The redrawn 4th Assembly District certainly stands out for its geographic diversity, spanning from Napa in the south to Lakeport to the north and from Sonoma Valley and Rohnert Park in the west to Davis in the east. It includes all or parts of six counties: Napa, Lake, Solano, Colusa, Yolo and Sonoma.
At the same time, there are many common interests that bind this district including two universities — Sonoma State and UC Davis — two of California's largest wine regions, two major lakes and recreation areas — Berryessa and Clear Lake — and some of the state's richest agricultural lands.
It also has produced one of the most intriguing races in the June 3 primary, featuring four experienced and knowledgeable individuals seeking to succeed Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, who is being forced out by term limits.
All four — Napa County Supervisor Bill Dodd, Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza, Davis Councilman Dan Wolk and Esparto farmer and former school board member Charlie Schaupp — have demonstrated exceptional knowledge of their district and the primary issues confronting the state. Any of them would serve the region well.
But we give our endorsement in this primary contest to two individuals we believe best represent the values of their parties and the priorities of the region: Krovoza, a Democrat, and Schaupp, a Republican.
An environmental lawyer by training with a background in water law, Krovoza is a director for the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies and the Energy Efficiency Center. Krovoza was elected to the Davis City Council in 2010 and has served as mayor for three years. His expertise in water law and his knowledge of energy sustainability would be invaluable in Sacramento given mandates for carbon reduction, rising debate about climate change and growing concern about drought.
He brings a no-nonsense practical approach toward confronting unfunded liabilities, playing a pivotal role in helping Davis confront it escalating pension problems through collective bargaining and belt-tightening. As a result, the city is back on sound financial footing and has a system in place for paying down its unfunded obligations.
With his passion for preserving the state's fiscal and environmental future, Krovoza comes with the credentials and the focus California needs.
Schaupp, meanwhile, has roots that go deep into Yolo County where his family has been farming since the 1880s. He served in the U.S. Marines for 28 years, including in Desert Storm in 1991 and in the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004. Back at home, he has served two terms on the Esparto Unified school board and currently serves as director on the Esparto Community Services board.
Schaupp is a man of principle who is focused on preserving agricultural lands while cutting spending and reducing the state's tax burden.
He is dismayed, and rightfully so, at the political corruption that has plagued the state Senate, including the most recent case of Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, accused of trading official favors for campaign money and illegally brokering firearms deals. But Schaupp is as critical of his own party as he is of Democrats, noting many legislators have "left their ethics at the door."
Schaupp also is no stranger within his own party, having fared well but unsuccessfully in two previous attempts at the Assembly, losing most recently to then-Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, a fellow Republican, in 2010, when he garnered 44 percent of the GOP vote. This time, his only Republican challenger is Dustin Call, a legislative aide from Davis who doesn't appear to be waging a serious campaign. Thus, with three strong Democrats likely to split the vote on the left, Schaupp stands a good chance of being in the final two in the fall. We believe this would give voters their best chance of hearing an honest and robust debate about the most serious issues facing the district and the state.
In the race for the 4th Assembly District, The Press Democrat recommends Joe Krovoza and Charlie Schaupp.
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