Sam Farr remains true to progressive values despite changing voter sentiment
By Kurtis Alexander - Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 08/31/2010 04:28:03 PM PDT
Updated: 08/31/2010 04:33:22 PM PDT

MONTEREY - Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, is seeing the frustration many Americans have with politics these days.

At a campaign stop at a downtown Monterey hotel Tuesday, the 17-year congressman was greeted by protesters angry about federal policies on immigration and health care. Inside, at a forum where Farr agreed to discuss policy issues with his challengers this November, the crowd cheered attacks on Washington led by his Republican and Libertarian rivals.

"It's really easy to be anti-incumbent and angry," Farr told those attending the forum sponsored by the Monterey Commercial Property Owners Association. "But I think what you want in Congress is a voice that's proven."

The 17th Congressional District, which covers Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, is not one Democrats expect to lose this fall - most political observers cite only one or two of the state's 34 Democratic seats as vulnerable. But the mood nationwide is different now than it was two years ago, and if Farr returns to Washington for another term, things likely will be different there as well.

"It looks right now like there will be fewer Democrats in Congress," said Mark Baldassare, president of the Public Policy Institute of California. "It would change the dynamic (in the capital). You've got less ability to get things done when you have fewer colleagues in your party and more of an emphasis on finding like-minded people on the other side of the aisle to work with you."

If the prediction holds, Democratic works in progress are likely to lose traction, namely proposals on economic stimulus, global warming and immigration reform, Baldassare said.

Tuesday, 17th District Republican candidate Jeff Taylor of Salinas told the commercial property owners, if elected to Congress, he'd work to halt recent Democratic efforts, like getting additional economic stimulus, and try to repeal the new health care legislation.

"A government that governs best governs least," he said.

Many of Taylor's stated positions, like wanting to lower taxes and supporting Arizona's tough new immigration law, drew applause from many of the 75 or so in attendance at the Portola Hotel and Spa at Monterey Bay.

Libertarian candidate Mary Larkin of Monterey also earned praise from the crowd with conservative stances like her opposition to entitlement programs.

"We have to grow up now and realize a diminishing number of working people can't continue to pay for, I don't want to say, freeloaders but sometimes they are," she said.

The fourth candidate, Eric Petersen of the Green Party, took a strong position against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All agreed winding down the wars was a good idea.

Farr, taking stances often unpopular with Thursday's audience, said he'd continue to push to end poverty and praised this year's health care bill as a means to reduce the deficit and ensure medical coverage for the poor.

At one point, Farr told critics that if they wanted the government "off your back," they need look no farther than the struggling regime in Afghanistan.

Farr held up his record of accomplishment as grounds for re-election. Supporters praise his efforts to protect the environment, restore Fort Ord and bring federal money back to the district.

Voter registration along the Central Coast, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two to one, gives Farr a strong advantage.

Sean Trende, senior elections analyst with the website RealClearPolitics.com, says California's gerrymandered districts make most Democrats here safe in November, but that's not the case nationwide.

"It's going to be a rough year to be a Democrat," said Trende, suggesting that Republicans could pick up in excess of 50 Democratic seats and restore their majority in Congress.

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