Gino VanGundy for Fairfield, California City Council

Gino VanGundy seeks to unite community and have a strong development plan for businesses to come to build in Fairfield.

2009-10-23T00:46:00.000-07:00

Gino VanGundy is featured in a great article by The Evening Sun.

By Melissa Murphy
Posted: 10/22/2009 04:02:24 AM EDT

Hoping that residents will someday change the way they think about Fairfield, Gino VanGundy wants to be a part of that change by serving on the City Council.

VanGundy, 39, a product of the foster care system, said that being able to grow up in Livermore let him see what it was like to live in a community that was united. Not seeing that sense of community in Fairfield, spurred him to run for the City Council.

"I just don't see that here," he said. "We have two ingredients, the people and the leadership, it just hasn't happened yet. That sense of community has been lost."

VanGundy, an analyst with the University of California, and his husband Chris even adopted their daughter, Antigone, from Fairfield's foster care program.

Seeing his daughter graduate from high school last year, the lack of community was ever present, according to VanGundy.

"We have the long-term residents," he said. "But it's more of a transient community. I've met some great people here, but there is a bad vibe. It's all about getting to know the people that live next to you. We need that leadership."

VanGundy believes that Fairfield is a great city and one that has a lot to offer, so he hopes to build on the good parts of the city.

"I have a deep passion for kids and families," he said.

He hopes that whether or not he is elected, the city will support the police as much as they can and not start cutting that part of the budget, but rather ramping up police efforts and support.

"It's a chain reaction," VanGundy added. "People aren't going to come or want to stay if crime is present."

VanGundy also said he offers a new perspective.

"They need new, young, vibrant blood to run things," he said. I'm not afraid of doing what's right."

He hopes to see a community that has a tremendous lack of respect and common dignity to turn around and become a community that will ban together.

"A strong community is what the youth need," he said. "Not one that is transient and disconnected."

One way to see a connected city, VanGundy said, is to have a strong development plan for businesses to come to build in Fairfield.

"It's not going to happen overnight," he acknowledged. "But I like it here. I have the responsibility to make a difference and to make a difference in my own back yard."

VanGundy said he invites everyone to ask him questions and he will answer them personally.

VanGundy's Web site is www.ginovangundy.com.

Gino VanGundy will kickoff his campaign for Fairfield City Council on September 20th, and October 3rd

2009-09-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Join us for an afternoon of free food & fun where you can meet and chat with Gino VanGundy!

On September 20, 2009 and on October 03, 2009 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Gino VanGundy will kickoff his campaign for Fairfield City Council. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend!

Fairfield is the place that I call home. I have a strong belief in non-partisan politics. I think that there is a lot that I can do to make Fairfield an even better place to call home.

As a parent, I want the best for my daughter, and I want the best for our community’s kids as well. I want us to live in safe neighborhoods and cut down crime. I want us to continue to increase our community programs for youth and seniors.

I want to make sure that we live in the kind of community that can be viable through tough economic times such as these by attracting new businesses to Fairfield and creating new jobs.

There are many things to be done to make this city an even better place to live. I’m looking forward to being able to work with the City Council to bring about that change."

Wednesday, September 20, 2009
1:00pm - 4:00pm
524 Acacia Street Fairfield, CA 94533

.: Directions :.

Saturday, October 3, 2009
1:00pm - 4:00pm
524 Acacia Street Fairfield, CA 94533

.: Directions :.

Gino VanGundy changes political campaign to Fairfield City Council

2009-07-24T08:13:00.000-07:00

I have decided to change course and run for a seat on the Fairfield City Council.

When I began my congressional campaign, I met with many of District 10's Fairfield residents and I have discovered that there is a real need for more work to be done in Fairfield. After careful consideration I have begun to believe that I can have more of an impact for the residents of Fairfield than I could accomplish presently in Congress.

They say that you need to take a look in your own backyard and be the change that you want to create. I have done just that. I've realized that I can have a more profound impact on the local community that I call home and help to foster a climate of change in the community which is why I have decided to change course.

Throughout my Congressional campaign I met some truly amazing people right here in Fairfield; many of those people have been directly affected by the recession and housing crisis. I know that people want change, and I feel that I can bring another perspective to the Fairfield City Council.

By working together with the other members of the Fairfield City Council, it is my sincere hope that we can make this a community that we all can be proud to call home. Having grown up in the foster care system, I understand the need for family. I understand what it is like to 'go without'. I understand the need for jobs and economic growth in the community.

Fairfield is the place that I call home. I have a strong belief in non-partisan politics. I believe that there is a lot that I can do to make Fairfield an even better place to call home. As a parent, I want the best for my daughter, and I want the best for our community's children as well. I want us to live in safe neighborhoods and continue to see crime rates drop. I want us to continue to increase our community programs for youth and seniors. I want to make sure that we live in the kind of community that can be viable through tough economic times such as these by attracting new businesses to Fairfield and creating new jobs. There are a lot of things to be done to make this city an even better place to live. I'm looking forward to being able to work with the council to bring about change.

Thank you to all who supported my congressional campaign. I hope you will continue to support me as I run for City Council!

California's Economic Crisis - Partisan Politics Are To Blame

2009-07-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

Once again the California legislature has failed to do their job. The people have entrusted these people to balance the budget and work within the parameters set forth by the state’s current deficit. The inability of either party to work toward creating a balanced budget really enforces my view that partisan politics are not in the best interest of representing the people.

This is purely the kind of behavior that we have sadly come to expect from our elected officials. The fact that they only vote along party lines is disheartening as there is no foreseeable way to reach a compromise with that kind of mentality and ‘party line’ voting.

We are tired of watching as our families and friends are having to take pay cuts, reduce hours, or be laid off whilst the legislature continues on unaffected by the financial hardships facing most of the population they represent. The time for change is now. It is up to us as individuals, regardless of past party affiliation to make our voices heard that enough is enough. Every one of us has to live within our means or face the repercussions. The same should be required of the California Legislature, who once again are failing us rather than representing us. It is time to do your jobs, reach a compromise and pass a budget. Enough is enough.

Calling the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) "neutral" is insulting and un-American

2009-06-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

When President Obama was campaigning, he did so with a strong message of equality for ALL Americans saying, 'We are not Republican or Democrat: We are not Conservative or Liberal: We are not Gay or Straight: We are not Black or White – We are Americans!' The recent defense of DOMA by the Obama Administrations is yet another example of why we, the LGBTQI community, must begin to reevaluate our alliance with the Democratic Party.

Although, then Senator, Obama engaged our community during his campaign with promises to repeal DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) his failure to act on his promises, followed by his current defense of DOMA, has left our community feeling angry and betrayed. President Obama's "defense" of DOMA is inexcusable and is tantamount his administration endorsing a policy of forcing the LGBT community to "sit in the back of the bus” of society."

To declare DOMA as "neutral" is insulting. DOMA is a law whose sole purpose is to discriminate against a minority group. That is certainly not "neutral" and I believe it to be un-American. We are Americans, we are taxpayers, we are soldiers, and we are parents. We deserve the same legal rights, privileges, and protections that our heterosexual counter parts enjoy.

As an American, and someone that supported his run for office, I demand that President Obama live up to the promises that he made to millions of Americans and do what is right and what is fair. NOW is the time for the LGBT community to make a clear and strong statement that we are no longer going to accept crumbs from and an administration (or any other candidate) that promises us equality by pulling our financial, volunteer, and/or any other kind of support. We need to support candidates that will stick to their word and support us. I am that candidate.

U.S. President Obama can keep the "Spare Change"

2009-06-17T00:58:00.000-07:00

U.S. President Obama today will be signing a presidential directive, not an executive order, providing "some" benefits to gay and lesbian employees.

Obama's once again throwing crumbs to the LGBTQI community and expecting us to laud this as progress. What kind of change is this? By the very nature of his lack of action in repealing DOMA and DADT, Obama has left only a small minority of employees eligible for this new benefit package.

This is purely posturing and gesture on the part of President Obama. He is trying to remove the pressure from the LGBTQI community on his lack of action and failure to follow through on his campaign promises by signing this memorandum. Who really is going to benefit from this? Military employees certainly would have to be discharged for identifying that they have a same-sex partner, so we know it's not any of our military getting the benefits. Which only leaves us with civilian workers, who somehow make you wonder what benefits can they receive? Wouldn't this require altering the definitions of 'families' and 'dependents' currently in place? Since the Obama administration has just declared our relationships 'incestuous' via their defense of DOMA briefs, I doubt that we will see any real change.

We are Americans, we are tax payers, we are soldiers, and we are parents. We deserve the same legal rights, privileges, and protections that our heterosexual counterparts enjoy. Until DOMA and DADT are repealed we will not be equal, we will be less than our heterosexual counterparts. 'Spare change' is not the kind of change we were promised or expect to receive. Anything less than equal is just the same as throwing some crumbs or spare change our way. It’s time for real change.

Gino's interview with the UCSF Student Newspaper; Gino hits all the right points

2009-05-28T22:52:00.000-07:00

Elliott Gorelick with the UCSF student newspaper interviewed Congressional Candidate Gino VanGundy in an article published yesterday. Gino made a couple of items very clear (and well stated) about traditional political parties and how getting elected usually pushes you out of touch with the citizens who placed you there for one reason: to make their lives a little easier, and better than yesterday.

Click here to read the entire article. Checkout the highlights from the article:

Gino states that not taking the standard route makes him more qualified rather than less to be a [U.S.] Representative, “By the time you get to Congress you have already been ‘groomed’ and are far detached from the majority of the people you were elected to represent.”
Gino admits that his view of the two parties [Republican and Democrat] is influenced by his being part of the LGBT community, but is quick to point out that he will not be and does not want to be the LGBT candidate since it is not the reason he is running. “We need to think about putting our resources into candidates that are going to stand up for what’s right and what’s fair for all Americans and not just their party.” - Congressional Candidate Gino VanGundy

Gino's Statements:

We have elected representatives for generations in the same way. We are programmed to believe that we need someone with this type of background or that type of experience. I disagree with that.

The structure of the Stimulus package and Bailout packages were instrumental in why I decided to run. The Federal government essentially borrowed a trillion dollars from the taxpayers, most of that money being shoved into top of the system while tax-paying Americans get a tax break of about $40 a month which barely covers a tank of gas.

I am a huge supporter of education in all stages of life. I was very concerned with the election we just had, the propositions. It seems to me whenever there is a budget crisis the first things that get cut are education, children’s services, and mental health. Our children are our future; that sounds clichéd, but it’s true. The last thing that we should be looking at is any kind of education cuts and that goes straight up to the University. But that is where the first cuts are looked at because they are such a big part of our budget. Clearly Californians said no.

I’m not going to pretend that I have all of the answers to some of America’s problem, because I don’t and I wouldn’t I want someone representing me who thinks that they do have all the answers options. Thinking you have all the answers; it keeps you from compromise. I don’t want to be a politician. I want to be a representative. I want to ask the people that I would be representing what it is that they need. What would I do if I had to vote on a bill that I personally disagreed with? It would be hard, but I’m there to push forward the agenda of the people, not my own agenda and not the agenda of a party.