Any citizen, 25 years of age or older, registered to vote in the 10th CD, is qualified to run for this job. Who's best for the job? If experience in foreign affairs, money and banking were the criteria, I'd say my ex-wife Betsy would be best. She's a registered Dem, formerly Rep, like Mark and myself, but went to HS in Karachi, Pakistan, and her Dad had a degree in International Economics, Money and Banking from Yale. My son Eric, with an MS in Nuclear Engeneering, from Idaho, who worked his way through school at INEL, would be great. Experience is the best teacher, but often the cruelest. Successful political experience, such as Mark, Joan, or Joe have, all 3 centrists, are more likely winners. But, as most incumbents are blamed for the economy, who knows. Politics is the world's 2nd oldest profession, with similarities to the 1st.

Ellen Tauscher has been a blight on Contra Costa for way too long and I am glad to see her go. She has NOT represented the interests of this district for far too long and has only been re-elected because she runs as a Democrat, which is hardly enough qualification to represent this district. In the same vane, Mark DeSalnier and Joan Buchanan have done a horrific job representing this district at the state level and have proven that they can't even spell "fiscal responsibility", always voting the party line rather than representing us. We need to look long and hard for someone who has qualifications far beyond being a Democrat, but alas, I fear that that qualification will be enough for too many of this districts residents.

Anyone 25 years of age, registered to vote in CD-10, is QUALIFIED to run in this election, should it take place.

Pragmatism, in the currently gerrymandered CD-10, means running as a Democrat. Watch the change, from 2000 to 2010, in the Census demographics for CD-10, in the Census survey, just started today in the USA. The gerrymandering was done by our State Legislature 10 years ago.

Ellen Tauscher, Mark DeSalnier, and Joan Buchanan all have HORRIFIC voting records when it comes to spending our money.

Their votes on amnesty issues alone should be enough to get them all canned.

We can't afford to suffer their 'qualifications' any longer!

Ralph, thank you for your insight into the Census demographic situation... extremely telling.

Good exchange and thank you!!

Does anyone have a candidate in mind that can provide the global view of our region and the focus on our regional needs? Looking throughout the district would be recommended so we do not narrow our view to Contra Costa candidates.

Why does it need to be Democrat? Does it need to be a Republican? Can it be a qualified candidate from another party? Can it be a candidate we support among the congressional district neighborhoods?

WHO???

And if Ellen O. Tauscher was wrong for our district, what are the qualifications and perspectives of the candidate who will replace her?

Hal, as a community courtesy

To the question, "Does anyone have a candidate in mind that can provide the global view of our region and the focus on our regional needs?

Lt. Governor John Garamendi is the man indeed! He has served is the Calfornia State Assembly, CA State Senate, the Department of the Interior under the Clinton Administration, the twice elected Insurance Commissioner of CA, and most recently the Lt. Gov. of California.

Lt. Gov. Garamendi's record stands on its own. He is the man to lead the 10th Congressional District. As a father of 6 beautiful, successful children and 9 grandchildren, John Garamendi has consistenly let his values drive his politics, not the other way around.

Please visit www.garamendi.org for more information.