Vacaville native enters crowded congressional race
FAIRFIELD — Then there were seven.
A Vacaville native with a background in real estate and karate is the latest candidate to enter the June 5 primary race for the new 3rd Congressional District.
With promises to speak the truth, Eugene Ray announced his run Monday to coincide with a day honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He said he wants to emulate King’s ability to speak the truth so “eloquently” and with enough “simplicity” to win over opponents.
“Nobody is finding middle ground,” Ray said.
Ray attended elementary, middle and high school in Vacaville, graduated from California State University, Chico, and has been a real estate agent since 1976. His other passion is karate. An eighth-degree black belt, Ray won national and world competitions and taught generations of Solano County residents, including in some of its most troubled areas.
Ray said he was excited to see the new district boundaries as aligned by the state’s Citizen Redistricting Commission. It includes Fairfield, Suisun City, Vacaville, Dixon and Travis Air Force Base, extending north to include all or parts of the rural counties of Sutter, Glenn, Colusa, Lake and Yuba.
Ray said he can’t compete with incumbent Rep. John Garamendi’s fundraising, but said: “I’ll put my people against his money any time,” referring to the roots he has in the district.
Ray is running as a Republican, the sixth to enter the race. Garamendi, who lives in Walnut Grove, is the only Democrat thus far. Other candidates include airline pilot Rick Tubbs of Vacaville, pizza store assistant manager Tim Core of Yuba City, farmer and former Marine Charlie Schaupp of Esparto, prosecutor Tony Carlos of Yuba City and Colusa County Supervisor Kim Vann of Arbuckle.
The June 5 race is an open primary in which voters can choose any candidate. The top two vote-getters will square off in November.
Reach David DeBolt at 427-6935 or ddebolt@dailyrepublic.net.
Short URL: http://www.dailyrepublic.com/?p=127574
Posted by David DeBolt
on Jan 18 2012.
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The more open dialog the better..!