Email: victor.calderon@patch.com
Phone: 916-505-7200
Hometown: West Sacramento
Birthday: 2/1/1982
Bio: I graduated Class of 2000 from Jesuit High School and have a bachelor's degree in English writing from Georgetown University. I have worked as a staff writer for The Monterey County Herald, The Salinas Californian and Reno Gazette-Journal where I enjoyed covering community news and interviewing political leaders including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Mexican President Vicente Fox, farm worker civil rights leader Delores Huerta, Olympic gold medalist gymnast Nastia Liukin and celebrities including comedian Jay Leno.

Find out more about Carmichael Patch by watching our welcome video at http://patch.com/A-c8q1 .

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, following the news and rooting for the Sacramento Kings and Georgetown Hoyas basketball teams.

My Beliefs
 At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license to inject personal beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that one's beliefs are on the record will cause us to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics 
I am a registered Democrat but am fiscally conservative and socially liberal.

Religion
I would have to describe myself as a casual Roman Catholic.

Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?

Residents certainly have a plan for a more aesthetically pleasing vision for Fair Oaks Boulevard, arguably the "spine" of Carmichael through the Fair Oaks Boulevard Corridor Plan. It's a multi-year program to further the goals of the Carmichael Community Action Plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2006 to reutilize and enhance Fair Oaks Boulevard, according to the County of Sacramento Planning & Community Development department.

Where do you stand on each of these issues?

While I believe Carmichael residents certainly deserve a better looking main thoroughfare with a mix of residential and commercial properties, it may be some time before county officials can further studies to alleviate high commute traffic due to budget limitations.