Munger for Horne, Logue

In this case, there's nothing incorrect in seeing double.

In what is already turning into a heated race to replace Rick Keene in the state's Third Assembly District, Sutter County Supervisor Larry Munger's name has shown up as an endorser of both Yuba County Supervisor Dan Logue and Nevada County Supervisor Sue Horne, two of the three announced candidates for the job in the Republican primary.

"I'm staying neutral on it," Munger said Monday. "I'm endorsing both."

The Appeal-Democrat came across the occurrence when looking over the candidate's lists of endorsees on the candidates' Web sites, and contacted Munger to see if he was in fact supporting two candidates. He confirmed that was the case.

He came to his decision based on the working relationships he has with both.

Munger said he works regularly with Logue because of the proximity of Yuba and Sutter counties. He also works regularly with Horne through the Regional Council of Rural Counties, an advocacy group for rural counties at the state level. Horne is serving as president of the advocacy group, while Munger is an officer. Sutter County is not in the Third Assembly District.

"It's really hard to support either one of them, in a way, because they're both good people," Munger said.

Logue said he receives endorsements by having people sign a card for the campaign. Dual endorsements such as Munger's are not uncommon, he said. Munger is the only person showing up as endorsing Logue and Horne, based on a search of the Web site's endorsement pages Monday evening.

"He knows us both," Logue said.

A message left with Beth Walker of JohnsonClark Associates, Horne's campaign consulting firm, was not returned Monday.

Along with Horne and Logue, retired police officer Jack Lee of Chico has announced intentions to run in the Republican primary.

"I'm pretty much open on it," Munger said of the primary election. "It will be up to the people to see what happens."

Appeal-Democrat reporter Robert LaHue can be reached at 749-4713. You may e-mail him at rlahue@appealdemocrat.com.