This first-year Democrat is looking for middle ground in sprawling 4th state Senate District

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil – on the 101st day after taking office – sounded like the “middle-ground candidate” the Democrat ran on to win in the sprawling, Republican-leaning Fourth District that encompasses all or parts of 11 counties.

“We’ve veered too far to the left, where we have a system that often puts the rights of criminals above the victims of those crimes,” Alvarado-Gil said during a March 16 community swearing-in ceremony at the Modesto Irrigation District boardroom.

Alvarado-Gil downplayed political parties during her 12-minute talk.

“This is about remembering that California’s legacy was built on families, built on our land, built on our community, our faith and our values,” she said. “That doesn’t come in a voter registration form. That comes from here, in your heart.”

Generations of working in partnership is what built the state, she said.

Alvarado-Gil addressed the fight against crime from a conservative stance. She said she is “writing bills to help tighten up our criminal justice system, create consequences, and protect our women and children.”

“Along with many of our colleagues in the Central Valley, we are working together to fix those serious flaws, those loopholes and put our neighborhoods in a safer situation.”

The swearing-in ceremony was the only one for the 48-year-old educator who lives in Amador County, but stays in Patterson over the weekend to spend time with her daughter and grandson.

“This is the most glorious (state) Senate district ever,” said Alvarado-Gil, whose district stretches from Madera County to Truckee and down to Death Valley.

Modesto is the largest city in her district. She called Stanislaus County and Modesto “the centerpiece” of District Four.

Alvarado-Gil, who lives in Jackson, emphasized her desire to work nonpartisan in representing the district.

The district is among the most diverse in California, going from rich farmland in the San Joaquín Valley the wooded Sierra Nevada in the north to the world’s hottest terrain in Death Valley. She has driven 12 hours to meet residents in Inyo County, and laughs about recording a remake of the Johnny Cash hit song ‘I’ve Been Everywhere.’

Residents, she said, have told her that “one size does not fit all.”

“We know that what works in LA usually does not work over here in our part of the state,” said Alvarado-Gil. “We can’t address these issues of homelessness and housing the same way that big cities do. It just doesn’t work.”

Alvarado-Gil, who attended high school in México, defeated a fellow Democrat in November after both survived the primary against six Republicans who split the majority of the votes.

Now, the gun-rights supporter downplays political affiliation.

“From what I have seen here in Stanislaus County in my short time being able to serve is that the leaders here want to work together,” she said. “This is not about having a D or an R behind your name.

“How many of us are here today to work to benefit Stanislaus County without asking whether we’re Republicans or Democrats? Because ultimately we’re all Americans.”

Alvarado-Gil was praised by directors of the Modesto Irrigation District and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau.

“I see her as a champion for the underdog, someone who’s going to stand up for those who have been underestimated and counted out for too many times and by the miscalculations of others,” said Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit.

Stanislaus County, he said, has been counted out too often in Sacramento.

“We know what it’s like to be taken for granted,” he said. “When it comes time to take a stand for Stanislaus and for our region against the larger areas of the state like LA and San Francisco, we have an advocate who’s not going to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Alvarado-Gil, he said, “will fight for our water rights,” a better quality of life for underserved communities, and accessibility to health care and education.

Eric Heinrich, president of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, said the new state Senator understands “the importance of agriculture in our region, how fruitful and special it really is.”

“We look forward to working with you in the future,” said Heinrich, who presented Alvarado-Gil with a white Stetson hat.

“I know that she’s going to right for our water. I know she’s going to fight to help us on our homeless. And I know she’s already starting to fight to get things back on track,” said Modesto City Councilmember David Wright.

Wright’s colleague, Rosa Escutia-Braaton, said Alvarado-Gil has the skills relevant “to keeping our communities safe, educating our children, and addressing issues that really impact the Central Valley.”

“The senator truly leaves party politics aside, and that’s lovely,” said Escutia-Braaton, who noted that Alvarado-Gil was wearing “awesome boots.”

The senator opened a district office at 1020 15th Street, Suite 21. Another district office is planned for El Dorado Hills.

Alvarado-Gil will set up regular mobile office hours for all counties in the district.