Local Assemblyman Simon Salinas said his deciding vote in the
controversial gay marriage legislation
– vetoed by the governor last week – could spark a political
fire when campaigning for state Sen. Jeff Denham’s seat in 2006, if
the Republican lawmaker chooses to make it an issue.
Hollister – Local Assemblyman Simon Salinas said his deciding vote in the controversial gay marriage legislation – vetoed by the governor last week – could spark a political fire when campaigning for state Sen. Jeff Denham’s seat in 2006, if the Republican lawmaker chooses to make it an issue.
However, Denham, R-Merced, declined to comment on an election that’s more than a year away – saying he’s too busy focusing on his job in the Senate to speculate on what could arise on the campaign trail.
He was adamant, though, that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made the right decision last Thursday in keeping in line with Proposition 22 – an initiative passed by 61 percent of voters five years ago which validates only a marriage between a man and a woman.
“My position is that any initiative, if passed by the voters of this state, should not be overturned,” Denham said. “I’m a strong proponent of Prop 22 – it’s part of my belief.”
But Salinas, D-Salinas, said if the Republican camp chooses to focus on his stance over the issue it could cost Denham votes.
“I’ll defend my position, they can attack if they want,” Salinas said. “But it might come out as looking as someone who’s desperate and doesn’t know what else to attack on. You run a risk in attacking someone for voting for nondiscrimination.”
“Simon can say what ever he wants,” Denham retorted.
Salinas conceded the June primary is still eight months away and the November special election is currently dominating the state’s political atmosphere – possibly making gay marriage a non-issue by the time the two veteran politicos get into full campaign mode.
But either way, Salinas doesn’t believe the issue will be politically crippling, which Monterey County Democratic Central Committee President Carl Pohlhammer agreed with. Pohlhammer, who is a strong supporter of Salinas, said he hasn’t heard about other Democrats vying for a party nod over Salinas, and believes gay marriage won’t even be a blip on the political radar screen.
“It’s a dead issue now that the governor vetoed the bill,” Pohlhammer said. “As far as I’m concerned, it looks like it’s going to be pretty smooth sailing.”
However, Pohlhammer said the real fight will be in Merced County, which has the largest voting block and where Denham is more well-known. Neither Merced County Democratic Central Committee Chair Marc Medefind nor Merced County Republican Central Committee Chair Deborah Lewis could be reached for comment Monday.
San Benito County Democratic Central Committee Chair Jeanie Wallace said she believes Salinas’ vote will have political consequences – but how deep a wound it could leave remains to be seen.
“People feel very strongly about this issue, but sometimes you have to do what’s ethically and morally right,” Wallace said. “I’m sure some people will vote against him for this, but maybe there will be some people who vote for him because of it. I hope people come to realize everyone deserves equal treatment.”
The local party hasn’t taken an official position on gay marriage, but Wallace said she personally supports it and hopes the Republican party doesn’t use the issue to attack Salinas next year.
When asked if the issue could spark heated political debate, Wallace said, “I hope (Denham) has the decency to recognize it’s a moral call. It’s got the potential, especially for people who have a narrow view of issues they care about.”
Although the majority of voters approved Proposition 22 five years ago, Salinas said the electorate is now split down the middle on the issue.
“Maybe the younger generation doesn’t find it as difficult to view this as a civil rights issue and nondiscrimination,” Salinas said. “I think slowly, attitudes are changing.”
However, Denham was unyielding in his opinion that if put to a vote again, Proposition 22 would pass with the same majority vote it did five years ago.
“My district overwhelming supported Proposition 22,” Denham said. “And that’s a position I’ve stood strong on.”
San Benito County Republican Central Committee Chair Jennifer Zapata echoed the senator’s sentiments, stating via e-mail that she applauds the governor’s decision to veto the gay marriage bill and thereby uphold Proposition 22. She believes the veto reaffirms what the voters of California wanted five years ago, but declined to comment on how she believes Salinas’ vote will affect the outcome of next year’s Senate race.
But Salinas made it clear he has no regrets over casting the final “aye” vote to approve the historic legislation with a 41-35 tally – which he promised the bill’s author, Assembly Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, he would do after abstaining when the bill appeared on the Assembly floor the first time in June. However, he said he expected Schwarzenegger to veto the bill due to comments the Republican governor made about the issue prior to the vote. Schwarzenegger said he based his decision on constituents’ overwhelming passing of Proposition 22 in 2000.
Salinas said there are some bills where standing on the sideline isn’t an option, and taking a firm position is imperative, he said.
And while his position on gay marriage could be a topic for heated debate between him and Denham, he believes issues surrounding education, affordable housing and public safety will dominate the discussion.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at
637-5566, ext. 336 or emusgrave@
freelancenews.com
