Read The Bee’s endorsement for California Assembly District 5 | Opinion
The 5th Assembly District of California, which comprises cities including Rocklin, Roseville and El Dorado Hills, encompasses conservative-leaning communities in Northern California. The district faces pressing challenges in public safety, mental health and substance abuse. Placer County experienced a staggering 450% increase in fentanyl-related deaths from 2019 to 2021 — a stark indicator of the urgent public health issues confronting the district.
Assemblymember Joe Patterson of Rocklin is seeking a third term, and The Bee endorses his return for two more years at the Capitol. His value to his district and the state lies in Patterson being a serious lawmaker on tough policy matters.
For the second straight election, Patterson faces community activist Neva Parker as his opponent. Patterson simply has a better command of the issues the district faces.
Patterson has had his share of legislative successes. Three from last year were particularly notable.
Assembly Bill 1087 addressed a loophole that allowed drunk drivers responsible for fatalities to receive lighter probation. The bill requires between three and five years of probation, a reasonable range.
Assembly Bill 1370 solved an all-too-common practice in Sacramento lawmaking: the use of nondisclosure agreements among participants in bill negotiations. Patterson’s bill bans this poor practice.
Assembly Bill 1152 removed a common fertility medication (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) from California’s controlled substance list. This aligned California with most other states and helped protect the confidentiality of those seeking fertility treatments.
Much of a lawmaker’s job isn’t really partisan. It’s about representation on some day-to-day matters. Patterson seems to get this.
“Since being elected to this position, nothing has been more important to me than solving the issues of my constituents. No issue has been too small. Nothing has really scared me away,” Patterson told the Bee. “A simple conversation at a football field has turned into a law on human trafficking and educating students about the dangers. A group of parents at a dinner table turned into a state agency, effectively reforming how Medi-Cal is administered, serving kids with disabilities.”
In a polarized political climate, Patterson’s success in securing bipartisan support, as evidenced by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval of his bills, underscores the value of pragmatic leadership focused on community needs rather than partisan posturing. The assemblymember can veer into partisan spats on social media. These are not his finest hours. He’s best when he stays on point.
“I think the reason why I’m able to pass legislation is that my colleagues in the Legislature, I work closely with them without sacrificing my own personal core convictions. I work with everybody on both sides of the aisle,” Patterson said.
Authenticity resonates with constituents. Aligning Patterson’s approachable demeanor with his public persona will only strengthen his connection to the district.
Patterson’s commitment to his district and his record of delivering results make him a leader worthy of the Bee’s endorsement.