State Assembly Candidates for 12th District will meet tonight for their first candidate forum held at California State University, Stanislaus.
Candidates Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto), a former California State University, Stanislaus employee, and Harinder Grewal (D-Keyes), a Turlock Unified School District Trustee, will meet for the debate to discuss issues concerning District 12, which includes Turlock.
Grewal has promised to be present a half-hour early, at 5:30 p.m. “to meet with everyone” before the debate begins. Olsen has also stated that she plans to arrive at the forum early.
In the June 3 primary, Olsen earned just under 66 percent of the votes, while Grewal earned approximately 34 percent out of 100 percent of the 202 precincts reporting.
Both move on to the November General Election as they are the only two candidates running and the top two votegetters advance to the November ballot regardless of party affiliation.
On his campaign website, Grewal writes, “For too long, our interests and needs have taken a back seat to Bay Area and Los Angeles interests. Our water delivery infrastructure has received little to no investment in almost a century.”
Grewal plans to fight for increased water storage, to control excessive regulations for small business, and concentrate on local interests. Grewal believes the Central Valley is in great need of economic development, stronger educational opportunities, and effective leadership, which may be seen as common themes in his appearance tonight.
As for Olsen’s focus, she prioritizes government efficiency and accountability, job creation, educational excellence, and local control. Olsen previously served on the Modesto City Council and works to support the manufacturing, agriculture, and food processing backbones of the local economy.
On her campaign website, Olsen writes, “I am a persistent advocate for governance reforms that will help make our state legislature and agencies more citizen-focused, transparent, accountable, and effective.”
The first debate will take place at CSU Stanislaus’s Mary Stuart Rogers (MSR) building Room 130 at 6 p.m. A floor plan of the first floor of the MSR building where the forum will be held can be found here. Directions to the campus, located at One University Circle, can be found here.
