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About 100 people turned out to State Senator Mark DeSaulnier’s annual holiday open house Wednesday evening, taking advantage of the chance to speak with their elected representative, mingle with his staff and tour his Walnut Creek office.

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CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.

Jeremy Walsh is the editorial director of Embarcadero Media Foundation's East Bay Division, including the Pleasanton Weekly, LivermoreVine.com and DanvilleSanRamon.com. He joined the organization in late...