11th Congressional District incumbent gets a rematch
Morgan Hill – Republican Rep. Richard Pombo emerged from Tuesday’s primary looking tough-as-ever to beat.
The seven-term politician from Tracy clobbered rival Pete McCloskey by 30 percentage points, prompting aides to predict an easy win in a November rematch with Democratic candidate Jerry McNerney.
“We have a strong incumbent in a Republican district, who is a committee chair and who works across party lines to get things done,” said Pombo’s campaign chief Carl Fogliani. “It’s a recipe for success.”
Pombo, 45, has held his seat in the House of Representatives since voters first sent him there in 1992. He belongs to the House Agricultural Committee and chairs the House Resources Committee, the latter of which has attracted negative attention in the aftermath of the conviction of Jack Abramoff, the Washington, D.C., lobbyist who pleaded guilty to corruption charges in January.
Tied to the scandal is former House majority leader Tom DeLay, who headed the resources committee before Pombo took over in 2003. DeLay was to leave Congress on Friday under investigation on money laundering charges in Texas. Abramoff goes to jail later this month.
Despite the scandals swirling on Capitol Hill, Pombo remains popular at home. He has the added confidence of having crushed McNerney in the 2004 contest by 61 percent to 39 percent.
Still, McNerney, a 55-year-old energy consultant who lives in Pleasanton, thinks the GOP district is primed for a political turn-around.
“People are tired of the politicians in Washington,” he said, alluding to the Abramoff scandal.
But McNerney’s biggest challenge could be appealing to voters outside of Santa Clara County where conservative Republicans are more common. The jig-saw shaped 11th district covers portions of Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda and San Joaquin counties.
McNerney said his platform would appeal to those along the “680 corridor” with an emphasis on universal health care, and alternative fuel solutions to decrease dependence on foreign oil “while making us more prosperous in our district.”
“We have the technology,” he said. “We just need the leaders to run with it.”
Still, Pombo’s name seems to resonate with voters such as Morgan Hill resident Roger Hay, who on Tuesday gave the incumbent his vote.
“He understands what’s going on,” Hay said. “He’s been doing this for a while. I’m more in tune with his approach than the others.”
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ex. 201 or [email protected].
