Marysville councilwoman eyes Assembly

Marysville City Councilwoman Christina Billeci has filed paperwork with the California Secretary of State's office to run in the Democratic primary next year for the Third Assembly District.

If she follows through, Billeci, 60, would be running against Magalia resident Mickey Harrington for the opportunity to try to unseat Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Linda.

"The state government is dysfunctional," said Billeci, who retired earlier this year from a 31-year tenure working for Yuba County, the last 25 as public guardian.

"I've shown leadership skills on the council, and I think I can provide them in the Assembly. To me, its about leadership, not politics."

Billeci, a city council member since 2000 and a Yuba County resident since 1972, said she knows Harrington and considers him a nice man, but wouldn't speculate on a possible race against him.

Harrington, a former Pacific Gas & Electric Co. worker and union leader, said he is planning a third run, after losing to then-Assemblyman Rick Keene, R-Chico, in 2006 and to Logue for an open Third Assembly seat last year.

"There's no reason why I shouldn't run," said Harrington, 69. "It'll be a challenge against Logue whether it's me or her, but I think I have a better chance than she does of beating him."

Harrington said his optimism stems from Republicans who are also union members he once represented.

Billeci, too, said she thinks crossover support would give her the victory. "I'm have a lot of Republicans who are going to be supporting me," she said. "It's a swing district."

She said she plans to formally announce her entry into the race after Labor Day, with the primary set for next June.

Both Billeci and Harrington have optimism for a race many Democrats believe can be won, based on voter registration numbers from May 4 showing Republicans with 40.2 percent in the district and Democrats with 34.8 percent. Decline-to-state voters make up 19 percent, and many Democrats believe those voters are more likely to side with their party in a general election.

Logue, however, said such thinking flies in the face of how Third District voters have cast ballots in the past.

"I've actively opposed the Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Karen Bass style of government, and that's higher taxes, more government, and government-run health care," he said. "I oppose those issues that my opponents would support, and voters in the Third District have consistently opposed those issues."

He added the region has never elected a Democrat to office.

"I'll run my campaign, and we'll see how it goes," he said.

Both Billeci and Harrington said Logue hasn't shown leadership, and Harrington said Logue has been given marching orders from the state Republican leadership rather than his constituents.

"Those guys don't have a choice," Harrington said. "They go there and they're told, vote like this or you'll never win another race."

But Logue said he's made an issue of pointing out how jobs are leaving California for other states, and how that translates into less money for services like schools and law enforcement because the tax base shrinks.

"To raise revenue, we have to be a business- and jobs-friendly state," Logue said.

Next year's race will be the last before planned redistricting in 2011, which means the November general election winner could then be running for re-election in 2012 in a district significantly different than the one now that includes all of Lassen, Nevada, Plumas, Sierra and Yuba counties, and parts of Butte and Placer counties.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ben van der Meer at 749-4709 or bvandermeer @appealdemocrat.com.