Opinion: Gaines should be voted out of Assembly
Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the April 27, 2012, Sacramento Bee.
Republican attorney Andrew Pugno is challenging Assemblywoman Beth Gaines in the June primary to represent one of the most heavily Republican districts in California – Assembly District 6, which includes parts of Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties.
Pugno also is the author of Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that banned same-sex marriage. The Bee disagrees strongly with his position on Prop. 8.
Yet Gaines shares the same views on gay and lesbian rights, and Pugno has demonstrated he would be a far more effective representative than she would be for the 6th Assembly District.
Democrat Regy Bronner also is running and would be a credible choice in the top-two primary on June 5. Bronner is a thoughtful moderate who, unlike his Republican opponents, has not signed the no-tax pledge.
In some ways, Bronner reflects his district. As he notes, many people in the area are retired, as is he at age 69. But while he likely will emerge from the June 5 primary as one of the top-two vote getters, a Republican stands a far stronger chance of winning in November.