Editorial: Cabaldon best choice in 8th Assembly District

Correction

This editorial overstated contributions by the California Teachers Association to an independent expenditure campaign on behalf of Assembly candidate Mariko Yamada. As of Monday, the CTA had donated $250,000.

In the race to succeed Lois Wolk in the 8th Assembly District of Yolo and Solano counties, the Democratic Party has put forth two able candidates – Mariko Yamada and Christopher Cabaldon – but Cabaldon is clearly the better of the two.

Yamada is a Yolo County supervisor who has been active in the county's Democratic Party for more than a decade. With her background as a social worker, she brings a passion to health care reform and programs to help the poor and elderly.

Cabaldon has served as mayor of West Sacramento since 1998. As we said in an endorsement of his re-election two years ago, he is "one of the most capable and articulate local leaders to emerge in a generation."

Along with his colleagues on the City Council, Cabaldon has revitalized West Sacramento, but he's also been active on many other fronts. He's been a leader on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, and has been an environmental advocate on the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Given the dysfunctions of the Legislature and the realities of term limits, you could easily argue that Cabaldon and Yamada would best serve their communities by staying in their current jobs. Yet both are ambitious and have decided to engage in a spirited race, so it's important for voters to understand their differences.

Yamada is from slow-growth Davis; Cabaldon is from fast-track West Sac. Both seek to represent a district that stretches from Woodland to the Carquinez Strait, with most of its 260,000 residents living in Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Suisun and Vacaville.

In appealing to this diverse group of voters, Cabaldon is stressing transportation improvements on the congested Interstate 80 corridor, including interchange improvements, bike trails, improved train service and the revival of the Benicia Ferry. He is also emphasizing his expertise on education, having served until February as president and CEO of EdVoice, an education reform group.

Yamada, who has the endorsement of major labor groups, is emphasizing public safety and her support for single-payer health care. Both issues appeal to senior voters who could be a decisive part of the turnout in the June 3 primary.

Sadly, this race will probably not revolve around issues. Big money is coming to the fore, with the increased likelihood of nasty campaign tactics. Cabaldon is being helped by an independent expenditure campaign launched by EdVoice, his former employer. The California Teachers' Association has since put more than $500,000 into its own independent campaign on behalf of Yamada.

Although Yamada would bring expertise to Assembly debates on social services, Cabaldon is the superior all-around candidate. He has a record of accomplishment and working with diverse interests that would serve the state well. It is also disappointing to hear Yamada describe EdVoice as a group that wants to "privatize" public schools. That's not true, and it sounds like propaganda spun by the CTA. That's one reason we wonder if Yamada could act independently once propelled into office by unions and other groups.

If you are registered in the 8th District, vote for Cabaldon. He remains one of the region's brightest and most energetic leaders.