Bill Hedrick for Congress

Background:

A native of Los Angeles, Bill was born in 1952. The son of a Teamster and a teacher, both from the South, he absorbed the lessons of hard work, common sense, and tolerance modeled by his parents. After church, Sunday dinner table conversation always centered around current events, politics in general, and the Democratic Party. Through annual summer visits to east Texas, he learned first-hand the value of tradition, but also the human cost of segregation and poverty. The contrast between middle class Los Angeles and the deep poverty of the rural South left an indelible impression on him and a desire to change the world one student at a time.

A product of public schools, Bill received his BA in Social Science and MA in Education from CSULA. He began teaching elementary school in Hollywood in1974, and has spent 33 years in education in Southern California, the last eight years serving as president of the Rialto Education Association, an NEA/AFL-CIO affiliate. Bill’s particular area of expertise has been working with English language learners, and early in his career, he traveled to Mexico to learn Spanish to better communicate with his students and their parents.

In November 1988, Bill was elected to the Board of Education of the 51,000 student Corona-Norco Unified School District. He has served four terms as president of the Board, representing 250,000 residents of the 44th district, and deals with an annual budget in excess of $400,000,000.

Upon election he immediately set to work to expand choices for students and families. In doing so, he was instrumental in the adoption and/or expansion of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), IB (International Baccalaureate), Dual Immersion (English-Spanish), JROTC (Navy, Air Force), and a host of other options to provide support for students.

Student safety is foremost for Bill. In the wake of a tragic off-campus incident charged with racial overtones, he championed district efforts to develop a comprehension response, including tolerance education, enhanced safety measures, and a comprehensive district plan that values diversity.

Bill demanded an aggressive response from the District to news that toxic vapors were present at a district high school, most likely caused by a contaminated ground water plume. He doggedly pursued remediation despite strong opposition•a fight that continues to this day. He has also worked to create a “green” high school to be uniquely situated in a recovered quarry.

Bill and his wife of 27 years, Beth, have lived in Corona since 1981, and have five children. Their son Adam, a soldier with the 3rd ID, is currently serving a second Iraqi deployment east of Baghdad. Son Jesse served in Baquba with the 1st ID before suffering a near-fatal “heat event,” while his wife, Evelyn, is an army convoy driver in Baghdad, also serving a second tour. Sarah is an apprentice electrician, and Zach and Rebekkah are students.

Goals:

I am a candidate for the 44th Congressional District because I strongly disagree with the views of the incumbent, Ken Calvert, a man who has marched lock-step with the Bush Administration. Worse, Mr. Calvert has been named one of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). I run because I want to support our troops by withdrawal from Iraq, through fully funding the VA and enhancing services to our veterans, and reviewing the current strategy in Afghanistan. I want to work to resolve the national shame that leaves 95 million Americans under- or uninsured. I want to work for fair trade rather than the current policies supported by Mr. Calvert that are gutting the U.S. economy and exporting our industrial base, capital, and jobs. I want to fight the oil company monopoly that drains household income while simultaneously resisting federal efforts to promote new technologies and alternative fuels.

I have been elected five times within the District. I believe I can attract the Republican crossover vote (approximately 17%) necessary to prevail against the incumbent. I am not a land speculator. Unlike Mr. Calvert, I will not use the office for personal gain or investment.

Issues:

1) The war is damaging to long term American interests, and has proven to be politically, militarily, financially, and morally ruinous. Our troops need to be withdrawn from this quagmire. Our fighting men and women have performed admirably in a tremendously challenging environment. But, it is clear that this intervention has been directed by leaders more concerned about oil and profits than freedom and democracy. This ill-advised mission needs to end before more lives are lost and further damage to our national interest and prestige is incurred.

2) The health care crisis must be resolved, and I will support plans to do so. It is morally unacceptable as well as financially irresponsible to ignore the human cost to families and fiscal consequences to taxpayers of the current broken system.

3) Trade policies must be adopted that safeguard the interests of working Americans. Current trade agreements, with completely ineffective environmental and labor requirements for foreign-based manufacturers, have placed American workers at a tremendous competitive disadvantage. The out-sourcing of America needs to stop, and fair markets established for the exchange of goods and services. Conservatives complain about "class war," yet seem to have no problem with the current war on the American middle class that their trade policies have incited.

Grassroots Support:

Grassroots support is critical to success in this race. The best way to combat “organized money” is through “organized people.” Volunteers will provide the muscle for this campaign, both in precinct work, voter registration, and fundraising. “People power” is the pathway to an upset win, and neighbors walking and talking with neighbors will be among the most potent tools for victory. Beyond traditional outreach, grassroots, web-based support and efficient use of new technology will allow effective and frequent contact with voters in our community.

DFA Values:

As a member of a Board of Trustees with a $400,000,000 annual budget, I have learned well that you cannot spend the same dollar twice. However, our dollars need to be wisely spent rather than squandered on an occupation of Iraq where our presence is not welcome and on congressional earmarks that enrich cronies at public expense. Re-prioritization of tax receipts to reward individual initiative through increased small business loans, education grants, and revamped health care are goals that will strengthen the American middle class.