Jerry and Mary

Jerry McNerney, small businessman and renewable energy engineer, was inspired to run for Congress by his son Michael, who joined the Air Force after 9/11. Michael called his Dad after receiving his absentee ballot and saw that no one was running against the incumbent at the time. “Dad,” Michael said. “People should have a choice. I’m serving our country and you can as well by running for Congress.”

At the time, Jerry and his wife Mary were living in Pleasanton, where they raised their three children, Michael, Windy and Greg. Jerry was hard at work starting a renewable energy company. As a small business owner and father, Jerry knows how much of a struggle it can be to make ends meet during difficult times, and at one point even had to take out a second mortgage to pay for his children’s college education.

Jerry took Michael’s words to heart and knew if he was elected, he would serve as an independent voice who understands what it’s like to make ends meet in good times and bad. With his family’s support, Jerry began his journey to serve as the representative for the 11th Congressional District. Thousands of people joined his efforts and helped him to victory. Thanks to everyone’s hard work and support, he was sworn into office on January 4, 2007.

During these tough times, and with so many families struggling, Jerry knows that it’s wrong for Congress or big corporations to benefit at our expense.  He has always voted against pay raises for members of Congress and he wrote the bill to close tax loopholes used by corporations to ship American jobs overseas. He’ll keep working hard to bring new jobs to our area.

Jerry and Michael

Jerry is a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, where he is a strong advocate for improving benefits and care for the men and women who served our country. He brought a new veterans medical facility and nursing home to our area, which will create approximately 900 jobs and provide medical care close to home for our local veterans. He also wrote and passed a new law that will improve care for service members returning home with traumatic brain injuries, which unfortunately are the signature wounds currently affecting our troops overseas.

Jerry has a PhD in mathematics and spent over two decades developing renewable energy technology. His efforts in wind energy helped save the equivalent of approximately 30 million barrels of oil. Now, Jerry is putting this expertise to work as a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He is the author of three major bills, passed by the House of Representatives, that will help train the next generation for green jobs, increase the efficiency of our electrical grid, and invest in infrastructure for electric vehicles. He is also the co-author of a bill to help spur local manufacturing of these cars.

Jerry is committed to serving the area he represents. Jerry and Mary still live in the same California town where they raised their children, and Jerry is home every weekend to hear directly from people about their thoughts and ideas. He has held over 60 “Congress At Your Corner” town hall meetings and attends as many community events as he can. He works tirelessly to help create jobs, improve benefits for veterans and current service members, and stand up for what’s right.