27th assemblyman will represent Morgan Hill, San Martin in
Sacramento
Fresh from a solid victory Tuesday in the state 27th Assembly
District race, Democrat John Laird said Wednesday he is looking for
ways to help restore medical services in Morgan Hill.
27th assemblyman will represent Morgan Hill, San Martin in Sacramento
Fresh from a solid victory Tuesday in the state 27th Assembly District race, Democrat John Laird said Wednesday he is looking for ways to help restore medical services in Morgan Hill.
And with that the district’s new state assemblyman has shown an understanding of issues in the town that was a mere afterthought in the formation of the district during last year’s decennial realignment of political boundaries.
“I’m planning to meet with local officials to see if I can assist in bringing health services back,” Laird said.
The city was sent reeling when St. Louise Hospital closed its doors in 1999 after a decade in the community. Last month, the news got worse when a group of San Jose Medical Group physicians said they were closing their clinic due to economic problems.
Laird, in Sacramento since yesterday for freshmen orientation, will have precious little time for anything in coming weeks.
“My first priority is not really a choice,” Laird said. “We have to give early attention to the budget, which has gotten out of balance since it was adopted.”
Next year’s budget will be as difficult as well, Laird said.
Residents of Morgan Hill and unincorporated San Martin inhabit a tiny corner of the 27th Assembly District, the bulk of which runs from north of Santa Cruz through Big Sur. The area was added to the district only to satisfy a plan to safeguard the seats of incumbents.
They voted in step, however, Tuesday with coastal residents in making Laird a big winner over Republican Chuck Carter and Libertarian Gordon Sachtjen. They gave Laird 5,188 votes, Carter, 5,073 and Sachtjen, 325. Overall, Laird won 67,044 votes, Carter, 38,898 and Sachtjen, 2,211.
Laird, a nine-year Santa Cruz city councilman and 21-year employee of the same county, and Carter, a Monterey real-estate agent, debated once in Morgan Hill. They offered divergent styles, philosophies and goals, with Laird championing the role of government and Carter scorning it.
Morgan Hill and San Martin, which had been in the 28th Assembly District with neighboring Gilroy, were needed to balance the population requirements of redistricting. Gilroy remained in the same district. Morgan Hill, which also was thrown by redistricting into the 11th Congressional District along with cities such as Danville and Pleasanton, is suing to overturn the decision.
