Rick D. Redding, born and raised in Sacramento, a Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm/Shield and a Public School Educator/Football coach, declared his candidacy for nomination as a Republican candidate for State Assembly (9th District). This district includes most of the city of Sacramento. The primary election is on June 8 and the general election in November.   Rick stated that, as a public school educator serving in the Assembly, he will work to ensure that every child has eq... Rick4Assembly pengwyn comment-38129 2010-09-30T11:32:41Z 2010-09-30T11:32:41Z I'm looking for someone who will obey their oath of office, protect the constitution as opposed to making it intermittent like patriot act and dhs, tsa, etc., to always put public interests before foreign OR corporate interests. and not use state secrets to cover up corruption. I don't have to agree with every small wedge issue as long as this candidate can follow these simple concepts. The alternatives Green / Daniel A Costa I don't like cause of the whole global warming / un / carbon tax thing Democrat / Rodger Dickinson I don't like cause of the "A recipient of a number of awards, Roger has been recognized as Environmentalist of the Year in 1982, received the Clean Air Award in 1991, 1997, and 2003" sounds like a Carbon tax lover to me, not to mention doesn't seem to be able to even produce his own website. That's like not being able to print a business card... Fail. How will I ever interact with such a cave dweller? Hello it's 2010, every idiot has a website! Looks like I'm voting for Rick D. Redding, given my vote doesn't get snapped up electronically and sent to /dev/null While this is quite the wordy post, I HOPE it helps someone else looking for answers. pengwyn 2010-09-30T11:32:41Z The Parrhesiac comment-23704 2010-03-24T13:02:57Z 2010-03-24T13:02:57Z OK, lets hear your plan to save the state and our education system. let me guess HIGHER TAXES Higher pay for teachers! The Parrhesiac 2010-03-24T13:02:57Z The Parrhesiac comment-23648 2010-03-22T15:37:51Z 2010-03-22T15:37:51Z Teachers pay should be paid based on outcome, period, like almost every other profession on earth. The trade unions will not allow vocational training back into the schools - they are the reason California has failed in training our youth. Nothing is going to change and nothing is going to work, California is doomed, we have reached the tipping point. As soon the Democrats pass amnesty for illegal aliens...watch what happens to our school system when MILLIONS of more illegal aliens immediately flood into our schools system. (and no I dont mean he ones already here, once the process for amnesty is started their will be a RUN for the border trying to get in to take advantage of amenesty. Californinains deserve failed schools, no jobs and high taxes. The Parrhesiac 2010-03-22T15:37:51Z bbbbmer comment-23640 2010-03-22T06:51:14Z 2010-03-22T06:51:14Z If only your rules were applied equitably.... They are not... bbbbmer 2010-03-22T06:51:14Z Casey Kirk comment-23631 2010-03-22T04:22:48Z 2010-03-22T04:22:48Z We welcome constructive criticism and civil debate but in an effort to keep our comment section a civil forum, we do not allow personal attacks or offensive comments either towards users or about story subjects. Please keep this is mind and if you have any questions about or terms of use or guidelines, feel free to email me at casey@sacramentopress.com. Casey Kirk 2010-03-22T04:22:48Z thsas comment-23629 2010-03-22T02:14:01Z 2010-03-22T02:14:01Z "...teacher pay is commensurate with the level of education that teachers possess. " That is a sweet perk! thsas 2010-03-22T02:14:01Z Sarah Connor comment-23625 2010-03-21T21:21:35Z 2010-03-21T21:21:35Z Mr. Knapp: I have discussed the topic of education with Mr. Redding personally and find that much of what you assert he would agree with. I think he might differ w/ you in regard to teacher salaries in that teacher pay is commensurate with the level of education that teachers possess. Mr. Redding does not blindly follow the teacher union or SCTA. In fact, he believes that teacher tenure must be re-evaluated as far too many bad teachers are allowed to teach. Mr. Redding believes that each and every teacher should have to demonstrate that they should be able to keep their jobs on a yearly basis. Lastly, SCTA will not even consider endorsing him (even though he is a member and a teacher) because the organization is so embedded into the democratic party. After listening to Mr. Redding at a recent speaking engagement, I came away w/ the following regarding his stance on education (it is also in his campaign literature): Maximize ADA funding Propose legislation holding parents accountable for getting their kids to school Re-introduce vocational education in our high schools Reallocate funds from the correctional system to education (less on inmates, more on kids) No more cuts in after school programs, arts, music, or athletics End the current teacher tenure model and introduce another that holds teachers accountable Hope this helps. Sarah Connor 2010-03-21T21:21:35Z Yakanton comment-23622 2010-03-21T19:01:20Z 2010-03-21T19:01:20Z Still Living at home with mommy and she lets you use words like Teabagger. Obviously a lack of discipline. Shouldn't you have been out in the world and pay one full years rent before you can post on these comments? 496 arguments on your page... Sad young one Sad. From now on keep your sexual preferences off blogs. We know what "self employed" means... playing video games all day while mommy fixes your meatloaf. Yakanton 2010-03-21T19:01:20Z The Parrhesiac comment-23616 2010-03-21T17:35:58Z 2010-03-21T17:35:58Z Great yet another would be politician cying about "the children" to get elected. California spends enough on our education system already. The average teacher makes 50K per year for a 9 month school year, while the average Sacramentan makes 42K per year for a full year of work. Not to mention their FAT benefits and pension plans, that no one in the private sector has. 40% of school spending is going to administration, this is nuts. The problem with our education system is overpopulation (dont get me started on educating illegal aliens) and a lack of focus on strict discipline, critical thinking and teaching the fundamentals of education. Instead we focus on teaching children how to feel good about themselves, the environment, and how America is the cause of the worlds ills. California schools have become indoctrination camps for anti-Americanism and socialism. Many other very poor nations do a far better job at educating their children for far less money. The problems in our schools have nothing to do with the levels of funding, the problems stem from the liberal education culture. And for all of you Democrats and Lefties, the funding problems and drastic cut backs are a direct result of out of control spending by the DEOMCRATIC controlled legislature, you can’t blame ANY of the funding problems on Republicans. Our state and school districts are broke for two reasons; first, the elected morons can’t balance a budget, second, the collapse of Wall Street because the Democrats REFUSED to regulate banking, the selling of credit default swaps and derivatives. The collapse of the housing market led to drastic losses in the housing industry which led to lower property taxes being collected. And despite the collapse of Wall Street and the banking industry, and the Democrats controlling the US Congress, Senate and presidency, and yet they STILL have DONE NOTHING to regulate the banking industry, and the NEXT collapse, coming in a year or two, will make the last two years look like the roaring 20's. The Parrhesiac 2010-03-21T17:35:58Z Shawn Eldredge comment-23608 2010-03-21T02:58:26Z 2010-03-21T02:58:26Z i have met & met with, Mr Redding and found him to be a great representative of his community , works in the education system of the neighborhood he and his family grew up in , he has a passion for the school and the students he works with and in his community. .. its a shame there are those that will put his political affiliation in front of their good judgement. www.shawneldredge.com Shawn Eldredge 2010-03-21T02:58:26Z bbbbmer comment-23606 2010-03-21T01:40:19Z 2010-03-21T01:40:19Z Wow -- must've struck a nerve with a teabagger... Fabulous! bbbbmer 2010-03-21T01:40:19Z Yakanton1 comment-23604 2010-03-21T00:36:43Z 2010-03-21T00:36:43Z From a guy with BB BMER in a title and a dog pissing on a sign we get a speech.... Wow.... Definitely a lack of discipline in that household. Military service and a family as red flags..... Sad... you even went there. Read the article disregard the last comment. Glad our country gives others the right to their own opinion.. you said yours... now move on and actually doing something productive with your life other than prove you took English in college by writing your lack of knowledge based opinion on this Blog page. Yakanton1 2010-03-21T00:36:43Z bbbbmer comment-23603 2010-03-20T21:08:37Z 2010-03-20T21:08:37Z I do not find military service an advantage to public service. In fact, based on modern history, some of our least effective leaders have emerged from the military. This gentleman has painted a portrait as a soldier, and a straight family man.... and a Republican. Yet how many times in recent memory have people who claim such conservative lifestyles and credentials seem to lead secretive and sometimes perverse private lives. When one asserts one's 'purity' in public, for me, this seems to be a dead giveaway regarding something deeper and more covert, if one only pierce the veil of public gauze cloaking a candidate. Though California's lowly legislature has escaped the spotlight of more lurid investigations, the Congress in DC seems awash in such people - David Vitter, who was involved in a prostitution ring whose madam came forth and subsequently 'committed suicide' (conveniently); John Ensign, whose recent affairs and their aftermath are now the subject of grand jury investigations; Larry Craig, and the infamous airport bathroom scene; Lindsay Graham's and Mitch McConnell's 'interesting' Friday night escapades at DC gay bars... and on and on... all to a person touting their 'record' of domestic bliss and 'family values' and all staunch defenders of 'the troops' and our bloated military budgets... I'm sure Mr. Redding is a 'nice guy' -- many Republicans are, a la Ronald Reagan, who was known as our nation's 'amiable dunce', and later proved to actually have been senile... But in and of itself, a military record and an ability to procreate are not qualifications for public service. A record of doing the peoples' business and doing so responsibly, rather than carrying the water for a GOP that merely 'says no' to public need and good in the name of corporate largesse and accommodation, is a predicate to holding such an office with integrity. I'm afraid this gentleman's recitation of GOP talking points coupled with family and military imagery should send big red flags up in the minds of voters for this very important legislative seat... bbbbmer 2010-03-20T21:08:37Z