When Erik Elness’ ballot arrived for the April 5 special election for Assembly District 11, he was shocked to see only one name listed, which spurred him on to seek his own write-in campaign for the office.
Elness, a Brentwood resident, was certified this week to run as a write-in candidate for the seat, which opened up when former Assemblyman Jim Frazier resigned in late December.
“I was shocked there was no choice for voters; it didn’t seem very democratic,” he said. “I thought about it, prayed about it and felt that hardworking voters in our district needed to have their voices heard, with the option of two very different candidates.”
Elness, a Republican, is the only candidate to run against Democrat Lori Wilson, Suisun City’s mayor. The winner will serve out the remainder of the term, which runs through the end of December.
He worked in corporate jobs for 23 years, and also has run a family business for the past 13 years with his wife.
Several days after his announcement, Elness was unanimously endorsed by the Solano County Republican Central Committee and by District 8 congressional candidate, Rudy Recile, a U.S. Army major, as well as other former candidates.
Elness said he has been outspoken “against many pieces of legislation that have come out of Sacramento.”
“Government has grown bigger and more controlling, and individual liberty has been gradually taken from us,” he wrote in a statement.
Elness also said he was in favor of personal choice in regards to COVID-19 vaccines and masks.
“I don’t believe our children should be forced to wear masks at school,” he said.
Elness called Sacramento politicians “out-of-touch” with the needs of residents.
“We deserve representation in Sacramento in tune with the issues, concerns, and challenges facing families in our community,” he said.
He also noted that he would oppose any new state laws that infringe on civil rights, including the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms.
This special election is unique for the candidates and voters as it comes just before district boundaries will change because of redistricting, Helen Nolan, assistant registrar for Contra Costa County Elections Division, said. Who is eligible to vote and run for office in District 11 could change when the new boundaries come into play for the June 7 election, she said. The new districts will take effect after the November election.
Residents will be voting in this special primary election in the old Assembly district, which includes parts of Solano, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.
If Wilson or a write-in candidate receives 50% plus 1 of the votes in the April primary, that person would be declared the winner and could then take office.
The regular state primary is June 7. Voters in the newly drawn District 11 — which includes all of Solano County, parts of Sacramento County and only a sliver of East Contra Costa County — will cast ballots for an Assembly candidate for the term beginning in 2023. The top two candidates from the June primary will move onto the Nov. 8 statewide general election.
Elness declined to say if he would run for a seat in the newly drawn district, adding he is focused on the April election.
Information about the election and where you can vote is available at www.cocovote.us.
Source: www.mercurynews.com