"Garamendi said he withdrew from the governor's race when this seat became open because "these are the issues I've spent my life on." Others might suggest his decision was conveniently pragmatic - his bid for the Democratic nomination was going nowhere - but there is no doubt about his qualifications for Congress, especially in this district. He was an aggressive and effective insurance commissioner (think health care, consumer issues such as foreclosure), deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (delta, climate change) and a state legislator from 1974 to 1991." California Lt. Governer John Garamendi served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia in the 1960's.
San Francisco Chronicle editorializes: Lt. Gov. John Garamendi stands out in this crowd because his vast portfolio of experience is so well aligned with the issues of the times and the big concerns of the district
John Garamendi: 10th Congressional District
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
It's not surprising that an oddly shaped congressional district that takes in patches of affluent suburbs, foreclosure-haunted subdivisions, a national weapons lab and delta farm towns would attract an eclectic field of candidates. Voters in the Sept. 1 special election are offered choices across the ideological spectrum - from the Peace and Freedom Party candidate who claims to be the "real socialist in the race" to the American Independent Party candidate who patted his Bible during his interview with us to emphasize his desire to "represent Him" on Capitol Hill. The field includes several impressive newcomers, and three candidates who are serving in state offices.
Lt. Gov. John Garamendi stands out in this crowd because his vast portfolio of experience is so well aligned with the issues of the times and the big concerns of the district.
Garamendi said he withdrew from the governor's race when this seat became open because "these are the issues I've spent my life on." Others might suggest his decision was conveniently pragmatic - his bid for the Democratic nomination was going nowhere - but there is no doubt about his qualifications for Congress, especially in this district. He was an aggressive and effective insurance commissioner (think health care, consumer issues such as foreclosure), deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (delta, climate change) and a state legislator from 1974 to 1991.
The 64-year-old Garamendi has the confidence and depth of knowledge that would allow him to hit the ground running in Congress - and his history suggests he would be unabashed in doing so.
If Garamendi were not in the race, two Democratic legislators from Contra Costa County, Sen. Mark DeSaulnier and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, would be at the top of the field. The policy differences among the three are minute. DeSaulnier suggests his collegial style would play well in the seniority-sensitive House; Buchanan highlights her willingness to challenge special interests (including allies such as organized labor) as an asset in these difficult times. Both make pointed references to the fact that Garamendi's Walnut Grove (Sacramento County) house is just outside the district.
The newcomer who has most impressed audiences at candidate forums - and exhibited depth and energy in his interview with us - is Democrat Anthony Woods, a 29-year-old Iraq war vet with degrees from West Point and Harvard. He speaks poignantly about growing up without access to health care or quality schools. He has a bright future in politics, if he stays with it. He should.
The class of the Republican field is David Harmer, an attorney from San Ramon who emphasizes fiscal discipline. He has a genial manner and political pedigree - his father, John, was a state senator who served briefly as lieutenant governor in the 1970s - though he is untested in the rough and tumble of a legislative arena.
There is no question about Garamendi's readiness to handle the issues and personalities he would encounter on Capitol Hill. He gets our endorsement in this race.
