Michael Masuda, the Democratic candidate for California’s 5th Congressional District, will host a community town hall today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Twain Harte Community Center, 18775 Manzanita Drive.
"Our district deserves more than talking points; it deserves technical solutions,” said Masuda, a former employee of the U.S. state department. "Whether we are discussing forest management or health care costs, the data should drive the decision. I’m looking forward to hearing from the people of Twain Harte about the challenges they face and sharing how we can use an evidence-based approach to solve them.”
The event will focus on issues critical to the Sierra Nevada foothills, including wildfire preparedness, health care, and the economic impact of tourism in our rural communities.
The event will feature an introduction to the candidate, then the floor will be open for questions from attendees.
Masuda recently earned the endorsement of the California Democratic Party over Democrat Mike Barkley at the California Democratic Convention held last weekend in San Francisco.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-El Dorado Hills), who is seeking a 10th term in Congress, earned the endorsement of the California Republican Party.
“Our party is leading our country, and eventually our state, out of the socialist mess the Democrats have created and back to the prosperity and security that freedom assures,” said McClintock, who represents a portion of Turlock, along with Rep. Adam Gray (D-Merced). “I’m proud to be a part of that movement in Congress and deeply gratified by my party’s continued confidence and support. I also want to thank President Trump for his strong vow of support in the upcoming election and look forward to working with him as he completes his vital task to restore America’s promise.”
Alvarado-Gil calls for one-year suspension of gas tax
State Sen. MarieAlvarado-Gil (R-Jackson) has co-authored with Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez (R-Indio) a bill that seeks to suspend California’s state gas tax for one year.
“Your hard-earned money is better spent elsewhere like buying healthy foods for your family or buying your kids supplies for school,” said Alvarado-Gil. “No more taxes until we have real accountability that every dollar goes to safe roads for our families and workers.”
California’s gas tax — a 61.2 cents per gallon excise tax as of July 2025 — funds state highway repairs, local street maintenance, and public transportation.
Alanis backs effort for audit requests
Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) released the following statement after signing onto three audit requests submitted to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee this month:
“When taxpayer money is being spent and Californians are not getting results, it is our job to ask why. Courts have failed to report hundreds of vehicular manslaughter convictions to the DMV, leaving dangerous drivers on the road. The state has spent over $450 million on a 911 system it ultimately scrapped, and despite billions invested in homelessness, the problem has only grown. These audits are about making sure the programs we fund are actually working for the people we serve.”
The three audit requests submitted to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee are:
* DMV Database Violation Records — According to CalMatters, approximately 400 vehicular manslaughter convictions between 2019-24 were never reported to the DMV, allowing dangerous drivers to retain their licenses.
* Next Generation 911 (NG911) Transition — After more than a decade and over $450 million spent, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services scrapped its NG911 project late last year.
* Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention Program — California has allocated more than $4.3 billion through HHAP since 2019, yet homelessness has continued to rise.
