Posted on 02/26/2002 2:38:28 PM PST by The All Seeing Eye
Published on February 18, 2002
© 2002- The Press Democrat
BYLINE: PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
PAGE: B1
Three Republicans with similar fiscal platforms but different regional perspectives will vie in the primary to replace Democratic state Sen. Wes Chesbro.
Stuart Posselt of Benecia, Dennis Purificacion of Vallejo and Peggy Redfearn of Nice are hoping to get the party nomination March 5. In November one of the three will face Chesbro, of Arcata, who is seeking re-election to the 2nd Senate District, which stretches from Solano to Humboldt counties.
The three challengers said it's time for new leadership in Sacramento. They criticized the Democratic majority for spending they say created the $12.5 billion state budget deficit, and they all favor term limits.
Posselt and Redfearn take similar stances on environmental issues, as well.
Posselt said recent efforts to list threatened species such as the California tiger salamander seem misguided, considering the number of acres of forestland in the district versus farmland.
``It's being carried too far,'' he said.
Redfearn has taken a similar position on timber, but she said foresters must take pains to replace harvested trees.
``Timber is an agriculture product,'' she said. ``It's no different than tomatoes or peas.''
Redfearn also opposes Proposition 40, which would supply money for parks statewide. She said it's a program the cash-strapped state cannot afford right now.
The candidates' differences in part stem from their diverse geographical orientations. Reapportionment in the district last year added territory northeast of San Francisco, including Posselt's town of Benicia, while eliminating Del Norte County.
Redfearn, 48, and the owner of a Lake County cleaning service, is focused on issues close to North Coast voters such as rail service and parks funding.
Redfearn said she has scrutinized plans to restore the Northwestern Pacific rail line from Willits to Eureka, saying the project should not be done with public money.
``Going from Willits to Humboldt County is cost-prohibitive,'' she said. ``It's absolutely unfeasible for the public to do it.''
Posselt, 66, and Purificacion, 27, both live in the densely urban, southern extreme of the district.
The issues they focus on tend toward traditional conservative ones such as educational freedoms, limits on government and strengthening family rights.
Posselt, the only one of the three with any government experience, said Democrats have spent too much in recent years, and that state government has grown unwieldy under Gov. Gray Davis.
``I'm running because there's a collapse of leadership in Sacramento,'' he said. ``We've got to have responsible people in the Legislature because that's where all the spending starts.''
Purificacion, a theology teacher, is running to reverse what he calls a moral crisis in America.
He said a culture of violence and permissiveness is chipping away at the traditional family, weakening institutions like education.
He opposes abortion and favors school choice, saying the government is intervening too much in people's lives.
He said Chesbro, who sits on the Senate Education Committee, has done little to improve national test scores, which are near the bottom of the 50 states.
``Education has fallen on his watch,'' Purificacion said. ``I want to preserve and promote family-friendly policies in Sacramento. I want to promote parental involvement in education and parental rights.''
Posselt and Redfearn said they are both pro-choice and favor school-choice vouchers.
None of the candidates have raised more than $5,000. The winner of the primary is likely to get financial support from the party and private donors closer to the general election.
Chesbro, elected in 1998, has mounted a considerable campaign treasury of nearly $500,000 and is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
I think what it really boils down to is this: the media is pushing for the weaker Republican to go up against the incumbent Democrat. A look at the websites shows who the more heavyweight candidate is:
Stuart Posselt: www.posselt4statesenate.org
Dennis Purificacion: www.mrdennisp.com
Dennis Purificacion is pro-life, pro-gun rights, anti-affirmative action, and anti-income tax. I think he also has the most political experience. I've gotten to know him through his state- and national-level political activism. He's one of those few people you run into in politics who actually holds convictions.
Dennis was born in the Philippines. You can see his bio here: www.mrdennisp.com/bio.htm
You are absolutely right about this. The press will ALWAYS promote the liberal/moderate Republican over ANY conservative Republican, and then if the liberal wins, they'll turn on him, and if the conservative wins, they'll repeat he's too conservative, an extremist, out of the mainstream, etc., etc. Look at Riordan and Simon! The press was in a major lovefest with Riordan and are shocked and dismayed that Simon has taken the lead! How can that be? Riordan is so reasonable on everything!
However, in this district I don't think any Republican can win, liberal OR conservative. Republican registration is at 29% and Bush lost the district by 20 points with only 35% of the vote. The district has to be AT LEAST 35% Republican to even have a chance of a Republican winning (only two legislative seats have been won in the 1990s with less than 35% Republican registration).
But by all means, if you live there, vote for the conservative because you will be voting him to have a place at the table in the party, and that will help conservatives up and down the state.
You’re probably right, but who knows; anything's possible.
Dennis isn't your typical Republican, and we don't live in typical circumstances anymore as a country. I think his message of morality would resonate with a lot Americans, regardless of party affiliation.
So, if he can at least make it past the primaries, I think he stands a great chance of winning against the Democrat.
I just wish the media would leave it up to the people to decide, and not tell them who to vote for.
Yes, I agree, though I don't think that the people listen to the so-called "mainstream press" anymore. With the Internet and the wealth of information for a variety of sources, people ARE becoming better informed.
I just wish that people who didn't know anything wouldn't vote. Conservatives would win by a landslide across the country. ;-)
Go Bill Simon, conservative Republican for Governor!
That's exactly right. I know of so many old-timers who dutifully show up for every election, and then basically flip a coin in the voting booth. Any citizen who isn't informed but who still comes to vote is negligent in his duties. He really should stay home.
It is true that, the more citizens become informed, the more they side with conservative Republicans. And the internet is helping to change things in that direction. The GOP leadership needs to wake up to this, and focus on educating people about our principles. Most folks stay home on election day, you know--probably because they don't see anything special about either party.
Vote for Dennis tomorrow!
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