Posts Tagged: political career

Electricity meltdowns: Texas can learn from SMUD, California

Headquarters of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, (Photo: Cassionhabib, via Shutterstock)

by SCOTT SORIANO posted 03.08.2021

In February, Texas experienced a freak weather event, a deep freeze that shut down its electrical  system, damaged its infrastructure and cost dozens of lives. The storm revealed the lack of preparation and investment by the Texas state government, the flaws of its system of deregulated privately-owned utilities, and the failures of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT.  The latter is responsible for maintaining the state’s energy infrastructure.

James Ramos: CA’s first Native American state lawmaker

Assemblymember James Ramos, D-Highland, 40th Assembly District. (Photo: jamesramos.org)

by CHUCK MCFADDEN posted 10.17.2019

For California’s Native Americans, times change — but sometimes very slowly. One big change: the historic election of James C. Ramos, 52 to the state Assembly’s 40th District in the Inland Empire.

John Cox: A tough slog toward the governorship

Republican candidate for governor John Cox talks to reporters before launching a statewide bus tour in Sacramento. (Photo: AP/Rich Pedroncelli)

by CHUCK MCFADDEN posted 11.01.2018

Republican John Cox, running for governor, wants you to realize a few things. California has the highest poverty rate in the nation. Our schools are failing. Millions of forgotten Californians cannot afford decent housing. Millions more must choose between buying a half-tank of gas or groceries for their families. And all of this happened on Gavin Newsom’s watch.

Where are they now? John Dunlap

Former state Sen. John Dunlap. (Photo courtesy Napa Valley Register/J.L. Sousa)

by ALEX VASSAR posted 08.04.2017

The California Legislature’s longest-lived political dynasty was the Coombs-Dunlap family, which included four generations and stretched over 120 years. The last legislator from the family was Sen. John F. Dunlap, who at nearly 95 is currently the fifth-oldest living former California state legislator.