Congressman Jim Costa met with Madera supporters Monday as he began his campaign for re-election. Costa, a Fresno Democrat, is seeking his sixth term. He became Madera’s congressman when Madera was added to the 16th District after the 2012 redistricting. Prior to his election to Congress, he served in the California Legislature.
Costa said he counts himself among the “Blue Dog,” or fiscally conservative, Democrats.
Raised on a dairy in Fresno County, he specializes in water and agricultural issues.
He says he supported legislation to re-authorize and modernize poison prevention and poison control centers, including the Madera poison center at Children’s Hospital Central California; secured funds to hire four additional police officers in Madera, Atwater, Dos Palos, and Gustine last year through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program; and introduced legislation that funds local efforts to expedite prosecution of child abuse and improve public safety...