Endorsements: Mike Thompson for 5th District Congress

Mike Thompson is almost certain to win a ninth term in Congress this fall.

The 65-year-old Democrat from St. Helena has won all eight of his previous congressional elections with more than 60 percent of the popular vote; his solidity became even more apparent when the top-two primary runoff system went into effect in 2012, effectively bumping his vote percentage just shy of 75 percent. He’s a well-liked incumbent in a safely Democratic district.

For Thompson to lose, something extraordinary would have to happen, like he were revealed to be the never-captured Zodiac Killer from the 1970s. And even then, a lot of 5th District voters would have a tough time ticking off one of his three 2016 opponents over his – it’s that clear a choice.

Nils Palsson, 30, is a Lake County nonprofit worker; Alex Poling, 26, of Emeryville, holds a theater arts degree from Michigan State; and Republican Carlos Santamaria, of Napa, doesn’t appear to be waging a campaign of any sort, with no searchable campaign website, nor has he returned our calls of inquiry.

None of Thompson’s challengers lists a politically held office on his resume – which means they’re asking voters to elect them to Congress with zero political track record. It isn’t a case of trying to leapfrog into higher office, it’s more like skydiving.

Incumbent Thompson, has been in Congress since 1998, currently serving on the House Ways and Means committee and the Health and Tax Policy subcommittee. A Vietnam veteran, Thompson is also a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. When asked to name his most important Congressional accomplishments, he cites voting for the $305 billion transportation bill (“this was huge for our country,” he says), helping lead the movement to declare Berryessa Snow Mountain a national monument, and assisting Lake County residents recover from last year’s devastating fires.

Thompson’s a minority Democrat in a currently Republican-controlled House, which by no means makes it easy to accomplish lofty goals. But it also makes his reputation for working across the aisle that much more important in a Congress not known for playing well together.

Case in point: As chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, Thompson is pressing for universal background checks in order to purchase firearms. It’s a widely popular concept among gun owners and non-gun owners alike, yet has faced stiff opposition from many Congressional lawmakers. Thompson’s reputation as a seasoned sportsman could go a long way in keeping the momentum going, and gaining more support from House Republicans, to make this common sense and potentially life-saving law a reality.

In a year when some are predicting Democratic gains in Congress, Thompson’s influence in reasonable gun control legislation – not to mention his conservation, healthcare and social-security advocacies – could be more important than ever.

We recommend Mike Thompson for 5th District Representative.

– Jason Walsh, editor

– John Burns, publisher