Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Heng Dodges Question About Spotty Voting Record in Speech
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 6 years ago on
September 17, 2018

Share

Elizabeth Heng talked about her background and vision Monday for representing California’s 16th District if she is elected to Congress in a speech to the Fresno Rotary Club.
But at no time during her talk at the Cornerstone Conference Center did she directly address her rival’s accusation that she has missed voting in many local elections.
Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno) levied the charges against his Republican challenger in his latest round of campaign ads.
According to records from the Fresno County elections office, Heng did not vote in Fresno in six of 11 elections from 2003 — when she turned 18 — through 2012.
According to documents provided by the Costa campaign, Heng, a Republican, registered and voted for the 2012 general election in Clark County, Nevada. She was registered in Washington, D.C., from 2013-2016, missing four votes there and only casting a ballot in the 2016 general election.
[tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”http://www.gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Heng_voting_history.pdf” width=”600″ height=”600″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””] [tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”http://www.gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Heng-DC-voting-record.pdf” width=”600″ height=”600″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””] She voted at her Fresno polling location for the June 2018 primary.
During a question-and-answer session afterward, a member of the audience asked Heng to respond to Costa’s ad.
“I’ve spent my whole adult life focusing on education and getting real-life experiences. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t going to Washington, D.C. collecting a paycheck and not doing anything for our valley here. I’m going to continue to fight the good fight.
“I find it disappointing that my opponent threw out negative punches. But I’m going to continue meeting every constituent here in our community and fighting the good fight because I believe our community deserves better.”
GV Wire asked Heng to clarify her voting record after the event. She declined to answer. Her staff said Heng had to leave to drive her parents, who attended the speech, back to their store.

Costa’s Voting Record


In Costa’s latest TV ad (also seen online), he tells viewers that “here, we value honesty, family and getting results. You can’t do that if you don’t show up. My opponent’s been missing in action, not bothering to vote in election after election impacting our valley. Not me, I’ve been here.”
County clerk data backs Costa’s claim. Costa has voted in every election, either at the poll or absentee ballot for the last 14 years.
[tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”http://www.gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Costa_voting_history.pdf” width=”600″ height=”600″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””]

Heng Talks Immigration

During her 20-minute talk, Heng outlined her life story as a daughter of immigrants who escaped the Cambodian genocide.

She also addressed immigration issues and said she supported DACA, the Obama-era ruling that granted children brought into America illegally, some limited legal status.
“With DACA recipients, I believe we need to be compassionate with them. Even the last administration deferred the action on childhood arrival to provide these students with the security that they need in the country. It was no fault of their own.”
Heng also addressed the labor shortage in the fields.
“We need to increase the guest-worker program. When I’m talking to our farmers, they’re telling me $30 an hour to pick crops — tomatoes, for example — are still not finding enough labor,” she said.
Both issues need to be tied to border and national security she added.

DON'T MISS

What to Know About Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General

DON'T MISS

North Korean Leader Says Past Diplomacy Only Confirmed US Hostility

DON'T MISS

Democrats Strike Deal to Get More Biden Judges Confirmed Before Congress Adjourns

DON'T MISS

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

DON'T MISS

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

DON'T MISS

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

DON'T MISS

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

DON'T MISS

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

DON'T MISS

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

DON'T MISS

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

UP NEXT

Fresno Doctors Will Pay $2.4 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations, DOJ Says

UP NEXT

These Fresno Schools Are Unsafe and in Bad Condition. And No One Is Complaining

UP NEXT

What Will Happen to CNBC and MSNBC When They No Longer Have a Corporate Connection to NBC News?

UP NEXT

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

UP NEXT

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

UP NEXT

Suspect Arrested After Oakhurst Crime Spree Leaves K9 Injured

UP NEXT

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

UP NEXT

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

UP NEXT

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

UP NEXT

Former Bitwise Employees Settle for $20 Million: Fresno Attorney

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

6 hours ago

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

6 hours ago

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

6 hours ago

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

7 hours ago

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

7 hours ago

Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July

7 hours ago

Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports

7 hours ago

MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams

8 hours ago

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

8 hours ago

Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned

8 hours ago

What to Know About Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General

NEW YORK — Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, was chosen Thursday by Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general hours after...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

What to Know About Pam Bondi, Trump’s New Pick for Attorney General

5 hours ago

North Korean Leader Says Past Diplomacy Only Confirmed US Hostility

5 hours ago

Democrats Strike Deal to Get More Biden Judges Confirmed Before Congress Adjourns

6 hours ago

Newsom Gaslights on Potential Gas Price Hikes in Fresno Visit

President Joe Biden with Mary Barra, the chief executive of General Motors, at the Detroit Auto Show, Sept. 14, 2022. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to erase the Biden administration’s tailpipe rules designed to get carmakers to produce electric vehicles, but most U.S. automakers want to keep them. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
6 hours ago

Automakers to Trump: Please Require Us to Sell Electric Vehicles

6 hours ago

President Biden Welcomes 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics to White House

7 hours ago

Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at First Horizon Coliseum, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Greensboro, NC. (AP/Alex Brandon)
7 hours ago

Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend