Is Hanford Republican Congressman David Valadao a unifying force?

It seems his vote to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday has motivated some Republicans to join Democrats in seeking Valadao’s 2022 defeat.

The latest is Twitter barbs exchanged by the Republican and Democratic campus clubs at Fresno State.

The college Republicans’ “condemned” Valadao’s vote and want Valadao “primaried.”

The college Dems agreed.

“We wish the Fresno State College Republicans well in their quest to primary Valadao. We’ll also be working hard to ensure Valadao does not represent D-21 in two yrs,” the Dems wrote on Twitter.

We wish the Fresno State College Republicans well in their quest to primary Valadao. We’ll also be working hard to ensure Valadao does not represent D-21 in two yrs. In the meantime, we condemn this club for their incendiary and violent language, disinformation, and 1/2 https://t.co/XtKqJDnaxM

— Fresno State College Dems (@CollegeDemsCSUF) January 15, 2021

On the night of Valadao’s impeachment vote, the Fresno County Republican Party strongly condemned Valadao’s decision, saying it “shocked” party members and was what they would’ve expected of Democrat TJ Cox, whom Valadao defeated in the 2020 election.

However, there is some school of thought that Valadao may amass political power by positioning himself as a swing voter in the closely divided House.

Also in Politics 101: 

• Valadao appointed to Appropriations.
• Newsom appoints local leader to volunteer board.

Valadao Appointed to Important Committee

Today, Valadao announced he has been appointed to the House appropriations committee.

Valadao called his appointment “an incredible honor.”

“I do not take lightly the responsibility met with determining how American tax dollars are spent,” Valadao said.

The committee is one of the most powerful in Congress, as it has broad jurisdiction and is responsible for appropriating funding for most of the functions of the federal government.

Beautiful, Beautiful Fresno

Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday isn’t a day off; it’s a day of service.

Beautify Fresno, the city program previously known as Keep Fresno Beautiful, will hold two neighborhood cleaning events.

From 9 a.m. to noon, the focus will be at the Mariposa Plaza in downtown Fresno, concentrating around Fulton, Amador, Ventura, H streets and Van Ness Avenue.

From 10 a.m. until noon, volunteers can meet at the Lowell Community Garden at Belmont and Park avenues.

More information can be found here.

Newsom Tabs United Way Leader for Volunteer Board

Gov. Gavin Newsom picked Lindsay Callahan to join the state Volunteers Commission.

Callahan is president and CEO of the United Way of Fresno and Madera Counties.

The 25-member commission, chaired by Newsom’s wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom, helps set grant-making policy and generally advocate for volunteer service.

Appropriately, serving on the Volunteers Commission is a volunteer position — there is no compensation.