19th Senate District foes move toward center
Attempting to attract moderate voters may be the only thing Republican Tony Strickland and Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson have in common as they vie for a state Senate seat.
To partisans, they are "Phony Tony" and "Taxin' Jackson."
Tony Strickland, 38, might call himself the alternative energy executive, detractors say, but he's still the same right-wing Republican who consistently voted against the environment during his days in the California Assembly.
And Hannah-Beth Jackson? The 58-year-old Democrat is so liberal that she's never seen a tax she didn't like, according to Strickland's supporters. Voters couldn't have a clearer choice, both sides say.
But as they face off for the 19th state Senate District seat covering much of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, both candidates are moving to the center in a bid to win over the crucial block of moderate voters who will probably decide the election.
With no incumbent and voter registration split nearly equally between Republicans and Democrats, big money and attention is pouring into the race. Republicans don't want to lose the seat held by termed-out Republican Sen. Tom McClintock, and Democrats badly want a win to move the party closer to a two-thirds supermajority needed to pass budget and tax measures, analysts say.
"It's the hottest race on the Senate side," said Allan Hoffenblum, editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book. "It's a centrist district that leans Republican, but it's anything but a safe seat."
McClintock was easily reelected in the district after its borders were redrawn in 2000 to favor the Republican incumbent. Since then, voter registration and demographics have changed to put the district within striking distance for Democrats.
Money has been pouring into both campaigns, with Strickland posting $1.4 million in spending so far and Jackson close behind at $1.2 million. Jackson has also benefited from $177,962 in spending by independent groups.
Strategists believe a win will hinge largely on who best appeals to the 18% of voters who don't align themselves with either party. That means moving to the center -- a challenge for "Ms. Left and Mr. Right," as the local news media have called the two opponents.
From 1998 to 2004, Jackson was known as a fiery battler on environmental issues, as well as for pushing increased funding for education and healthcare and voting to improve pension benefits for unions. Advocacy groups such as the Sierra Club and the California Labor Federation gave her top marks, while pro-business and anti-tax organizations flunked her voting record.
