Video: DeSaulnier-Canciamilla debate

They're not even officially candidates yet. And it's not entirely clear what office they will be contesting next June. But former Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla and Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier squared off in a Democratic candidate debate on Friday, as the two appear headed on a collision course in 2008.

DeSaulnier, who beat Canciamilla's wife Laura in his Assembly bid in 2006, is expected to run for state Senate next year if Proposition 93, the term limits measure, fails in February.

He'll be swapping seats with long-time friend Sen. Tom Torlakson, who is termed out of the Senate but has a term left in the Assembly, before he plans to run for superintendent of public instruction in 2010.

Canciamilla, who was termed out of the Assembly in 2006, has been raising funds to prepare for a 2008 Senate bid. He has more than $400,000 cash on hand.

Got all that?

Because if Proposition 93 passes, all those races would be put on hold, as Torlakson will run for reelection to the Senate, DeSaulnier would run again for the Assembly and Canciamilla would be faced with the unsavory option of walking away or challenging Torlakson, who has held office in Contra Costa County since the early 1970s.

In any case, the video of the DeSaulnier-Canciamilla debate, held on Friday at the Lamorinda Democratic Club, is below:

For a report on the debate, see the Contra Costa Times.