The Cordova Community Council and Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their Campaign Whistlestop luncheon Sept. 18 featuring, from left, 3rd Congressional District candidate Robb Tucker, Cordova Recreation and Park District District 1 incumbent Brian Danzl, Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education President Jennifer Laret and CRPD District 1 challenger Eric Mott.

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Three minutes, one microphone, four local candidates and one chance to make their case to Rancho Cordova voters

The Cordova Community Council and Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce put an election-season spin on their monthly luncheon Sept. 18 with their “Campaign Whistlestop,” giving candidates three minutes each to introduce themselves and highlight their priorities.

The event at Rancho Cordova City Hall borrowed its theme from the days when political candidates traveled by train, stopping briefly in communities to address voters from the back of a railcar.

“When you heard that train whistle, that’s what you came out to do,” Chamber President and CEO Diann Rogers said. “We don’t have any trains here today, but we’re trying to adapt the best way we can.” Each candidate, she explained, would have three minutes to tell attendees why they should be elected.

The first round featured candidates for California’s 3rd Congressional District, the Cordova Recreation and Park District Board and Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board of Education.

Robb Tucker, a Nevada County supervisor and Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, used his time to emphasize his local ties, business experience and concerns about taxes, regulation and government spending. Sacramento County election records list Tucker and Democratic Rep. Ami Bera as the two qualified candidates in the race. Bera was not in attendance.

“I live in District 3, born and raised, running a business for years, raising my kids there,” Tucker said. “I'm one of you guys and I just want to continue to serve.”

Tucker said he wants to bring his private-sector and local government experience to Congress, citing federal debt, forest management, water infrastructure and wildfire insurance among the issues he sees as priorities.

The program then shifted to the Cordova Recreation and Park District, where incumbent Brian Danzl and challenger Eric Mott are running for the district 1 board seat. Both are listed as qualified candidates by Sacramento County elections officials.

Danzl, who was first elected to the board in 2010, focused on changes he said the district has made during his tenure.

He told attendees the district’s budget has grown from less than $10 million to nearly $41 million and pointed to new park construction and improvements as signs of its growth.

“We’ve built 16 parks in the last three years,” Danzl said. “We have another seven new parks coming in the next two years. It’s incredible just to watch how the district has grown, and the leadership team that we’ve built there is incredible.”

He credited the district’s leadership team and asked voters to support him for another term.

Pam Garcia, business development manager for the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, sounds the three-minute whistle, signaling to candidates that their time is up during the Campaign Whistlestop Luncheon.

Mott offered a contrasting message, focusing on deferred maintenance, spending priorities and executive compensation.

“The parks belong to us, to our families, our kids, our seniors, our athletes and every taxpayer who expects their dollars to be spent wisely,” Mott said.

He argued the district should place greater emphasis on maintaining existing facilities and called for increased accountability and transparency in budgeting and performance standards.

“This isn’t about whether members of our current CRPD leadership are good people or diminishing anyone’s service to this community,” Mott said. “It’s about whether 16 years is enough. I believe it is”

Folsom Cordova Unified School District Board President Jennifer Laret also addressed attendees. Laret is seeking another term representing Trustee Area 5 and is the only qualified candidate for that seat, according to Sacramento County election records.

Laret focused her remarks on school facilities, voter-approved bond funding and student support programs.

She highlighted projects at Cordova High School and Cordova Villa Elementary School and discussed efforts at Mills Middle School involving Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, commonly known as PBIS.

“We’re not simply repairing Cordova High, we’re transforming it,” Laret said. “Because when our students walk onto campus, they need to know: You matter, your education matters, and this community believes in your future.”

The Sept. 18 luncheon was part of the long-running Cordova Community Luncheon series, jointly hosted by the Chamber and Cordova Community Council. The Chamber described Whistlestop as an opportunity for voters to hear short pitches directly from candidates.

Rogers said another round is planned for Oct. 16, with races including Rancho Cordova City Council District 5, California Assembly District 7, state Senate District 6 and FCUSD Trustee Area 3.

She closed the luncheon by encouraging attendees to learn about candidates and issues before casting their ballots.

“Participate, learn about the candidates, understand the issues, ask the questions, make your own decisions and then vote,” Rogers said. “Democracy is not something that happens around us. It works when we participate. One vote can make a difference.”