Van Tran for Congress

Democrats’ Obama bounce in California disappearing

By: The Associated Press | 28 Feb 2010

CERES, Calif. - Kent Hancock can’t remember tougher economic times in the two decades he’s sold used cars in California’s Central Valley …

Hancock’s frustration is evident throughout the nation’s most populous state. Just a year ago, the Democratic Party looked at California as a base for adding to its majorities in Congress. Now, it could be a the place where it loses them.

Even Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, widely viewed just six weeks ago as a shoo-in for re-election to a fourth term, now faces the toughest race in her 28 years representing California in Congress.

That was before Republican Scott Brown’s upset last month in Massachusetts took from Democrats the seat held for nearly five decades by Edward M. Kennedy, who died last year. Kennedy, like Boxer, was one of the Senate’s most stalwart liberals.

“Every state is now in play,” Boxer warned fellow Democrats after Brown’s victory …

Republicans, meanwhile, have expanded their takeover list.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who’s recruiting Republicans to challenge incumbent California Democrats, said he has no worries that the GOP will lose any of the House seats it now holds in the state. Democrats, he said, will have to focus on keeping seats in perennially competitive districts in other states …

McCarthy named four California House Democrats on the GOP’s target list: Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton, who represents a district in which Republicans are a majority; Loretta Sanchez of Garden Grove, who faces a Republican challenger seeking to motivate the district’s growing Vietnamese population; and Jim Costa of Fresno and Dennis Cardoza of Atwater, who represent agriculture-dependent districts decimated by high unemployment …

Sanchez’s district is in a part of Orange County that leans Democratic but voted for former President George W. Bush in 2004 and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. It has a large Vietnamese-American population. “They come out and vote in large numbers, and they’re 2-to-1 Republican,” says her opponent, state Assemblyman Van Tran …

“Things aren’t going well. Regardless of whether it’s a Democrat or Republican, they better be worried because they are doing their jobs and failing,” Avilla said.

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Assemblyman Tran Responds to Stimulus Bill Anniversary

Contact: Rory Luepton (760) 500-9930

(Santa Ana) – On the one year anniversary of President Obama’s coveted stimulus bill, it seems as if more questions remain than jobs. Assemblyman Van Tran, candidate for the 47th Congressional district seat held by Loretta Sanchez, agrees with President Obama’s assertion that we must work to keep Americans employed, but does not agree with the President’s solution of excessive regulation and over taxation.

When the President passed the stimulus bill he said unemployment would not pass 8%. Today, unemployment in California stands at 12.4% – that’s 17% worse than when the stimulus passed. Since spending nearly $800 billion of taxpayer’s dollars on the stimulus bill, the economy has gotten worse, not better.

“I agree with President Obama’s point that we must do something to help our economy get back on track, and get people back to work. That being said, I don’t think spending more and taxing more helps the job market, as evidence suggests.” said Assemblyman Tran. “What we need to do, and I think the President missed this point, is to reduce the red tape and regulations small businesses are facing today. Small business owners are having to compensate for the government’s failures by laying people off and reducing their pay. These things should not be happening. I am running to ensure that this will be history, and not a recurring theme.”

Assemblyman Van Tran Kicks Off His Campaign for Congress

February 16, 2010

Contact: Rory Luepton (760) 500-9930

(Santa Ana) - Yesterday, Assemblyman Van Tran formally kicked off his campaign in the nationally targeted race for the 47th Congressional seat, held by Loretta Sanchez. The events drew dozens of supporters, including the Honorable Lucille Kring, Honorable Chris Street, Honorable Allan Mansour, Honorable Carlos Bustamante, and Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh. Assemblyman Tran declared that he is ready, anxious and excited about the opportunity to run for Congress in the district he has called home for the past 30 years.

Yesterday’s three stop tour started at Tiffy’s Family Restaurant, a family owned diner in Anaheim. Tiffy’s Family Restaurant has been forced to cut back on its labor, reducing half of its 40 employees to part-time hours.

“I am running for Congress to help bring common sense back to Washington. Restaurants like Tiffy’s are having to cut back on hours, said Tran. “Small businesses are the innovators and job creators in our country. We need to let them grow, rather than suffocate them with more taxation and regulation.”

Tran followed his stop in Anaheim with a stop at Bazz Houston Co., a local manufacturing company that has been doing business in Garden Grove for over 50 years. Bazz Houston has had to cut labor by 20 percent, reducing their employees work week from five days to four.

“Recently, we’ve had to make hard changes. We have had to cut back our employees hours, and send some of our secondary jobs to our other location. This is not what the owners of Bazz Houston intended years ago when they established this business,” said Javier Castro, CEO of Bazz Houston Co. “The costs of business and the costs of regulation have come to a point where we are forced to make these difficult decisions. That’s why we are excited about Van running for Congress. He understands the problems small businesses face. He understands the problems our district face, and is ready to cut the red tape, and reduce the burden our government is placing on all of us.”

Tran finished his tour with a kickoff in Santa Ana, in front of the historic Santora building. The owner of Santora, Mike Harrah, chose to purchase and renovate the building. Since renovation, Santora has been home to many fine retail establishments and has contributed to the revitalization of the downtown Santa Ana area. Harrah’s company, Carribou Industries, is about to build One Broadway Plaza, Orange County’s eventual tallest building. One Broadway Plaza will bring 2900 jobs to Santa Ana, along with state of the art infrastructure and design.

“Job creators like Mike Harrah and Carribou Industries are essential to our economy. In order for us to turn things around in Washington, we need to let people like Mike do their jobs, and that’s create business and revitalize our economy, and that is exactly what I intend to do,” said Tran.

Assemblyman Tran understands the dynamics of the 47th district. That is why he chose to have three consecutive kickoffs in all parts of the district.

“I chose to have my campaign kickoffs in all three parts of the 47th district. I want the people to know that there is no part of the 47th Congressional district that I will concede,” said Assemblyman Tran. “This race is going to be hard fought, its going to take a lot of hard work, and I am ready. The people of the 47th district are ready.”