The Times Editorial Board came out with a strong message for voters in Southern California's 29th Senate District: "Just Say No."
The newspaper took a strong stance on the recall for State Senator Josh Newman on the ballot June 5th, calling it an "extreme and unusual form of political decapitation."
Say no to recalling state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), who was legitimately elected to represent this district less than two years ago and has done nothing to merit being tossed from office in mid-term. Say no to the six people — three Republicans and three Democrats (for shame!) — hoping to profit from this abuse of the ballot box by being selected as Newman's replacement.
The gas tax, which passed last year and was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, raised vehicle registration fees and placed a 12-cent tax on gasoline to help fund a $52 billion transportation package.
The newspaper took issue with Republicans who they say are using Newman's vote on the gas tax as a pretense to eliminate the Democrats supermajority in the state legislature.
No, like any bully, Republicans are picking on Newman because he is vulnerable. The first-term legislator won a narrow victory in 2016 against former Republican Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang to replace termed-out Republican Bob Huff in this historically GOP district that encompasses parts of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties. He hadn't been in the job six months when conservative talk radio hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou on KFI-AM and former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio started focusing on Newman as the weak link in the Democrats' chain of power.
Hey look, We got a shout-out! Thanks L.A. Times!
But, while it's interesting to hear all the wailing and gnashing of teeth over a legitimate recall effort by the voters in state Senator Newman's district, the paper wanders off course when the editorial board write that the instigators of the recall effort don't care what the voters in the district want.
The fact that Newman's opponents were able to garner enough signatures to initiate the recall should clue the writers of the editorial into the fact that a recall election of Newman is EXACTLY what the voters want.
It remains to be seen whether the voters want him out. But, we'll just have to wait until June 5th to find out.