SAN DIEGO COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Greg Cox for 77th Assembly
In the open 77th Assembly District, which includes El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Bonita and Chula Vista, the registration is so heavily Republican (46% GOP to 39% Democratic) that the June 2 primary will almost certainly decide the race.
It is unlikely that either of the GOP candidates, former Chula Vista Mayor Greg Cox and businessman Steve Baldwin, could be beaten by the relatively unknown Democratic candidate, Tom Connolly; by Peace and Freedom Party candidate R. M. Reed Kroopkin or by Libertarian Jeff Bishop. Cox is clearly the best-qualified candidate.
Cox is a former junior high school teacher who was on the Chula Vista City Council from 1976 to 1981 and was mayor of Chula Vista from 1981 to 1990. Currently, he is deputy director of the governor’s Office of Planning and Research. He has served in a variety of governmental bodies, including the San Diego Assn. of Governments and the League of California Cities. So he is familiar with and supportive of cooperative governance. He is also knowledgeable about the problems facing local governments.
Cox was once investigated by the state Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to report a commercial loan from Home Federal Savings and Loan. But the FPPC concluded that Cox had done nothing wrong. That possible misstep aside, Cox is clearly the person for the job. He has moderate views and a knack for prudent compromise. Unlike his opponent, Cox is in the mainstream on two key issues: He favors keeping abortion legal and waiting periods for gun buyers.
Baldwin, a property manager, has held no elective office. Baldwin is up front about his conservative views--much of his political experience has been as a consultant for ultraconservative or Christian fundamentalist candidates.
He favors legalized abortion only to save the life of the mother. He is opposed to a waiting period for gun purchases, favoring a perhaps ideal but currently impractical system of instant background checks.
For his proven leadership and moderate views, we recommend Greg Cox.
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