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Today, I am announcing my intention to run in the Special Election Primary for the

recently vacated 16th Senate District seat.

I have reflected on this race with my husband of over 50 years and we agree that at

this point in time, with an election less than 70 days away, the people of thisdistrict deserve a sense of stability from their elected representatives; someone who

seeks the job to serve the people, not build a career.

For me, public service means running for office to serve." It means running

because I believe that voters have the right to choose their representatives based on

their record of service, not their aspirations for higher office. Service is walking a

path that leads us to situations of both triumph and defeat, no matter the outcome,

but we keep on trying because it matters to our communities and our families.

I continue to run because public service is in my familys DNA.

My father, Army Private Lawrence Muro, got on a train in Bakersfield 68 years

ago, leaving behind a young wife and two small daughters, in order to serve his

country. He never returned home. He made the ultimate sacrificehe gave his life

for his country. This has been, and remains, my intrinsic inspiration to serve.

My brother, Tony Garcia, has served in the military and as a Kern County

firefighter for over two decades and inspires me each day by putting his life on the

line for our community.

My son Dean served as both your Assemblyman and State Senator bringing

historic clean air legislation to his district.

I have served as a local elected official for over 12 years, working to bring jobs to

the Central Valley by establishing the necessary partnerships with the small cities

in our 16th Senate District.

I am running for State Senate to serve and I plan to win this special election in just

10 short weeks.

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I am not fazed by the ill-informed opinions of political pundits and operatives who

somehow don't remember that I once ran in a democratic primary and won handily

(by over two-thirds). I know what it takes to run against other tough, well-

financed, popular candidates and win. I've proven this before, and I am more than

prepared to do the same in this primary election.

I have won more elections than I have lost. I can accept failure, everyone fails at

something, but I can't accept not trying. Especially if I am trying for the right

reasons and willing to accept the consequences in order to give the voters of the

Central Valley a choice for stable, mature, and experienced leadership. Democracy

works best when people have a choice.

I consider this run, not another attempt in a tough, hard-to-win district, but rather arun for a new, safe and secure Democratic Senate seat that offers me an

opportunity that I have not been afforded in the past.

I am excited to run in what I consider a "newly" drawn district that goes well

beyond the very tough and always tightly raced 30th Assembly District (which is

only 43% of the entire 16th Senate District). This area now includes most of

metropolitan Fresno (57%), which is Democrat heavy, and I enter the race

KNOWING I have strong partners here who will show their support, with their

votes, in this fast approaching special election.

My prospects of winning the primary are more than encouraging. With less than 70

days for any new opponent to establish the name recognition I have earned in a

district this large, I will rely on my meticulous and already established database of

supporters throughout the Valley.

The Central Valley has never had a special election like this one. We are in new

territory, where voters will be asked to go to the polls in less than 10 weeks. I have

the essential name recognition, earned through years of service, which simply

cannot be bought in such a short period. Im looking forward to this short sprint

and pray that the voters grant me the honor of serving them.