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Brad Goehring checks his crops at his Clements Road ranch. Goehring, 44, is seeking Rep. Jerry McNerney's congressional seat in the 2010 election. (Courtesy photo)
Clements farmer vying for congressional seat
Brad Goehring seeking Jerry McNerney's post
Brad Goehring describes himself as conservative first and a Republican second.
It's on that basis, along with his desire to base each decision on what the founding fathers of this country would do, that Goehring is running for the 11th Congressional District seat held by Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.
But to get a shot at McNerney in November 2010, Goehring must face at least two Republican challengers in the primary — David Bernal of San Ramon and Jon Del Arroz, also from the East Bay.
Goehring, 44, has 160 acres of winegrapes on his Clements Road ranch. He is a fourth-generation Lodi-area resident, grew up on the family ranch in Victor and graduated from Lodi High School.
He was an All-American water skier in 1996-97 at California State University, Chico, and was ranked as high as seventh nationally. He still water skis today.
Goehring said he decided to run for Congress after several people told him he should seek public office after seeing his work opposing an amendment to the federal Clean Water Act in 2007 and 2008. The bill has not passed.
Goehring has done a lot of behind-the-scenes work in Washington, D.C., with the California Farm Bureau trying to defeat the bill, House Resolution 2421, which would have extended the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's authority over individual states regarding standing water.
In addition to water issues, Goehring said he opposes deficit spending, guaranteeing health care for all citizens, and government bailouts. He also supports allowing local governments to do more of the decision-making.
Goehring admits that Republicans and Democrats are both to blame for many of the nation's ills.
Brad Goehring at a glance
Born: 1965.Education: Lodi High School, San Joaquin Delta College, California State University, Chico.
Public involvement: Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission, California Association of Winegrape Growers boards and San Joaquin Farm Bureau boards. Chairs California Farm Bureau LFB Alumni Council.
Family: Wife Kristin, children Lexus, 17, Bryson, 7, and Brielle, 5.
Source: Brad Goehring
"Neither party is exclusive to the problem, and neither party is exclusive to the solution," he said. "They've got to learn to work together to get back to the mindset to work with our founding fathers.
"There are a lot of people back there (in Washington) who think like I do, but there's not enough," Goehring said.
One example Goehring gives of today's society going away from the founding fathers' ideals is the lack of balance of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
"This country's headed toward socialism," Goehring said. "Our constitution is being ignored more and more and more."
While the 11th District's needs have not been met by President Barack Obama and Congress, Goehring said he doesn't want to bad-mouth McNerney.
"That's not who I am," Goehring said. "I wasn't raised like that."
McNerney declined to comment on Goehring's candidacy on Monday, according to spokeswoman Sarah Hersh.
Goehring is also a major believer of spending within your means rather than raising taxes. He cities an example that hit home in a big way.
On April 25, frost killed 80 percent of his crops, so he and his wife, Kristin, sat together at a table and decided what they would cut from their own family budget.
They decided to postpone purchasing new farm equipment they needed, skipped vacations, spent less on food, didn't buy new clothes and chose not to entertain friends all in order to save money.
"That's what government needs to do," Goehring said. "It was not easy to do, but it got done."
Another issue Goehring faces in his congressional campaign is a San Francisco Chronicle report from 2006 that quotes him as saying that 40 percent of the employees he hired may be illegal aliens.
Goehring said on Monday that the 40 percent figure is industrywide. He says he has never knowingly hired an illegal alien.
Employees who present a Social Security card are allowed to work if it appears to be a valid card, said Goehring's wife, Kristin, who does the employee paperwork at the ranch. There isn't a way to determine for each employee whether the Social Security card is valid, she added.
Checking one's Social Security card for Hispanic farm workers is done the same way as for employees in any other industry, Brad Goehring said.
Goehring advocates changing immigration laws to what they were in the early 1900s, when his family — Germans from Russia — immigrated to Ellis Island.
Goehring said he would like the United States to return to the requirements placed on his ancestors at Ellis Island to become an American citizen — learn English and the Constitution. And they had to get a job right away to support their family because the taxpayers weren't going to do it.
Goehring supports securing borders to the highest degree possible and eliminating all social services to illegal aliens.
Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.
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Reader Feedback
gardengal wrote on Jul 15, 2009 7:41 AM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Jul 14, 2009 11:27 PM:
...an arctic region covered with ice (thank you Steve Martin). "
srev007 wrote on Jul 14, 2009 10:00 PM:
s rights, local economy, and citizens. It is at this time we the people of the 11th District need to make a change and elect Mr. Goehring who will help our country be what it once was than voting yes on every bill which is putting future generations into debt. Brad Goehring has my vote! "
Nicole B. wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:15 PM:
Shara S. wrote on Jul 14, 2009 8:16 PM:
Robb wrote on Jul 14, 2009 7:29 PM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Jul 14, 2009 7:21 PM:
sven31 wrote on Jul 14, 2009 5:29 PM:
Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jul 14, 2009 5:06 PM:
iambic grape stomp wrote on Jul 14, 2009 3:41 PM:
pintail wrote on Jul 14, 2009 3:35 PM:
He actually refers to our constitution with the respect it and the authors deserve. Mr Goehring would not be a yesman for Nancy Pelosi, as is McNerney.
He believes in smaller and more local government. And finally, Mr. Goehring displays the presence of mind to realize that illegal aliens are not American citizens, and are therefore not eligible for government benefits. This concept apparently escapes Mr. McNerney, as he votes for amnesty after amnesty, while pretending to be a philosophical sponsor of the SAVE Act. In fact, his voting record betrays him. "
Mrs. S. wrote on Jul 14, 2009 2:45 PM:
McNerney seems poised to make a mint for his wind farm business thanks to cap and trade and any other government goodies he can throw his own way. I haven't been happy with him from Day 1.
When I want to correspond with a congressperson, I look on the website of a congresswoman from eastern Washington who has a disabled child. I'm very interested in this issue for personal reasons. "
Oh Bull ! wrote on Jul 14, 2009 2:37 PM:
chipponeri wrote on Jul 14, 2009 2:30 PM:
Brittanicus wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:50 PM:
We settle more new immigrants annually, than any other country in the world.
It’s our phone calls that can derail any thoughts of another AMNESTY? Fill their eardrums with public rage not to undermine E-Verify. WE WANT A PERMANENT FOR EVERYONE WHO COLLECTS A PAY CHECK! Today! As never before they are reacting and listening to millions of patriotic Americans and pro-sovereignty groups, in which E-Verify have become a solid foundation to identify and remove foreign labor. Taxpayers money should be spent on infrastructure, our own weak and sick, our veterans who are homeless, our unemployed and those who real immigrants who respect our laws. "
Brittanicus wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:49 PM:
We are not bigots because we love our country and don't want to turn into a third world society. We do not want to live in an OVERPOPULATED, congested land. We have been paying for years--illegal immigrant’s support, instead of the procurers--the businesses that employ them. Our charged voices have set-off a chain reaction amongst the Washington political masses, because we actually turned the tables on the anti-sovereignty, pro-illegal immigration organizations. "
Brittanicus wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:48 PM:
It was the politicians who caused the problem of between 13 to 20 million settling here and unable to support themselves. Lawmakers can now stew in their own juices, because we refuse--absolutely refuse, to be sold on another path to citizenship, as it will be yet another higher tax burden on taxpayers. California being just one of many Sanctuary States--that has produced massive budget deficit problems, cause by the huge influx of illegal poor living on state and federal welfare. "
Brittanicus wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:46 PM:
ATTENTION! Because of the massive payments to illegal immigrants in California, their is a petition. Google--TAXPAYER REVOLUTION. Very few newspapers will mention this activist petition. When is the American flag going to fly again in the once Golden state? "
Cogito wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:29 PM:
Leonard wrote on Jul 14, 2009 12:12 PM:
Personally, I would prefer a Congressman who describes himself as an American first. "
iambic grape stomp wrote on Jul 14, 2009 10:54 AM:
4AStrongLodi wrote on Jul 14, 2009 9:41 AM:
Brian wrote on Jul 14, 2009 8:45 AM:
Keeping liberals from pulling the wool over our eyes. "
Cogito wrote on Jul 14, 2009 8:27 AM:
feisty wrote on Jul 14, 2009 8:26 AM:
commonsense wrote on Jul 14, 2009 6:53 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.