In 1992, a countywide ballot measure, Measure F, was introduced that would have restricted development in rural areas of Stanislaus County for twenty years. While presented as farmland protection, it would have broadly constrained property rights—including acreage with aging walnut orchards that were already becoming less productive and water-intensive under flood-irrigation practices common in the San Joaquin Valley. For farmers and growers facing rising costs and changing conditions, this meant fewer options and greater risk. Early local reporting showed the measure polling at 65% in favor and 35% opposed, suggesting it would pass.
Only 7–8 weeks remained before Election Day. Any effective response had to be simple, respectful, and widely seen, explaining the long-term risks in practical terms that resonated beyond politics.
I wrote and co-directed a television commercial and raised the funds needed for production and placement. The message ran nearly 4,500 times on broadcast television across Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Sacramento Counties, as well as the East Bay. The theme was straightforward: we should not handcuff our farmers or our future.
What began with strong support in the polls became a decisive community decision to protect property rights and enable responsible growth.
The outcome preserved flexibility for Modesto to plan responsibly. It kept a path open for future projects like Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in North Modesto, supported housing for doctors, nurses, and medical staff close to where they work, and encouraged jobs and higher-end development that benefit the entire Modesto region.
I am proud to have played a role in this effort and grateful that voters chose a path that balanced property rights with long-term community needs.