Assemblyman Logue seeks Senate seat
An intra-party battle for a state legislative seat is before Yuba-Sutter voters this fall after Assemblyman Dan Logue announced he will seek the 4th Senate District seat on Nov. 6.
"It gives me a greater opportunity to get the message out on job growth in the North State and protecting rural California and small businesses from regulatory hostile agencies," Logue, R-Loma Rica, said Wednesday. "I've always said, if you grow the economy, 80 percent of the problems in California will disappear."
The 4th Senate District includes Yuba and Sutter counties.
By jumping in, Logue will square off against Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, supported by former state Sen. Doug LaMalfa.
LaMalfa's decision to step down last week — to focus on a bid to win a seat in Congress in November — set up a special election to coincide with the Nov. 6 general election.
Nielsen already announced he would not run for another Assembly term, but because the state Senate race is a special election, Logue can both run in it and on the general election ballot for a final two-year term in the 3rd Assembly District.
If Logue wins his own race and LaMalfa's former seat, it would require a special election to fill his Assembly seat.
After LaMalfa's announced he was stepping down, Logue said he received nearly 50 phone calls encouraging him to run.
Though both Republicans, Logue and Nielsen have not been political allies in recent years. They endorsed different candidates for the state Senate race LaMalfa ultimately won two years ago.
Earlier this year, Logue defeated Tehama County Supervisor Bob Williams in the June primary election for Assembly. Williams entered the race at Nielsen's encouragement and endorsement.
In a press release, making note of the possible need for a special election and resulting costs, some leaders in the 4th Senate District said they were glad Nielsen took such a possibility into account in not running again for the Assembly.
Nielsen, who had said earlier this year he would run for LaMalfa's seat if it came open, said Wednesday he's going to focus on his race rather than worrying about other candidates.
"By the value of the elections I've run in the past, I can demonstrate I am of the people up here," he said.
His roles on the state budget and advocacy for agriculture and water rights, Nielsen said, make him a strong fit for the rural, sprawling district that goes from north of Sacramento nearly to the Oregon border.
CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.
