#AD06 Update – Lincoln Candidate Forum Yields Nuggets

First of all – all seven candidates were there. Typical of a Republican Primary, there are far too many candidates in the field.

Notable, this was the first time Mik Mikaluco and Gabriel Hydrick were at an event that I am aware of. Suzanne Jones was also present at this forum.

The bulk of this update will focus on the three opponents to Bill Halldin that have some level of funding.

Cristi Nelson is positioning herself as the liberal Republican in this race. As a political insider, I remember when the massive independent expenditures that were financed in part by Chevron, PG&E, the Realtors, the dentists and a few others targeted safe Republican seats in hopes of helping elect tax-raising Republicans. My first thought is that someone has advised her that going full RINO jacket will get her that support.

It is the only possible reason why someone would openly talk about their refusal to sign the “no new taxes pledge” in one of the most conservative districts in California. It is the only possible reason why she openly talks about her country-club liberal social views.

The part that Nelson seems to have missed is that those expenditures were largely ineffective and in 2014, were quite sparse.

Cristi Nelson’s big moment at the forum was directly answering Ken Campbell telling him she had not and was not signing the “No New Taxes Pledge”. #epicfail

Kevin Kiley brought about 10 supporters with him who comprised about a quarter of the audience. Despite failing to achieve has lofty fundraising goals, the 30 year old Lawyer is continuing on with his campaign.

Kevin Hanley, who moved from Auburn to Roseville to run for Assembly had about the most flamboyant moment of the evening. He was railing on the PCTPA and their scheme to raise our taxes. (His words) He was waiving copies of the mailers as he was speaking. One of Hanley’s short list of endorsements is Keith Nesbitt who sits on the board and supports the effort to vet a local sales tax increase. Whoops. (Nesbitt’s Alternate Berlant cast the votes.)

The #AD06 Race is going to be intense and these candidate forums will be nice miniature train wrecks similar to the national spectacle that suffices for a GOP Presidential Primary.