Herger's 12-term tenure questioned

Nearing a quarter-century in Congress, Wally Herger is upholding his legislative experience against two challengers arguing his long tenure has become a liability.

The Chico Republican and Rio Oso native is seeking a 13th term in the House while facing Pete Stiglich in the GOP primary on Tuesday. The primary winner will run in the November general election against Democrat Jim Reed, the party's only candidate in the race for the 2nd District.

Herger defended his work battling expanded federal spending, including his introduction of a bill last week seeking to repeal the new health care overhaul meant to expand coverage but also require insurance policies for most Americans. He pointed to his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee — with jurisdiction over health care, taxes and Social Security — as a valuable platform to advance the fight.

"The question is whether or not you're going along with the status quo in Washington, and I think I'm clearly fighting to change it," he said Thursday by telephone from Redding. The committee seats "help me be in position to lead the fight to return government to the people. A freshman would have a lot more difficulty being effective, even if they're trying to do the right thing."

However, Stiglich, a retired Air Force colonel from Cottonwood, decried the congressman's support of expanded Medicare coverage of prescription drugs and a $700 billion bank rescue package in 2008 — which Herger conceded he made against heavy Mid-Valley opposition — and pledged to wage a fiercer fight to curb federal spending if elected.

"He hasn't been challenged in years and it's a healthy thing for the party and the nation to hold folks accountable," Stiglich said Tuesday. "What I'm challenging is his lack of leadership. You're hard-pressed when you try to discover things he has done of any significance in the last 10 years in new legislation, or reining in the growth of government.

"More than ever, we need strong conservatives in Washington, not just backbenchers. I don't think he has the energy or stamina to do that anymore," Stiglich said.

The lone Democrat facing Herger, Reed promised a moderate course, balancing support for gun owners' rights, curbs on executive pay over $1 million, and efforts to steer more federal money to Shasta County and other North State areas that traditionally have received below-average funding for health and social services.

Reed called such unwillingness to cross the party lines Herger's greatest weakness.

"In 24 years, he's voted the GOP line 94 percent of the time; I've seen that instead of representing the people he's representing the party," the Fall River Mills lawyer said Wednesday. "If you're voting that high a percentage on party lines, you're not truly representing the people."

Should either of Herger's opponents prevail this year or in the future, both have promised shorter Congressional careers — no more than a decade for Reed and six years for Stiglich.

CONTACT Howard Yune at 749-4708 or hyune@appealdemocrat.com.

Wally Herger, Republican

AGE: 64

RESIDENCE: Chico

FAMILY: Wife, Pam; nine children

OCCUPATION: Ranch and business owner

ELECTED OFFICES: 24 years in the House; six years in the state Assembly, 1980-86

Pete Stiglich, Republican

AGE: 57

RESIDENCE: Cottonwood

FAMILY: Single

OCCUPATION: Retired U.S. Air Force colonel

ELECTED OFFICES: None; ran for a state Assembly seat in the 2008 Republican primary

Jim Reed, Democrat

AGE: 59

RESIDENCE: Fall River Mills

FAMILY: Wife, Carol; three children

OCCUPATION: Attorney

ELECTED OFFICES: None; ran for Shasta County superior judge in 2006 and 2008