Local Democrats brave wet weather to protest Trump, Valadao downtown Hanford

The Jimmy Carter Democratic Club, an offshoot of the Kings County Democratic Central Committee, braved the wet weather to mount vent their frustrations towards Valadao, who has been avoiding town halls.

Another protest march, termed the Congressman Valadao Accountability Walk, will be held this Saturday, April 22 at 9 a.m. beginning at Coe Park, located at 543 S. Douty St. The walk is sponsored by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The SEIU also scheduled a news conference Wednesday (April 19) at 10:30 a.m. at Valadao’s office on 101 N. Irwin St. in Hanford.

Valadao was not at his office Wednesday morning. According to a spokesperson, he was making appearances in his district.

“Our purpose today is to ask him (Valadao) is to keep Trump accountable for his actions in Syria and other war-making actions that he is coming up with. That’s the job of Congress,” said one of the protesters, Ron Bates, a former educator. “We’re also asking him to encourage Trump not to balance the budget on the backs of the poor and the elderly.”

Bates says Valadao may be listening, but wonders if it registers with the congressman. “He’s listening as much as he does,” said Bates.

Like many Republican legislators, Valadao has not held a town hall. Recently, during a district visit, Valadao opened his office to one-on-one meetings, allowing up to 10 minutes per session. Bates would like to see a town hall meeting. “I carry a sign with me all the time asking when are we going to have a town hall, and I’ve stopped calling them town halls. I call them open forum meetings because maybe he won’t be so frightful of that.”

The Kings County Jimmy Carter Democratic Club meets at Mountain Mike’s Pizza the second Thursday of the month. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.