Central Valley councilman to run for Congress
Democrat Daniel T. Parra, a councilman in the Central Valley town of Fowler since 2008, announced this week that he would challenge Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) in next year’s congressional elections.
Parra, an Air Force veteran, promised to be “a bold voice” for families of the 21st Congressional District.
Within hours of his announcement, the chairman of the Fresno County Democratic Central Committee endorsed Parra. Michael Evans, in a statement released by the Parra campaign, cited Parra’s “progressive values” and his “pro-jobs, pro-immigration reform” views.
Despite a 47%-31% registration edge over Republicans, Democrats were unable to unseat dairy farmer Valadao, then a freshman congressman, last year.
The party recruited rising political star Amanda Renteria, raised in the Central Valley, to challenge Valadao but spent little to help her. She lost 58% to 42% in November.
A GOP campaig n spokesman dismissed Parra as a “third-tier candidate” in a blog post for the National Republican Congressional Committee. Spokesman Zach Hunter said Democrats were “effectively giving up” on winning the district and cited Parra’s 24-point loss in his race for Fresno County supervisor last year.
But Democrats believe their chances for winning the district are better in 2016, a presidential election year, when the party’s voters typically turn out in much higher numbers than for “off year” contests.
Parra has been a computer systems analyst for Northrop Grumman for more than 20 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration, his candidacy announcement said.