit, the campaign is ready to step up to the next phase, and we are excited to spread the word.
Tim has already received several endorsements, including Bill Hedrick (Democratic candidate against Calvert in 2008 and 2010), Francine Busby (San Diego County Democratic Chair), Tom Schaller (author of "Whistling Past Dixie"), and the San Bernardino/Riverside Counties Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
Tim's website: http://sheridanforcongress.com
Tim's ActBlue page: https://secure.actblue.com/...
Follow Tim on Twitter @SheridanCA42
Below the fold is Tim's statement on why he is running for Congress. Thanks for reading this, and afterwards, please feel free to visit the campaign website, and consider making a contribution to support a proud Democrat in his effort to unseat a do-nothing Republican.
My name is Tim Sheridan, and I am running for Congress in the 42nd District in California.
Professionally, I work for a union. I have worked for the same union since 1996 representing employees before Federal government agencies. I love my job because I am proud to fight on behalf of employees who are working to make America a better place. A few years ago, that work really paid off, as one of my cases representing an employee resulted in a change to Federal law – a change that benefits federal employees today across the country who may end up in the same situation.
On a personal level, I am a native of Syracuse, New York. I grew up in a middle-class family. My father was a Teamster. I have two siblings, one of whom passed away at age 21 of cancer. I am married to a wonderful woman, a union member herself, who has a terrific daughter. I am very proud to be her step-dad.
I am a graduate of Onondaga Community College, and I earned a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York (SUNY), College at Oswego. In 1992, I graduated from The University of Akron School of Law, where I was elected Student Bar Association president in my third year. Afterwards, I earned an LL.M. (Legal Masters) from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
In addition to my professional career, I have pursued a number of different interests. Before law school, I worked in radio for several years, where, among numerous other positions, I was the voice of the Fulton High School Red Raiders football team in 1988. I am an avid bowler. I also serve as my Homeowners’ Association president, and have done so since 2006.
In January 2013, I was elected as the Democratic State Central Committee AD 67 Executive Board Representative. I am also a member of the Executive Board of the Democratic Club of Southwest Riverside County. I was the Club’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year – I was humbled by the honor. On February 9, I won the California Democratic Party's Pre-Endorsement Conference vote for California's 42nd Congressional District 36-2-0 over two other Democrats seeking the endorsement, including one candidate who had been endorsed by two members of Congress.
I am running because Congress is broken. I recognize that our country’s founders did not design the institution to work efficiently – it is not supposed to be easy to turn a bill into a law. But neither should one party be permitted to force the US government to shut down because they opposed a law already on the books, as the Republicans did under John Boehner’s direction.
In short, a few far-right Republicans enabled by their leadership have gone too far – their unwillingness to work with Democrats for the common good has already caused too much damage to the United States. From their active efforts to allow the country to go into default, to their excessive and meaningless votes to defund the Affordable Care Act, they have actively worked to stop the government from doing its job.
I have decided to run for Congress because I am unwilling to to stand by while the current member of Congress from the 42nd District - who is the ultimate back-bencher for the past 20 years in Congress - continues to enable radicals as they bring the country to the brink of disaster. I am more than just a fresh voice with a fresh perspective – I am someone who has demonstrated that I can fight for justice and work cooperatively with others to resolve difficult issues, as I do in my job every day.
My experience working in a Union makes me well suited to serve in Congress. I have successfully maintained relationships with management at federal agencies even as I fought their attempts to violate the rights of employees. Those relationships meant that we could later negotiate agreements that met everyone’s needs.
The most serious problem with Congress today is that some of those serving, especially those elected in 2010, have an agenda to dismantle the American consensus about the purpose of Government. They refuse to engage in the give-and-take necessary to forge a compromise to achieve a result. Their agenda has unfortunately been all too successful despite their limited numbers because they are supported with unwavering consistency by back bencher Republicans like the current member of Congress in CA-42. We need representatives who will stand up to work on behalf of the American people, not enable a few ideologues to make Congress completely dysfunctional.
It’s no secret that Americans want to end the gridlock. People simply do not have confidence in Congress and they want it to work better. California’s 42nd is a plus-10 Republican district where a Democrat must attract votes from Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans who don’t agree with the radical turn that the Republican leadership has taken. The candidate with the best chance to win in CA-42 will be the one who has demonstrated that they are willing, and have the ability, to fight on behalf of the American people even as they work with members of both parties who want to deal with the issues facing the country. I am that candidate, and my career has been the perfect preparation for this. I will take my goals and values to Washington, but I will also take the ability to work with those holding positions different than mine.
Thank you for your time, and please visit our campaign website to learn more about what you can do to help!