VIDEO: Darrell Fong discusses his California Assembly race | The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento City Councilman Darrell Fong, running to replace Assemblyman Richard Pan in the state Legislature, met with The Bee’s Capitol Bureau Wednesday, offering thoughts on his motivation for seeking an Assembly seat and what he would do if he won.

A former narcotics officer, Fong sounded wary of both legalizing marijuana in California – an idea that failed at the ballot box in 2010 – and of bringing the state’s jungle of medical dispensaries under a state licensing system, an idea that has failed repeatedly in the Legislature.

Affirmative action split legislative Democrats earlier this year. Asian-American lawmakers, responding to a constituent outcry, rebuffed an attempt to have California voters decide whether to overturn California’s ban on race-conscious college admissions. Fong said Proposition 209 should stay.

High-speed rail is about as polarizing an issue as you’ll find in California. Fong cast serious doubt on the current plan, telling us that he voted against the initial bond issue to fund the train.