California’s 4th state assembly district stretches from the northerly forests of Lake County, east through the ag lands of Yolo, down through Napa County and unincorporated Sonoma Valley with a sharp turn west to grab Rohnert Park.
The puzzle-piece-shaped district – which will remind “The Far Side” fans of Gary Larson’s rendering of an amoeba – found its current incarnation after the 2012 statewide redistricting. When the redistricting dust settled, the newly formed 4th found itself with a variety of central Northern California communities and an even wider variety of community issues at play.
Representing the 4th District in the state Assembly since 2014 has been Bill Dodd (D-Napa). But with Dodd running to replace the termed out Lois Wolk in the state Senate, five candidates are vying to replace him in the legislature’s lower house – all hailing from Yolo County.
One thing’s clear: Whomever next represents the 4th District is going to have to spend some time getting to know the Sonoma Valley.
Don Saylor is currently on the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. The Davis resident says he’s running for Assembly because he wants all Californians “to thrive.” Toward that goal, he supports worker protections and collective-bargaining rights, investing in “educational equity” and expanded preschool programs, a single-payer healthcare system and a strong “safety net to make sure nobody falls through the cracks.”
As to priorities for the Sonoma Valley, Saylor says he’d like to “maintain operations” at the Sonoma Developmental Center. “I will work to assure that the needs of residents of SDC, their families, and the professionals who care for them are paramount in any planning,” Saylor wrote to the I-T in a recent email.
City of Winters Mayor Cecilia Aguiar-Curry is running for Assembly to “get things done.” And by that, she means “protect our natural resources, water and open space, support agriculture, provide good jobs.” Aguiar-Curry, who with her brothers runs an 80-acre walnut farm, puts job creation, agricultural conservation and education at the top of her priorities list.
In a statement from her campaign, she says she will, “protect our natural resources, water and open space; support agriculture; provide good jobs; and give our kids the tools they need to get ahead in a competitive world.”
Dan Wolk is the Mayor of Davis. When he’s not donning his mayoral sash, Wolk is Deputy County Counsel for the County of Solano. He’s got something of a political pedigree, as well – his mother Lois Wolk is the outgoing 3rd District State Senator.
If elected, Wolk says his focus would be upon stabilizing the water supply in the drought-stricken, ag-heavy district, push for universal preschool and invest in such economy-driving initiatives as increased job training, clean-energy projects and small-business incubators.
He describes himself as a moderate progressive and is particularly proud of helping usher in Davis’s Healthy Families Initiative, which promoted anti-bullying measures, healthy beverage consumption and early screenings for developmental and behaviorally challenged kids. Wolk, 40, has two daughters.
Mark Kropp is a pharmaceutical consultant from Davis. He says he’s run for state legislature seats in Connecticut as a Democrat (1996) and in California as a Republican (2000). Now he’s back to wearing a blue hat as he seeks to represent the 4th District. He’s hoping his lack of political experience is more than made up for in his real-world experience – he’s spent many months offering free medical clinic support in poor communities in Brazil. “In the Assembly it is my plan to write legislation that makes sense,” Kropp says on his campaign website. “I plan on voting nonsense off the record.”
As to voting, Kropp’s website also describes him as being a member of the “silent majority” – disenfranchised citizens who “choose” not to vote. Asked to expand on this in a phone interview, Kropp said that at times in his life when he wasn’t “passionate” about a candidate or an issue, he wouldn’t vote at all. He says the 4th District “needs a new perspective.”
The lone Republican in the race is Charles Schaupp, 61, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant. Schaupp lost to Bill Dodd in the 4th District Assembly general election in 2014. He’s thrown his hat in again and is running on a platform of fewer regulations and more tax breaks for new businesses. He’s largely about fiscal responsibility, opposing the state’s high-speed rail project and the proposed Bay Delta Conservation Plan (also known as the “delta tunnels,” which would divert Bay Delta water to the San Joaquin Valley), largely on the grounds that they’re far too costly.
And in a nod to Donald Trump, his campaign tagline is, “Let’s Make California ‘Golden’ Again.”
The California primary election is June 7.
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