By Lea Park-Kim

California State Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) has announced that his annual Holiday Legislative Open House will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Toyota of El Cajon, 965 Arnele Ave., El Cajon.

The free event is an opportunity for Anderson and his staff to meet with constituents and hear ideas on new legislation for 2017. All attendees will receive a 2016 legislative update and an opportunity to submit ideas to improve state government.

Sen. Anderson represents the 38th Senate District in the California Legislature, which includes Lemon Grove, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Poway, Escondido, San Marcos, Lakeside, Valley Center, Rancho Santa Fe, Julian, Ramona, Rancho San Diego, Bonsall, Borrego Springs and Fallbrook. He was first elected to the State Assembly in 2006 and to the state Senate in 2010.

Anderson says several of the bills he has introduced in the past originated from suggestions by attendees of this annual event.

“My top priority is making government work for you,” Anderson said. “This event gives me an opportunity to hear directly from my constituents about their opinions and legislative ideas. Forty to 60 percent of the bills I introduce come from the people I serve. I want to hear directly from you, about your concerns and your ideas for improving state government.”

At last year’s open house, several constituents praised Anderson’s local approach to legislation.

“People come to this event because they can speak directly to Joel as a legislator,” said president and CEO of East County Economic Deployment Council Jo Marie Diamond.

“It is truly nice to have someone up in Sacramento that cares about us and will listen to our responses and then do something about it,” said Danny O’Brien, the owner of O’Brien Insurance Agency in Santee. “He is a man of action and he will get things done for us.”

“[Senator Anderson] really wants to make sure that young people of today actually have a place for their future,” Ramona Unified School District Board member Rodger Dohm said.

Donated hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided by local businesses and community partners.

Check out a video of the 2015 Senator Anderson’s Holiday Legislative Open House at youtu.be/ADTd4icnPB4

—Lea Park-Kim is communication director for Sen. Joel Anderson’s office. Reach her at [email protected].