The race to represent the 3rd Congressional District features a rematch between two Gold River residents: incumbent RepublicanDan Lungren and challenger Bill Durston, a Democrat.
Lungren is in his second term representing the district. He was California's attorney general from 1990 to 1998 and represented Long Beach in Congress from 1978 to 1988.
Durston in 2006 was a political newcomer. He's an emergency physician, practicing in Sacramento for more than 25 years. Serving in Vietnam as a Marine patrol leader running reconnaissance patrols was a defining experience for him.
We thought Lungren was the better choice in 2006. We think so this year, too.
The 3rd District includes rural Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties, suburbs of Sacramento County (Folsom, Carmichael, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, Galt) and Delta areas in Solano county.
Lungren has built up a relationship with the rural mountain counties on school funding and water issues; has brought together University of California, Davis, researchers and local communities; and worked to win funding for Folsom Dam and levees.
On the top issue facing the nation, the economic meltdown, Lungren has taken the responsible, difficult position. Durston has his head in the sand.
Lungren opposed the original Bush administration proposal because it gave too much authority to the treasury secretary, had no protections for taxpayers, no limits on executive compensation and no expectation that Wall Street would share costs. But instead of sitting idly, he fought for changes and helped gather votes to pass the measure with a bipartisan majority.
"It has to be bipartisan," he said, "for gaining the confidence of the American people." This is leadership. In contrast, Durston sees no urgency and would have voted against the final package.
Durston's main issue remains immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq. He states that he's not a "pure pacifist," but his ultimate goal is to "abolish war altogether."
Durston shows little inclination to work with others who might not share his views.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that The Bee's editorial board disagrees with Lungren on almost every important issue. But he is willing to engage on the issues, to make arguments for his side and to build coalitions. With Democrats likely to maintain a majority in the House, Lungren would be important in the role of "loyal opposition" as well as in building bipartisan support for issues of regional importance, such as flood control.
3rd District voters may not agree with Dan Lungren on every issue, but they should send him back to Congress.
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