Regina Bateson has a doctorate in political science from Yale and was most recently teaching at MIT.

By Kathryn Reed

Flip the district blue. That is the goal of the three Democrats running for the 4th Congressional District, which includes the California side of Lake Tahoe and Truckee.

Candidates Regina Bateson, Roza Calderon and Jessica Morse spent more than two hours Nov. 16 sharing with more than 100 people at Lake Tahoe Community College why they should be elected next year to represent this area in Washington.

Roza Calderon is a refugee form El Salvador, and works as a geo-scientist for state and federal agencies specializing in agricultural and environmental land management.

Republican Tom McClintock has had the seat since 2009. Prior to him, Republican John Doolittle was in the office from 1993-2009.

The challengers have an uphill battle in a predominantly Republican district. But they have done something their predecessors have not done in previous election cycles, and that is to get the attention of the Democratic Party. It’s possible there will be state and national money flowing to the campaign to unseat McClintock, who in the past had not appeared to be vulnerable enough for those dollars.

Jessica Morse is a fifth generation Northern Californian who has worked as a national security stategist for the U.S. State Department, Department of Defense and USAID.

Still, they offer voters much more than a change in party and gender. One is an immigrant who is a geo-scientist, one has taught at MIT, one worked as a national security strategist.

They were each asked what their plans are to flip the district.

Calderon: A strength is being a community organizer. She’s going after the Latinos who often don’t vote. She wants the money out of politics.

Bateson: A strong grass roots campaign is her strategy. She wants a pragmatic, practical approach to solving issues, and is visiting groups who are not allies.

Morse: She comes from a Republican family, so has started with a listening tour; she is addressing issues from a community perspective, not a partisan one.

The three agree on a few things:

·      They support the Second Amendment. They don’t want to take guns away. They do want stricter background checks.

·      They want a clean Dream Act to pass.

·      All believe more needs to be done to combat climate change.

·      None will take money from big corporations.

·      All mentioned fire and preventing one are two of the most serious issues facing this area.

·      Changing Citizens United is a goal.

·      The federal government needs to catch up with the states where cannabis is concerned; and rules need to be created so the marijuana industry can be part of the banking community and not just a cash business.

·      All will support the other to beat McClintock.

Then there are the differences:

·      Calderon and Bateson support a carbon tax.

·      Calderson does not support a total ban on fracking.

·      Morse believes broadband and vocational training will help with rural poverty.

·      Bateson and Calderon believe health care is a right.

·      Bateson wants to save and improve the Affordable Care Act.

·      Morse supports a single payer model for health care.

·      Morse believes teachers should be treated like doctors, paid six figures, there should be investment in vocational education and early education.

·      Calderon doesn’t want public funds to be used to compete against public education.

·      Bateson does not support public charter schools.

·      Calderon wants to strengthen unions and increase minimum wage.

·      Bateson says to expand the earned income tax credit, invest in smart infrastructure and be business friendly.

·      Morse advocates for broadband, green jobs, and access to vocational training.

·      Bateson would like to be on committees dealing with immigration, natural resources, and education and workforce.

·      Calderon wants to be on the education and workforce committee.

·      Morse is interested in the national resources, appropriations and intelligence committees.