Editor, Manteca Bulletin,
We attended the Manteca Patriot’s meeting on Thursday where the guest speakers were Ken Vogel and Alan Nakanishi. These two candidates knocked the ball out of the park.  Between their years of experience in government service, with both being vets and the political offices the two of them have held, their knowledge of the way government works, the knowledge of water issues, and the train to ‘no-where’ issues, it was a very lively forum.  There were plenty of questions after their initial introductions of themselves and their priorities.
These two candidates know what they are doing and why they are doing it.  They offer pure dedication to serve the public to the best of their abilities. We strongly support both candidates for the offices they are running for, Ken for State Assembly and Alan for State Senate. These two candidates gave a one, two punch that blew their opponents out of the water.  These are the conservative candidates supported by the Republican State parties, the county Republican Parties, and the California Republican Assembly. 
Alan will fight for jobs, fiscally sound government, as well as safer streets and schools.  He has been endorsed by the Howard Jarvis Foundation.  He served as a Major in the US Army, President of the Delta Eye Medical Group, chief of staff of a hospital, former Mayor of Lodi, former member of the California State Assembly serving as vice chair of the Assembly Health Committee, as well as a member of the Education Committee. Alan has degrees in chemistry, business administration, and medicine. He currently serves on the County Groundwater Basin Authority and as an alternate to the Delta Protection Agency. He and Ken oppose the twin tunnels and the high speed rail.  Today  Nakanishi serves as a Lodi City Councilman.  
Vogel is a farmer, educator, and a veteran.  He grew up farming in Linden, graduated from Fresno State University with a Bachelor’s in history, Master’s in Education plus Teaching and Administrative credentials. After college Ken enlisted in the US Army Reserves from 1968 until 2000 where he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain.  Ken raises over a hundred acres of walnuts & cherries in Linden and Farmington areas, marketing to local companies.  Besides being a farmer, Ken began his career as an educator in 1968 in Fresno and in 1980 joined the staff of the Lodi School District where he served as Vice Principal and Principal for LUSD until he retired in 2004.  Ken was elected to the SJC Board of Supervisors in 2007, serving until 2014 when he was termed out.  He is considered by his peers as a leading water expert in the Delta area.  He has served on the Advisory Water Commission, The Agricultural Advisory Board, the Board Water Committee, the Groundwater Banking Authority, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy, the San Joaquin Flood Control Agency and the 5 Delta Counties Coalition. 
Both Alan and Ken have an impressive and long list of endorsements and we hope our fellow citizens will vote for them.
 
Linda and Rich Silverman
Manteca