Political Developments

Thursday, July 22, 2010 | 0

By Julius Young
Boxer & Gerson

Last month I noted in a post "Nail Biters" that Assemblywoman Mary Salas had nudged out former Assemblyman Juan Vargas in a race for the Democratic nomination in the 50th Senate District.

Not so. The margin between Salas and Vargas was not more than a few hundred votes. As some slow returns filtered in, Vargas took a small lead. There were over 12,000 Riverside County ballots that had not been tallied.

With those ballots in, Vargas had a 22-vote lead. Vargas declared victory in the primary on July 13. The 50th stretches across parts of San Diego, Imperial and Riverside Counties. The winner of a Democratic primary in the district is basically assured of election in November.

There's word tonight that Salas has requested a recount.

This is a bitter battle that has attracted major interest from various California interest groups. Vargas attracted large amounts of cash from insurance interests and tort reform groups.

Millions, actually.

Salas was backed by applicant attorneys, trial lawyers and most unions. I'm aware of only one union backing Vargas, AFSCME.

Although I cover some of the legislative background from time to time, you, dear reader, may be wondering why the fascination with this race.

Consider the picture. Business interests smell blood.

They seek a more receptive audience in the legislature if there is a Brown administration. The goal will be to find some Democratic votes to block legislation.

And if Whitman is elected, those interests seek Democratic friends who will join with Republican minorities to move legislation.

Holding onto Democratic California Senate seats is not a forgone conclusion.

State Senator Dean Florez is termed out. Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio is seeking to replace him, but issues have arisen regarding whether Rubio resides in the district.

In a coastal counties district, State Senator John Laird survived to fight another day in a runoff, but faces a tough race against the GOP's Sam Blakeslee. The runoff is scheduled for August.

It's all inside the beltway River City stuff that many readers may find as interesting as watching paint dry.

But there's a reason why people who do care are pouring millions into these races. They matter.

Politics is sometimes played as a blood sport. These races are prime examples.

Julius Young is an attorney for Boxer & Gerson, a claimants' law firm in Oakland. This column was reprinted with his permission from his blog, http://www.workerscompzone.com