Sparks flew Monday night at a candidate forum in Stockton for Republican in California’s 11th Congressional district (CA-11) running to unseat Rep. Jerry McNerney is California’s 11th Congressional District.
Most of the evening was ‘ho-hum,’ listening to four candidates agree on most issues like the need to reduce the size and scope of government, support for the U.S. military, and opposition to the building of a peripheral canal to send water to thirsty Southern California. They all supported strengthening the California-Mexican border to reduce illegal immigration, the need to create jobs and reducing over-reaching environmental regulations.
Then in closing remarks, candidate Elizabeth Emken took a swipe at the organization hosting the event at San Joaquin Delta College. Emken said the event was a conflict of interest, staged by supporters of rival David Harmer.
“It’s just flat-out inappropriate,” Emken said. “This was the David Harmer show.”
Harmer appeared stunned until Emken held copies of e-mails from Sara Blicharz asking candidates to submit questions for the event. Blicharz is also Harmer’s deputy campaign manager, who admitted she organized the event but “made it clear to everyone…I was involved in the Harmer campaign,” she said.
The forum was organized by the San Joaquin County Republican Party and the Delta College Republicans.
Emken, a lobbyist/advocate for Autism Speaks, is a resident of Danville. Harmer is a attorney in San Ramon. Both candidates are Washington insiders but are relatively unknown throughout the sprawling district. The two candidates are essentially battling it out in the vote-rich East Bay region.
The district includes parts of Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties, as well as rural San Joaquin County.
Tony Amador, a U.S. Marshal from Lodi, and Brad Goehring, a winegrape grower from Clements are also in the race. The winner will take on incumbent Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, to represent the 11th Congressional District.
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Yesterday evening, I participated in a candidates forum in Stockton. You may have already read about the forum in the Stockton Record or the Lodi News-Sentinel, but I wanted to give you an update.
When preparing for the forum, I learned that it was being organized by a paid campaign staffer of my opponent David Harmer. Clearly, this is highly inappropriate and yet another example of the politics as usual cronyism Americans are rejecting across the country. I elected to participate in spite of the obvious conflict of interest because I believe the voters of CD-11 are entitled to hear from all of the candidates.
I appreciate your continued support and want to re-iterate my commitment to you that I will stand up to career politicians and never forget that I serve you.