Historic battle for Assembly seat

November's election could provide many firsts for California's 3rd Assembly District.

If Republican Dan Logue is elected, he would be the first Yuba County resident elected to the seat. But if Michael "Mickey" Harrington edges him out, it would be the first time in 30 years a Democrat would hold the post.

Both candidates, though, said they would bring about change in Sacramento.

Logue, 58, of Linda, and Harrington, 69, of Magalia, are looking to replace Rick Keene, R-Chico, who is termed out. The 3rd District includes all of Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, and Yuba counties and most of Butte County.

In the predominantly Republican district, Logue would have to be considered the heavy favorite to succeed Keene.

Harrington, who ran against Keene in 2006 and received 38 percent of the vote, said he is hoping that the popularity of Democrat Barack Obama will work to his advantage.

"We've got a good amount of people signed up as Democrats," Harrington said about registered voters. "And about 42,000 decline-to- state in the district. That's more than enough to overcome any part of the Republican Party."

Among the district's 239,000 registered voters, 41 percent are Republicans and 34 percent Democrats, according to the Secretary of State's office.

Harrington said if he wins, he would be able to "get things done" in Sacramento because as a labor organizer for 22 years, he's worked with people who have different viewpoints and he's not afraid to disagree.

"I don't give a damn, I'll do what I think is right," Harrington said Thursday. "I don't have anything bad to say about Dan (Logue), but he's not going to be able to get anything done. He's going to get down there, and Republicans will tell him what to do."

Logue, though, said he would get things done and he plans to start immediately.

One of the first things Logue said he would do in Sacramento is form a business subcommittee to focus on job creation and retention in the state.

Logue also wants to find ways to keep business in California.

"It costs 25 percent more to do business in California than any other state," he said. "I'm not a cheerleader for business, but if you create a healthy business atmosphere you'll get the taxes and the money to pay for other things like public safety and fire protection."

Logue said he also wants to connect with voters and hopes to form a constituency council in each region of the district.

Harrington said he also wants to focus on improving education, encourage budget reform and road improvements to Highways 49, 65, 70 and 99.

If elected, Logue would also leave a vacancy on the Yuba County Board of Supervisors that could result in an entirely new makeup of elected officials in the county.

Supervisor Don Schrader, who served for 12 years, was voted out in June. Wheatland resident Roger Abe will represent District 4 on the board beginning in January.

Logue's vacant position will be filled by appointment from the governor's office, Yuba County elections officials have said. If elected, Logue will assume state office Dec. 1.

Michael Harrington

• AGE: 69

• CITY OF RESIDENCE: Magalia

• YEARS IN COMMUNITY: 18

• FAMILY: Wife, Joan, three children, five grandchildren

• EDUCATION (NOT INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL): Attended American River College and the University of California, Berkeley, studying marketing and labor management

• OCCUPATION: President of the Butte-Glenn Central Labor Council

• PUBLIC OR ELECTED POSTS HELD: President of the Butte-Glenn Central Labor Council, appointed to Work Force Investment Board of Chico and a member of Yuba City Work Force Investment Board

• COMMUNITY SERVICE: Served in the Navy for two years on active duty and eight years in active reserves.

Dan Logue

• AGE: 58

• CITY OF RESIDENCE: Linda

• YEARS IN COMMUNITY: 7

• FAMILY: Wife, Peggy, and one daughter

• EDUCATION (NOT INCLUDING HIGH SCHOOL): Associate's degree from Yuba College and bachelor's degree from Sacramento State University in government

• OCCUPATION: Real estate agent

• PUBLIC OR ELECTED POSTS HELD: Chairman of the Yuba County Board of Supervisors; Yuba County Water Agency director and Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority board member.

• COMMUNITY SERVICE: Chairman and founder of Yuba-Sutter Veterans Memorial Committee and chairman of Yuba-Sutter Flood Control Committee.

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Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey at 749-4709 or akoskey@appealdemocrat.com