Dary Rezvani
Dary Rezvani (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent California's 22nd Congressional District. He lost in the primary on March 3, 2020.
Rezvani also ran for election to the State Center Community College District Governing Board to represent Trustee Area 3 in California. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Rezvani completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Rezvani attended Fresno City College and earned a degree in accounting from California State University, Fresno. As of his 2020 campaign, Rezvani's professional experience included owning an auto repair shop and working as an auditor and consultant.[1]
Elections
2020
State Center Community College District
See also: Municipal elections in Fresno County, California (2020)
General election
General election for State Center Community College District Governing Board Trustee Area 3
Danielle Parra defeated incumbent John Leal and Dary Rezvani in the general election for State Center Community College District Governing Board Trustee Area 3 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Danielle Parra (Nonpartisan) | 39.3 | 20,070 | |
| John Leal (Nonpartisan) | 36.8 | 18,805 | ||
 | Dary Rezvani (Nonpartisan) | 23.9 | 12,183 | |
| Total votes: 51,058 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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U.S. House
See also: California's 22nd Congressional District election, 2020
General election
General election for U.S. House California District 22
Incumbent Devin Nunes defeated Phil Arballo in the general election for U.S. House California District 22 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Devin Nunes (R) | 54.2 | 170,888 |
 | Phil Arballo (D) | 45.8 | 144,251 | |
| Total votes: 315,139 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House California District 22
Incumbent Devin Nunes and Phil Arballo defeated Bobby Bliatout, Dary Rezvani, and Eric Garcia in the primary for U.S. House California District 22 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Devin Nunes (R) | 56.1 | 94,686 |
| ✔ | | Phil Arballo (D) | 25.0 | 42,218 |
 | Bobby Bliatout (D) | 13.1 | 22,078 | |
| Dary Rezvani (D) | 3.1 | 5,273 | |
 | Eric Garcia (No party preference) | 2.7 | 4,515 | |
| Total votes: 168,770 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Heman Hill (Independent)
Campaign themes
2020
State Center Community College District
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dary Rezvani did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
U.S. House
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dary Rezvani completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rezvani's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Immigration - Immigration is what makes America great. It is the diverse group of people that have allowed this country to do such amazing things. The attacks on immigrants and minorities by this administration are unacceptable and we need leadership that will stand up for them. We need to expand access for legal immigration and asylum seekers. Health Care - We need universal healthcare. As someone who had to deal with the broken healthcare system during my father's passing, I will fight to ensure that no one will have to choose between life or debt. Corporations are taking advantage of the system though patent loopholes and the American people have ultimately paid the price. Climate Crisis - There are 134 months left to protect our planet against massive ecological changes. We need leadership that will fight to save Earth and not put corporate interests ahead of our future generations. We have seen countless times that oil companies have disregarded the EPA and health standards that have poisoned our drinking water. This administration just opened up our valley to further oil drilling and we need someone who will fight to protect our resources.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Criminal Justice Reform - The United States has over 2 million people in jail. We need to remove privatization from the prison system which has lead to this incarceration rate. Once again corporations are breaking down our system in order to increase profits. Human beings should not be locked in jail, away from their families for nonviolent, victimless crimes. Cash bail has perpetuated a system that criminalizes poverty and must be stopped. Education - Education is the cornerstone of our society. Teachers are people who spend the most time with our youth and at times can be the only ear in a person's life. They serve a much larger purpose than just an educator in many cases. We need to ensure that teachers are paid appropriately and we need to expand after school programs. Investment in public education and the way we are taught is what builds a foundation for our communities. Water - Farmers are the heart of the central valley. We need to ensure that we have proper water storage. In addition to ensuring the safety of farming water, we need to make sure that we have sustainable water use practices and most importantly clean water. We have seen the issue of clean drinking water across the country, including our own valley.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Angela Davis and James Baldwin. They embody the fight that is necessary for change. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin “You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” - Angela Davis
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
The Myth of Capitalism - This book systematically explains the issues with out current economic model. We have antitrust laws that are either antiquated or blatantly ignored.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Sensarity. For my entire life I have watched politicians lie for votes. I want representation that I know is true to their word.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To serve the continuants in your district.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I want to leave the world a better place than I found it.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
9/11. I was 10 years old. It was at this point I realized there was no logic to hate. Only unfounded unadulterated hate towards things that were different, and the things people did not understand.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Server, Powell's Sweet Shoppe, and Urban Outfitters
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving. It is really the only time that my family gets together and it has always been a special day in my family.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Iron Man
What are your thoughts on term limits?
They are necessary. It seems that politicians forget the issues that we all face and thus are unable to make policy that helps all of us.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Rezvani's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Climate Crisis and Water The climate crisis is one of the most urgent challenges we face as a country, and here in the Central Valley, we are on the front lines. With a dwindling window of time to solve this crisis, we must elect leaders who will take action on the climate crisis. Air Pollution Our district has some of the dirtiest air in the country according to The United Nations Health Agency, including the highest asthma rate for children in the nation. This affects both the quality and longevity of life for us all. According to the American Lung Association State of the Air report, the Visalia / Porterville area ranked first on the list of cities most affected by year-round particle pollution. This is a critical issue of public health, one I take seriously as a business owner serving on the board of the Environmental Justice Advisory Group. Safe and Affordable Drinking Water California has recognized clean, safe drinking water as a human right since 2012. It is unjust that nearly 100,000 people in our district lack access to this basic human necessity. The number of cases of water contamination in our rural towns such as Orosi is simply unacceptable. There’s no easy fix to this crisis, it won’t get any easier if our Representative in Congress lacks the leadership and vision to bring stakeholders to the table for a frank conversation about solutions. Supporting Family Farms Agriculture is a vital part of our Valley’s economy, and farming can and must have a positive impact on our environment. Bringing carbon back into the soil through the use of regenerative agriculture has the capacity to reverse climate change, using carbon sequestration while addressing public health concerns and the financial well-being of farmers. Nationally, the suicide rates for farmers is on the rise due to the pressure of extreme weather, financial stress, and trade uncertainty. We must do all that we can to support the health of the longevity of our land and the people who work in it. In Congress, I will:
Healthcare We all know our current healthcare system isn’t working. I’ve experienced the failures of this system first-hand when my dad died of lung cancer at 58. It wasn’t even 24 hours after he passed before the medical bills began coming in — it’s hard enough to lose someone you love, much less worry about the cost of the vital care required to keep them alive. A system where consumers will pay nearly infinite amounts to keep their loved ones alive is rife for profiteering when that care is being sold by a company whose primary responsibility not to its patients, but its shareholders. We spend more on healthcare than any other developed nation, yet health outcomes aren’t any better…and in many cases, they’re worse. According to a study by Peterson-Kaiser, of the 12 wealthiest countries in the world, the U.S. ranks last in life expectancy. We need bold change to ensure that the people of California’s 22nd District have access to high quality, affordable, and effective healthcare. Across our Central Valley, almost all of us struggle with access to care. Many of our neighbors don’t even have access to basic preventative care such as a visit to a primary care doctor. Our emergency rooms bear the brunt of this problem and are filled with patients suffering from preventable illnesses that have advanced to critical stages but could have been avoided altogether with proper care. The Central Valley’s shortage of primary care physicians is nearly double the state’s average, making it one of the worst shortages in California. We can only expect to see that increase if we do not take action. In Congress, I will:
Jobs & Economy I still own the automotive shop in Fresno that my dad and I started when I was 19. I was taught that working hard in this country will get you ahead, so I put my head down and earned my degree in Accounting from Fresno State. While working to audit public financial statements at one of the largest accounting firms in the world — PricewaterhouseCoopers — I saw firsthand how a few large corporations are able to game the system and manipulate the economy, making it harder for most Americans to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table. The worst part? It’s perfectly legal because Congress is captive to the monied interests that fund their campaigns. In California’s 22nd district, people are working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. 1 out of 3 people in Fresno lives below the poverty line, and in Tulare County, the poverty rate is nearly double the state average. This is unacceptable. For too long the Central Valley has been left out or left behind in economic prosperity. As a small business owner and accountant, I know that we can do better if we have a Member of Congress who actually represents the people who live here. In Congress, I will:
Immigration Reform Immigrants are the reason the Central Valley thrives. We are a nation of immigrants, and nowhere is that more clear than right here in our community. America’s broken immigration system we are facing isn’t working for anyone. Too many families are living in fear, and that is hurting the entire Valley. We need comprehensive immigration reform. As a member of Congress, I will:
Education Education is a core building block of our society. As an alumnus of Fresno State, I know how vital it is to have access to quality, affordable, and accessible education in our community and California’s 22nd district is lucky to have some of the best schools in the state. At the same time, 44 million people in this country are struggling to repay $1.56 trillion in student loans. The effects of this massive mountain of debt ripple through our entire economy and is hampering a generation of Americans who are unable to invest in their communities, start innovative companies, or even buy a home of their own. For this reason, I believe student loan debt should be forgiven in full so that young families have the freedom and economic mobility to start the next chapter of their lives. This is a bold move that would put $17 billion back into the U.S. economy annually. At the same time, we must expand public education to cover a 4-year debt-free college and cap the rate interest rate of federal loans for graduate students. Education is the greatest equalizer in this country and higher education should be accessible to anyone who wants it, regardless of where they fall on the socioeconomic ladder. We can improve public education by building the bench of teachers and committing to end our teacher shortage, strengthening the retention of teachers and attracting young people to the teaching profession. We must also eliminate the teacher pay gap and pay teachers for the vital work they do to educate our next generation like the professionals that they are. In Congress, I will:
Affordable Housing & Homelessness Across the nation, over 21 million Americans are facing housing cost burdens. California makes up 12% of the U.S. population with nearly a quarter of the total homeless population. While the cost of a home in the Central Valley is lower than the rest of California, many are still struggling to make ends meet. Almost 60% of renters in Fresno County spend a third of their income just to put a roof over their heads. The average cost of an apartment has increased by 6.2% in Fresno, the second-highest jump in the state. Central Valley resident’s income is not rising with the cost of housing, causing low-income families to pay more with fewer resources. This strain puts individuals and families of California’s 22nd district at risk of being unhoused with the number of people who are unhoused and have increased by 25% in both Fresno and Tulare Counties. There are hundreds of people in our district who are experiencing homelessness right now due to a lack of affordable housing, emergency services, disability, or access to mental health services. Every American deserves a safe, affordable, and decent place to live. We are not doing enough to combat this crisis and we must elect leaders that will take action on housing. In Congress, I will:
Criminal Justice Reform We have more people in prison than anywhere in the world. We have more than 2.3 million people locked up in more than 6,000 prisons across America and more people being put away every day. In California, the incarceration rate is 581 to 100,000 people. This system disproportionately affects communities of color and people in poverty while our government spends billions of dollars on subsidies for-profit prison industry that profits from more people being put behind bars. Our prison system must focus on rehabilitation and reintegration — We must reduce the incarcerated population. In Congress, I will:
Corruption in Washington Every person in California’s 22nd district deserves an equal voice in our government. Dark money and special interests are undermining our democracy as we know it and drowning out the voices of everyday Americans. I decided to run for Congress after seeing wide-spread corruption and know that it will take leaders who are willing to stand up and fight for a government that works for all of us. In Congress, I will:
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” |
| —Dary Rezvani’s campaign website (2020)[3] | ||
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Dary Rezvani 2020 campaign website, "About," accessed February 24, 2020
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Dary Rezvani 2020 campaign website, “Priorities,” accessed February 24, 2020
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