State Senator Jim Nielsen shared his views with guests at the Rancho Cordova August luncheon on August 19. In his address, Nielsen blasted Governor Jerry Brown and the legislature, for Proposition 47 and the “resulting tens of thousands of dangerous, unrehabilitated individuals” who have been unleashed upon society. “The handcuffs have been taken off of them, and they’ve been put on our law enforcement officials,” Nielsen said. “It’s open season on those men and women who protect our lives. We have to come back and stand up for them, and it’s a lonely fight.”

At the same time, Nielsen said he found it amusing that he and Brown have been allies on a number of issues, one being the rainy day fund, and another the Proposition 1 water storage investment program. “The rainy day fund, he invited us down for the signing ceremony in his office,” Nielsen said. “We shook hands and laughed how this was a part of both of our legacies.”

Nielsen complimented the Rancho Cordova area’s elected officials, in particular Assemblyman Ken Cooley. “As far as matters related to serving the District, the people that we represent,” Nielsen said, “we’re side by side on all things, working together. That’s good teamwork. That’s the way representative government ought to be.”

Nielsen, a successful farmer and rancher, grew up on a small farm in the San Joaquin Valley and has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business. He was elected to the State Senate in 1978 and was Republican Leader from 1983 to 1987. In 2008, he was elected to represent the state’s 2nd Assembly District in the State Legislature, and elected to the State Senate for District 4 in January 2013.

As Chairman of the Board of Prison Terms, he reviewed the life histories and cases of many death row inmates, and ten times had to vote yes or no for the governor to grant clemency. “Now that’s a long way away from the farm,” Nielsen said. “I never dreamed I’d ever have that kind of responsibility, and that was the hardest, most stressful responsibility and job I’ve ever, ever had. If anyone under my employ ever made a mistake, the consequences were immediate and dire.” Against abolition of the death penalty, Nielsen said it was a just sentence, and there are those who deserve it.

In response to a question regarding veterans, Nielsen, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, said the committee is concerned and working on a number of issues, including reaching out to troubled veterans and helping discharged veterans re-enter society. Nielsen is hoping to expand a program presently used at San Quentin to help incarcerated veterans return to a useful and successful role in society. The unique concerns of female veterans are also being addressed.

“I’m a big fan of Senator Nielsen,” said Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones, also a candidate for Congressman, 7th District. “He has a lot of history, and as you can tell by the speech today, he still has just a tremendous amount of passion for the things that he does.”