Assemblyman Simon Salinas, who has represented San Benito County
in the State Capitol for six years, has decided to go back to his
political roots.
Hollister – Assemblyman Simon Salinas, who has represented San Benito County in the State Capitol for six years, has decided to go back to his political roots.
Rather than take a run for state senate, where he would face incumbent Jeff Denham, Salinas, D-Salinas, announced this week that he will seek a seat on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
Although Salinas considered challenging incumbent Denham, R-Merced, for several months, he decided his help was needed more at home. Based on initial polling numbers, Salinas said unseating Denham would have been a very real possibility.
“I think it would have been a good race; I would have been in it to win,” he said. “But I didn’t want to have any regrets. I wanted to be with my dad and with my son.”
Salinas said his priorities shifted when his 96-year-old father moved into in-home hospice care. Salinas also said he didn’t want to miss his son’s junior varsity football games this year.
Denham said Salinas had called him before making the announcement and wasn’t surprised by the decision. Denham said he didn’t know how competitive a race against Salinas would have been.
“He and I have worked very closely together,” Denham said. “But it’s pretty early to handicap any race right now.”
Unopposed for the seat so far, Denham said he hasn’t been concentrating on re-election.
“I’m working very hard – I’m going to be ready for anyone who decides to run,” he said. “But, quite honestly, I’m not focusing on the race right now, it’s still early.”
Salinas said he wouldn’t have been able to spend enough time with his family if he had to exhaust months raising the $2 million to $3 million needed for a successful senatorial campaign. A bid for a supervisor seat would take considerably less money – he estimated $100,000 – and would allow him to be close to his family.
“You’ve got to commit 110 percent to any campaign,” he said. “But right now I need to be home.”
Salinas is no stranger to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. He was a member of the board from 1993 until 2000, when he ran successfully for the 28th District Assembly seat. Term limits will force him out of the Assembly this year.
“Here locally you can work on a different level, but the impact can be just as significant,” Salinas said. “The only major difference is that I don’t have to go to Sacramento. Here I can work locally and interact closely with my constituents.”
Salinas could be challenging incumbent Supervisor Butch Lindley, Soledad Mayor Richard Ortiz, Hartnel College trustee Juan Martinez and Alejandro Chavez, an aide to Monterey Supervisor Fernando Armenta, for the supervisor seat.
“It’s going to be competitive and it’s up to the voters,” Salinas said. “But I can bring the added experience of having been on the assembly.”
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
