Assemblyman Nielsen honored

Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, was recently named the 2011 Champion of Private Property Rights.

California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights, a coalition of family farmers, community and taxpayer advocates that fights eminent domain, honored the legislator in large part for his vote to abolish redevelopment agencies.

"I have devoted most of my adult life to protecting property rights and we have had our successes and there are many challenges yet ahead. Property rights are one of the fundamental elements of our society and we must all still fight to preserve these critical rights.," Nielsen said in a statement.

"Your vote to abolish California redevelopment agencies was the greatest single action a member of the state Legislature could take to protect California property owners from eminent domain abuse and to end corporate welfare for private development," Marko Mliktoin, president of the alliance, said in a statement.

Nielsen represents the Second Assembly District, which includes Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties.