You don’t see this very often. A newspaper highlights the excitement and enthusiasm from a state legislator who is working to be productive on behalf of his/her district and California instead of their own political interest. Robin Miller of the Vacaville Reporter put out a nice article today about State Assemblyman Jim Frazier (D-Oakley) and his natural excitement at helping people.
To some, his campaign slogan of “People Before Politics” was simply lip service. After some time in Sacramento, people should begin re-evaluating that opinion and realize its simply part of who he is. In this case, I agree with Robin Miller, he’s my kind of politician too!
I wanted to pass it along as its a worthy read for your Sunday afternoon.
Robin Miller: Keep up the enthusiasm
There is a natural excitement that comes anytime one takes on a new project or starts a new job. It’s a youthful sort of enthusiasm that can be contagious and which, unfortunately, often burns out after too many days, months or years on the project or job.
I don’t see that happening with Solano County’s newest legislative representative.
Assemblyman Jim Frazier is like a kid in a candy shop when he talks about his new job, and his enthusiasm is paying off for those of us he was elected to represent in the form of some solid legislation and accessible representation.
And, for the record, I’m not saying that just because he took me and a colleague out for lunch and fed me enchiladas this week.
“I love doing this work,” he said. He wasn’t talking about writing bills and voting on laws and serving on committees. His comment came at the end of a story about getting a phone call from a local widow who was desperate for help.
It seems the woman had been without hot water for her and her children for months as barrier after barrier kept a replacement hot water heater from being installed.
“She called my office on Friday and Saturday she had a new water heater,” Frazier said, his tone growing more serious. “That’s what it’s all about to me. To be able to help people, that’s the best.”
His actions since taking office in January back up his words.
Sometimes it seems as if he’s here in the district more than he’s in Sacramento. Frazier says that’s how he wants it to be.
So on Saturday, he was at the Black Bear Diner in Suisun City, meeting with constituents. This coming Saturday, he’ll be in Antioch meeting with constituents, and on May 11, he’ll be in Rio Vista from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Rio Vista Bakery, 150 Main St., to meet with constituents.
“This is where it’s happening,” he says of his frequent visits, adding he plans to keep it that way.
Assembly folk can carry 40 bills per two-year session. Frazier has about 10 right now and isn’t planning to go anywhere near the 40 figure. Why? Because it would mean more time in stuffy capital offices instead of being out meeting face to face and working side by side with the folks he was elected to represent.
That’s my kind of politician.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t active on committees and coming up with needed legislation. What it means is, he’s coming up with legislation that is solid and focused on putting people first.
Consider his veterans driver’s license bill, for example.
It would expand the application for a driver’s license or identification card to also allow a person to present a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and have their driver’s license or identification card be printed with the word “veteran” on it.
Why? Well, for one, it would save veterans from having to carry two forms of identification or official discharge papers to access benefits. For Frazier, it’s a simple matter of making things convenient for people.
He’s also carrying legislation to help create bike lanes without having them delayed by lengthy, costly California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews.
As Frazier talks passionately about each piece of legislation and how he reads every bill he’s asked to vote on, you’re left worrying — not because of anything he’s proposing but because you don’t want to see that enthusiasm get stamped out by those in Sacramento who have lost theirs and should have bowed out a long time ago.
The author is managing editor of The Reporter and can be reached at [email protected] or follow her online at Twitter.com/RobinMiller1883.
