Sieglock, Huber best choices for the 10th Assembly District

Not surprisingly, three strong conservatives are contending for the Republican nomination in the 10th Assembly District — a district gerrymandered to be a Republican stronghold.

All three responded to the News-Sentinel's questions about state issues and they agreed on many points.

We came the realization that Jack Sieglock was tops. Here's how we got there:

First we looked at resumes.

Paul Hegyi, chief of staff for Assemblyman Van Tran of Garden Grove, is probably an able politician and loyal Republican, but we would like to support a candidate with something more going for him than an active enthusiasm for politics.

At first blush we were impressed by David Sander's Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology. Wow, we thought, he's not a lawyer or a poly sci major.

Maybe we ought to elect a scientist to the Assembly?

But after college, Sander went to work for the U.S. Congress. Granted, his expertise was in health science and government health care programs. But when he left government, he founded a company that "helps scientific groups and bio-tech/pharmaceutical companies communicate effectively with government and the public." Sounds like political consulting to us.

Jack Sieglock, too, has his heart is in politics. Sieglock is a former Congressional staffer, Lodi City Councilman and San Joaquin County Supervisor. He has also worked on an off in his family's health care business.

What distinguished Sieglock for us was the side by side comparison of each candidates' answers to our questions.

Both support home schooling and charter schools, both oppose tax increases to balance the state budget, both want to curb illegal immigration and both support scaling back state education bureaucracy and giving local school boards more authority and more options to direct education.

A lot of this struck us typical dodging of the hard realities of solving these problems. But nobody had the corner on empty political rhetoric.

What got our attention was Sieglock's support for this area's attempt for firm up a water right on the Mokelumne River. Finally, a real position on an issue a lone Assemblyman might do something about. This local issue is hot right now and having someone in Sacramento who is plugged in could make a historic difference to Lodi's future.

Conservatives can rest assured that Sieglock is a reliable vote for jobs, low taxes and conservative social values. Locals will be electing a guy who gets the importance of water resources to our continued economic well-being.

We support Jack Sieglock for the 10th Assembly GOP nomination.

Could Huber make the November election interesting?

Can a Democrat win in the 10th Assembly District?

That would be quite a stretch. After all, the sprawling district was custom-crafted as Republican sanctuary.

District voters have elected, in secession, Larry Bowler, Anthony Pescetti and incumbent Dr. Alan Nakanishi of Lodi, all Republicans.

Republicans still hold a clear edge in voter registration, with 40.84 percent to 38.59 for Democrats. That's not as close as it may seem, as Republicans tend to actually show up and vote more than Democrats.

Still, Democratic contender Alyson Huber is optimistic. Huber was raised in Lodi and attended Leroy Nichols, Woodbridge Junior High and Lodi High. She went on to earn a law degree and now practices business law while living in El Dorado Hills.

She is running against Jim Cook, a parole agent who has competed and lost twice for 10th Assembly office.

Huber is clearly the party's choice here, endorsed by unions and leading Democratic leaders. She has supported foster care reform and advocated for at-risk youth, but otherwise her public service portfolio is rather modest.

She sees signs the district may be moderating. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein won the district in 2006. Though Republican voters still outnumber Democrats, the gap has narrowed, if every so slightly, over the last year.

We'd be surprised to see the 10th going to a Democrat this fall, yet we believe a competitive race, with strong candidates discussing key issues, is healthy.

To that end, we endorse Huber as an articulate political newcomer with the best chance of making the November election a real contest.

— The Lodi News-Sentinel

Reader Feedback

Aris wrote on May 29, 2008 7:35 PM:

" I was looking at the anti-Hegyi piece and noticed that he was cited for "PC 921 - Prowling". But California Penal Code Section 921 reads: "The grand jury is entitled to free access, at all reasonable times, to the public prisons, and to the examination, without charge, of all public records within the county." Doesn't sound much like prowling at a post office, does it? "

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Cogito wrote on May 27, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Hey, if I bought Jack a beer, could I write it off on my taxes as a political contribution? "

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papercut wrote on May 27, 2008 9:12 PM:

" The mailer was from his republican opponent. "

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papercut wrote on May 27, 2008 9:11 PM:

" Got my anti-Sieglock mailer today and can't believe what a cheapskate he is, charging a $4 beer on his government credit card, and more than once. And beer imported from Belgium to boot. I'll pass on a moocher this cheap. "

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al da long wrote on May 24, 2008 11:16 AM:

" Sieglock, another local "in the click-good Ole boy". One of his appointments (planning commission) while on the Board of Sup. and a staunch supporter had broken the law with using a band pesticide along with having profited from recent land development/sale on the South side of Lodi. Good Job LNS in really looking into a candidates ties. "

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Sieglock, Huber best choices for the 10th Assembly District

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