CQ Politics has a run down on the candidates vying for Ellen Tauscher's vacant House seat in California. In typical fashion for a DC-based publication, the primary focus is on the elected officials in the race: Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, State Senator Mark DeSaulnier and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan. But, after the continuing debacle over California's budget this year, one wonders if being an incumbent is actually a benefit. The CQ Politics piece includes this:
Democratic candidate Anthony Woods, is the most prominent non-officeholder in the special election field.Being "the most prominent non-officeholder" could be a big asset. The candidate who wins the Democratic primary should win the general.
He is an Iraq war veteran who has received some national attention because he determined he could no longer conceal the fact that he is gay and received an honorable discharge under the Army’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Woods, who is African-American, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and of Harvard University.
David Dayen has an interview with Tony today over at Calitics. Tony is an impressive guy. Very impressive. We could use some more members of Congress with real world experience.
Tony's ActBlue page is here.
