| California's too big for 'up close and personal' |
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By Pat Keeble
The presidential primary campaigns are finally in California (and a few other states at the same time) but most of us won't get to see the candidates up close and personal as did the Iowans and New Hampshirites. As we mentioned earlier, the poor incumbents in legislative seats won't know until Feb. 6, and maybe not for weeks after that, what seats to run for in the June 3 primary election. Only one of the six representing portions of Contra Costa -- Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, -- is not being termed out this year, but he, along with the rest, is caught in the squeeze created by Prop. 93 on the February ballot. Prop. 93 would extend term limits by two years and give terming-out incumbents the right to run for re-election, and almost certain victory, in their present seats. There's little doubt that they would all do just that. But if it doesn't pass, DeSaulnier will pass up certain re-election to the final two years he is currently allotted in the Assembly and go for the State Senate seat held by terming-out Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, who would turn around and run for DeSaulnier's Assembly seat since he qualifies for two more years there. In other districts, which share territory with other counties, the termed out Assembly members are weighing whether to try to step up the Senate. Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, has a slightly different problem. He's beng termed out of his Assembly seat. Alameda County portions of the nearest Senate District include most of the voters, giving anyone from the eastern portions little chance of winning. He eyed the state Board of Equalization seat being vacated by term limits but the Republican Party has already selected former legislator Dean Andal of Stockton as its candidate. That means he'll be out of politics or he can step down, and he's chosen to do the latter, running against fellow Republican Mary Nejedly Piepho for the non-partisan 3rd Supervisorial District seat. If Prop. 93 passes, he would undoubtedly seek re-election to the Assembly instead. Meanwhile, assuming his 15th District Assembly seat will be vacant, 11 candidates have taken one or more official steps towards the June ballot, including three Republicans nine Democrats and one Libertarian. The standout is former San Ramon Mayor H. Abram Wilson, a banker highly regarded in the community. It's probable that a number of candidates will drop out before the filing deadline. If Prop. 93 passes, giving Houston another chance, most of them would drop out. Prop. 93, by the way, is trailing badly in the polls. ============================================ PRIMARY ELECTION FILINGS AS OF JAN. 18, 2008 The following have taken an official action to become candidates in June, filing declarations of intent to run with the Secretary of State and/or taking out petitions for signatures in lieu of filing fees. Some incumbents (shown here in parentheses) have not taken an action but are expected to do so before the filing deadline of March 7. Others, as noted, are incumbent legislators who are terming out under the current law but will be able to run again for their current seats if Prop. 93, extending term limits, passes on Feb. 5. Most of them have signed to run in their current seats and a second seat if they are termed out of the first. They will have until March 7 to file final nomination papers, choosing which seat in which to run. Congressional District 7 (Inc. George Miller, D-Martinez) Virginia Fuller-Kendall, Pinole, Republican William Callison, Concord, Peace & Freedom Party Congressional District 10 (Inc. Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo) David Peterson, Walnut Creek, Republican Eugene Ruyle, Oakland, Peace and Freedom Party Congressional District 11 (Inc. Jerry McNerney, D-Livermore) St. Senate District 7 (Inc. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch -- terming out -- will run for re-election if Prop. 93 passes, for Assembly if it doesn't pass.) Joe Canciamilla, D-Pittsburg Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord (see Assembly District 11) St. Senate District 9 (Inc. Don Perata, D-Oakland (terming out if Prop. 93 loses.) Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley (terming out if Prop. 93 loses.) Johan Klehs, D-Alameda Co. (former Assemblyman) Assembly District 11 Inc. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord (will run for Senate if Prop. 93 loses, for re-election if it passes.) Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch (see Senate District 7) Assembly District 14 (Inc. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley (terming out; see Senate District 14) Lesa McIntosh, D-Richmond Phillip Polokoff, Dem x Kriss Worthington, Dem Assembly District 15 (Inc. Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, terming out; see Sup. 3 District) Robert Rao, Rep Joseph Rubay, Rep H. Abram Wilson, San Ramon, Rep Joan Buchanan, Alamo, Dem Theodore Ford, Walnut Creek, Dem Coleman Terry, Dem Steve Filson, Danville, Dem Frederick Klaske, Dem Davies Ononiwu, Dem John Taylor, Dem Steve Thomas, Dem Chris Van Schaack, Dem Robert Bates, Lib County Supervisor District 2 Inc. Gayle Uilkema, Lafayette County Supervisor District 3 Inc. Mary Piepho, Discovery Bay Assemblyman Guy Houston, San Ramon (if Prop. 93 loses.) County Supervisor District 5 Inc. Federal Glover, Pittsburg Note: all the Congressional and Legislative Districts except Senate District 7 and Assembly District 11 share territory with one or more adjacent counties. Other candidates may file in those counties and not be recorded here until the final list is developed. Other candidates have indicated their intention to run but have not taken an official action. |
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