Thread: Open Calif. congressional seat attracts wide field

Open Calif. congressional seat attracts wide field

By JUDY LIN, The Associated Press
11:57 a.m. August 26, 2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — More than a dozen candidates, including the lieutenant governor, two state lawmakers and an openly gay Iraq war veteran, are running to fill an open congressional seat in a special election in Northern California next week.

California's 10th Congressional District seat was vacated by former Rep. Ellen Tauscher, a Democrat who was tapped by the Obama administration for an undersecretary position in the State Department.

The 14 candidates are playing up their personal tales to capture votes in a race that has attracted some big-name attention, with Bill Clinton and Al Gore both endorsing Lt. Gov. John Garamendi in the Democratic contest.
Garamendi, 64, is the most recognizable name on the ballot, having served more than 25 years in various state offices. He was considering a fourth bid for governor when Tauscher's seat opened up.

His Democratic opponents include state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, and Iraq war veteran Anthony Woods, who would become the first openly gay black member of Congress if elected. Woods is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned his master's degree in public policy from Harvard. He was honorably discharged after coming out to his military commanders in 2008.
If no candidate emerges with a majority in Tuesday's special election, a runoff will be held Nov. 3 between the top vote-getters from each party. Analysts believe a runoff is likely, given the number of candidates with high name recognition in the district.

"It's a smorgasbord," said Allan Hoffenblum, publisher and editor of the California Target Book, an analysis of legislative and congressional campaigns. "You got something for everyone."

Voters are expected to return a Democrat to Congress. Democrats have an 18-point edge in voter registration over Republicans in the district that stretches from the San Francisco suburbs east to the edge of Sacramento. Independents make up 20 percent.

Garamendi said he would maintain a broad agenda if elected, from addressing climate change to investing more in higher education.
"This is really about who can go to Washington and get things done," Garamendi said. "I've got the experience on issues going on in Washington – health care, climate change, energy, transportation policy, financial regulation."

Garamendi has been criticized over whether he lives within the boundaries of the district. He has said the front yard of his Walnut Grove home is in the district, but his bedroom is not.

Opponents say there is no evidence that any part of his property lies within the district, but it's an argument intended merely to score political points, since there are no residency requirements for congressional representatives.

With the election approaching, the campaign of DeSaulnier ran a television commercial accusing Garamendi of taking the easy route by running in a district that neighbors his own.

"I've lived in the district for over 30 years. That distinguishes me from my other opponents," DeSaulnier said.

The 57-year-old, who owned bar-and-grill style restaurants in the Bay area before beginning his political career, has Tauscher's endorsement but is restricted from promoting it because she is now a federal appointee.
Buchanan, 56, who was elected to the Assembly only last year, is emphasizing her executive experience as a former manager at Delta Dental, which calls itself the nation's largest dental insurance company. She also relates her experience as a mother of five children, one of whom survived a brain tumor. That gives her the kind of knowledge that will help in the debate over health care reform, she has told audiences.
Woods is hoping to pull off an upset.

Although his campaign had raised a little more than $200,000 as of Aug. 12, compared to $700,000 for Garamendi in his three campaign accounts, Woods is hoping his 7,000 friends on Facebook and other online efforts will turn out a new brand of supporters on Election Day.

"They recognize that we keep on sending career politicians and we keep on getting the same broken results," Woods said. "I think voters are looking for a fresh perspective from someone who has economic expertise, national security and who's lived their issues firsthand."

There are six Republican candidates in the primary field to five Democrats. Other contenders come from the Green, American Independent and Peace and Freedom parties.

The leading GOP candidate is attorney David Harmer, the son of former California Lt. Gov. John Harmer. The state Republican Party endorsed him and Harmer is hoping for a surprise upset in November, just as his father won a surprise victory when he took a Democratic seat in a 1966 state Senate race.

Harmer said voters are dissatisfied with government bailouts for automakers and banks. He had raised about $425,000 as of Aug. 12, while other Republicans candidates reported much smaller campaign donations.

"Electing me will send a very clear signal that voters are really serious about restoring fiscal discipline," he said.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=155706

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California's 10th congressional district

California's 10th congressional district is located in the East Bay region of Northern California.
This once compact and politically balanced district ...
Voting - List of Representatives - Election results - References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California's_10th_congressional_district