By Ken Campbell – Red Placer Blog
The race to replace Senator Sam Aanestad (SD4) is certainly going to be interesting. As I have bloged here before, both Assemblyman LaMalfa and Assemblyman Keene have similar voting records (see link here), with LaMalfa being sightly more conservative (California Republican Assembly lifetime voting record for LaMalfa, 97%, vs. Keene, 88%). Keene did vote for the bloated and irresponsible 2007 State budget which was just another step toward our current state debt and future(?) insolvency. At this point I need to say I personally know and think highly of both these men.
Probably what distinguishes these two candidates is that while Keene is content to sit at the Capitol and vote, LaMalfa uses his office as a platform to push the conservative agenda. For example, LaMalfa gives his name, money and time to Capitol Resource Institute (CRI). When CRI was trying to repeal SB 777, LaMalfa was at the CRI press conferences, answering questions, working in the trenches. LaMalfa is there working with Gun Owners of California trying to defend and protect our Second Amendment
right. LaMalfa gives his time and money to Pacific Justice Institute and California Prolife. LaMalfa was at the recent William Jessup University Fund Dinner as money was raised to provide scholarships for students. There is no question, LaMalfa is a conservative activist and a doer– LaMalfa does not simply warm a seat.
So it was with great interest I went to the ribbon cutting of the LaMalfa Lincoln headquarters. I arrived 1/2 hour late to a large packed-out room. I have been to enough of these type of events to know how these things work– the candidate fills the room with staffers and family to give the illusion of overwhelming support. That was not the case here.
I have lived in Lincoln for close to twenty years and although Lincoln has grown, it still is a tight community… and you know the “movers and shakers” that makes things work. I was amazed to see the room packed with these “movers and shakers”. There were local elected officials (Lincoln City Councilman Spencer Short, Loomis City Councilman Miguel Ucovich, Rocklin City Councilman Brett Storey,Rocklin Mayor Scott Yuill and Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes). There were local pastors and businessmen. The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce was very well represented (LaMalfa is a member of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce). The leaders of the Tea Party Patriots were there along with representatives of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
The food from Old Town Pizza to TCBY yogurt pie was distinctively Lincoln.
LaMalfa seemed very comfortable, warmly greeting people as friends- not as a Senate candidate. LaMalfa definitely has done his homework, and at this point seems to own South Placer. LaMalfa’s opponent has been conspicuously absent from South Placer which makes me wonder if he still is running.
Post Scripts, Jack Lee: I invite our 15,000 plus readers to visit the Red Placer County blog, they are a good site for conservatives.
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I’ve said much the same thing Ken and I enjoyed your comments. I too like both men, but where we’ve parted ways is the way Mr. Keene been running. He has placed his paid political operatives in key positions within the local Central Committee and in the CRA. When the time comes I suppose he expects these groups to help him out with an endorsement or something.
I have a problem with that and wish politicians wouldn’t do it, but its legal and this is how some elections get won…. I just don’t think it’s right, but I have to admit it works. If Doug had to fight back in some way against this tactic well, I wouldn’t blame him. However, I think it’s safe to say, we all look forward to our candidates in 2010 running the very cleanest election possible where issues matter more than anything else.
Thanks again Ken for keeping us informed, we support your blog!
Jack @ PS