In the East County, Sen. Joel Anderson’s Holiday Legislative Open House has become one of the local holiday traditions. On Dec. 10, more than 3,000 people rushed to Toyota of El Cajon to meet Anderson and share their ideas to improve state government. The event was a unique opportunity for constituents to connect with their state legislator, and a chance for everyone in San Diego County to gather and share holiday cheer and enjoy the donated food and entertainment provided by generous local businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations.
In the East County, Sen. Joel Anderson’s Holiday Legislative Open House has become one of the local holiday traditions. On Dec. 10, more than 3,000 people rushed to Toyota of El Cajon to meet Anderson and share their ideas to improve state government. The event was a unique opportunity for constituents to connect with their state legislator, and a chance for everyone in San Diego County to gather and share holiday cheer and enjoy the donated food and entertainment provided by generous local businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations.
Anderson appreciated those who attended the event.
“My job is to make government work for those I represent,” he said. “The Holiday Legislative Open House makes me accountable to my constituents, and I appreciate everyone who takes time to attend and share their ideas and work with me to improve our state. 40-60 percent of my bill ideas come from this event. My constituents' ideas make me a better legislator.”
The evening began with the joyful holiday music performed by the East County Youth Symphony, a non-profit group that provides free classical music education to aspiring musicians. Many attendees lined up to meet Anderson and take a photo with him at the photo line, and enjoyed food and drinks donated by a wide variety of outstanding East County businesses and non-profit organizations. To mention a few, the Grossmont Union High School District’s (GUHSD) Culinary Arts program students came back to the event and shared their delicious desserts. The students in the Floral Design program showed off the beautifully arranged floral center pieces at the event. The Culinary Arts and Floral Design students are high school students who have gained college-ready and career-ready skills through the GUHSD’s Career and Technical Education program. Another famous local celebrity present was the Cow from Chick-Fil-A who brought warm chicken sandwiches to share and never said “no” to those who walked up to ask for a photo or a high-five.
The Youth Choir of San Diego brought energetic and talented young singers who shared their loud and joyful voices to bring more holiday cheer. Their dancing and singing soon became contagious, and many of the people watching the performance could not resist following the rhythm.
This was the seventh annual Holiday Legislative Open House held by Anderson. The first event was held in then-Assemblymember Anderson's district office. However, because the event attendance has grown dramatically each year, Anderson and his team had to move to larger locations each year until last year when the open house was first held at the beautiful Toyota of El Cajon dealership.
Anderson welcomes anyone who missed the event and still wishes to submit their legislative idea to call his office at 619-596-3136 or email him at Senator.Anderson@senate.ca.gov.
