In a unique form of political protest, a 57-year-old resident of El Dorado County will start running next week through 15 rural counties of Northern California that are part of a proposed State of Jefferson.
Hervé Leconte will begin a 12-day, 500-mile run he calls the Run for Representation on July 29. He’ll start at Sonora in Tuolumne County and finish in Yreka in Siskiyou County.
Leconte plans to arrive in Butte County on Aug. 2, coming from Marysville. He’ll spend the night in Oroville, then run to Willows on Aug. 3, stopping in Princeton along the way, then head to Red Bluff on Aug. 4.
Leconte is a native of France who became a U.S. citizen in 2000. He and his wife, Julie, became supporters of the State of Jefferson in 2015 after attending a State of Jefferson El Dorado County town hall. Leconte said he appreciates the freedom and liberty that is America and that which is emphasized and supported by the State of Jefferson movement.
Leconte’s love for running began in 2013 after joining Julie at her gym. He soon jumped into the world of ultramarathon running.
Leconte has put his hobby of running to work by using it to raise funds and awareness for various causes that are dear to his heart. He has done numerous runs for law enforcement, first responders and military families.
In May, Citizens for Fair Representation filed a lawsuit against the state of California for lack of representation and dilution of vote.
California’s population is nearly 40 million. Those citizens are represented by 40 state senators and 80 Assembly members — the same number of representatives that in 1862 represented 416,640 people.
“This is why the Run for Representation is so important and I am determined to bring more awareness to both the Citizens for Fair Representation and the State of Jefferson movement and do all I can to make it a reality,” Leconte said.
