Condit’s Loss Brings Sense of Relief to Central Valley

When the end came, Rep. Gary Condit found it hard to admit defeat.

But throughout the district once known as “Condit Country,” many were quick to embrace Tuesday’s election results as the end of a morality play that has roiled this steadfast Central Valley community for almost a year.

Condit’s 18-percentage-point loss to a former friend brought an abrupt halt to his 30-year political career and ushered in a sense of relief among residents eager to escape the notoriety of a congressman entangled in the mystery of a missing 24-year-old Modesto woman.

“There’s a new day dawning in the Central Valley,” said Sandra Lucas, chairwoman of the Stanislaus County Democratic Central Committee. “There’s been a lot of pain.... It’s time for healing and time for us to get back to normal, everyday life.”

After years of easy victories, Condit was undone by his association with Chandra Levy, an intern in Washington who disappeared May 1. Although police say the congressman is not a suspect in her disappearance, Condit’s equivocal answers about their relationship angered many.

“The only message that I take from this election is that Chandra Levy mattered,” said Lawrence Giventer, a political science professor at Cal State Stanislaus.

“There were no other issues. It was a referendum on Gary Condit, and it was a referendum on his behavior.”

Condit did not return calls for comment Wednesday. His local district office said he was flying back to Washington to work.

Though the seven-term congressman’s downfall opened up his district to new leadership, many political experts said it is unlikely that Condit’s departure will dramatically change the Central Valley’s political landscape.

Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), who once worked as an aide to Condit, is considered the favorite to win the November election over state Sen. Dick Monteith (R-Modesto) in the 18th District, which was redrawn this year to include more Democratic voters.

Cardoza would cut a different figure on Capitol Hill than Condit, renowned for his toothy smile and thick head of hair. Soft-spoken, bespectacled and still slightly pudgy (he lost nearly 100 pounds over the last nine months), Cardoza has the demeanor of a college professor.

But the assemblyman said he considers himself a centrist and very similar to Condit politically.

During his victory speech at a downtown Modesto hotel Tuesday night, he promised to continue the tradition of strong constituent services that marked Condit’s tenure.

Cardoza, the grandson of Portuguese immigrants, worked for Condit in a variety of capacities for less than two years, serving as a legislative aide, driver and scheduler when Condit first ran for Congress.

“I didn’t betray a friend; I feel like the friend sort of left us all,” Cardoza said. “I feel very bad for him. He got himself in a terrible fix.”

Cardoza, who was endorsed by both of California’s U.S. senators and has strong state party support, said he is more of a consensus builder than Condit.

“Gary was sort of always an outsider and fought his battles from the outside,” he said.

Then he added: “Really, at this point, I don’t want to dwell on Mr. Condit.”

Many residents concur, saying they hope Cardoza will be able to work for the district without being dogged by the Levy investigation.

“The pressure of all the rumors is going to be off him and he’s going to be able to start fresh,” said Salida resident Arlene Morriston, 42, a bakery clerk.

State and national party leaders also are privately expressing relief at Condit’s loss, worried that the beleaguered congressman could have been a liability for Democrats, according to some insiders.

“It presented a huge problem if he won, in terms of how you deal with it politically,” said one Democratic consultant who works with state and national leaders.

Before Levy disappeared, Condit was an important player in state politics. He helped deliver Central Valley votes for Gov. Gray Davis in 1998. But Davis broke with Condit last summer when he publicly criticized him for not being more forthright about his relationship with Levy. In protest, Condit’s two children, both of whom worked for Davis, quit their jobs.

Wednesday morning, Chandra Levy’s parents, Robert and Susan, emerged from their Modesto home and issued another appeal to Condit to assist the investigation into Chandra’s disappearance.

“Mr. Condit has made promises and pledges for a long time, before the campaign and during the campaign, that he would do anything he could to help the investigation,” said Robert Levy. “We just ask that he keep his word.”

Despite the scandal, Condit’s popularity has remained strong in parts of his district. On Tuesday, he carried Stanislaus County, which includes Modesto and his hometown of Ceres, by 3 percentage points.

Some Condit supporters worried that with him gone, they will lose a strong advocate.

“We call him ‘The Workhorse’ because he has always worked so hard for the whole Valley,” said Jerry Westlake, mayor of Dos Palos, a town of 5,000 people in the district’s southern tip.

Condit helped keep the local hospital open last year, Westlake said, saving 75 jobs, and wrote letters to each member of the high school football team when it won the regional championship.

Without the congressman, “the small towns are not going to be represented,” Westlake said dejectedly.

But for the most part, Central Valley residents said they are glad to be rid of Condit.

“I’m happy he’s not our representative in Congress,” said Jorge Guerrero, 43, a warehouse driver from Modesto. “He made me sick. I am glad that he has been defeated.”

Stanislaus County Supervisor Pat Paul once was a strong ally of Condit, who endorsed her when she first ran for office and helped her become the first woman on the Board of Supervisors. But last summer, dismayed by Condit’s refusal to answer questions about his relationship with Levy, she encouraged Cardoza to run.

“It’s finally over and I can hold my head up and feel some dignity,” Paul said Wednesday. “It’s just been embarrassing. First, nobody ever heard of where I live. Now everybody knows, but it’s not a good thing.”

Already, Modesto is getting back to normal. The satellite news trucks trundled away Wednesday, and the protesters who held vigil outside Condit’s congressional office for eight months with signs “Honk for Gary to Resign Now” were gone.

For Condit, though, the election means having to chart a new course.

On election night, friends and family members gathered with him at his home in Ceres to await the results, eating chili and chocolate pie as the numbers came in. Some played basketball in the backyard to burn off nervous energy.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday, Cardoza held a large lead over the congressman, and it was apparent that Condit’s longshot campaign to win reelection and restore the trust of his constituents had failed.

But, standing in front of his house to face reporters, Condit couldn’t bring himself to formally give up the race.

Speaking briefly, Condit thanked his supporters and promised to serve the rest of his term with diligence, then quickly went back inside.

A few minutes later, his son, Chad, said that though the numbers were not in their favor, his father hadn’t officially conceded.

“He feels like he’s the luckiest man in the world,” Chad Condit said, standing on a dark street corner, lit only by the glare of a TV news camera.

“He knows who his friends are.... We ran a good race and we have nothing to be ashamed of. And there’s life after politics.”

Associated Press contributed to this report.