Pubdate: Mon, 14 Mar 2016
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Copyright: 2016 The Orange County Register
Contact:  http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: Martin Wisckol

CONGRESSIONAL HOPEFULS TALK POT

There may be more to life than pot, but if you're looking for 
differences among the candidates vying for the seat being vacated by 
Rep. Loretta Sanchez, that's one place you'll find them.

I asked specifically about the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, or AUMA, 
which would legalize recreational pot in the state and is expected to 
qualify for the November ballot.

Former state Sen. Joe Dunn gave it a thumbs up, while Lou Correa, who 
has served as a state senator, assemblyman and county supervisor, 
remained neutral.

"At a personal level, I have witnessed the devastation alcohol and 
drug abuse have brought to our families and our communities," Correa 
said. "As a father, I am concerned about the message that legalizing 
marijuana will send our children. I will not take a public position 
on this ballot measure."

Fellow Democrat Dunn said the regulated and taxed availability of 
recreational pot would increase local government revenues and reduce 
the "criminal market demand" for illegal pot.

Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen, the third Democrat in the race, went 
further with his support, saying the federal government should remove 
marijuana from the list of Schedule 1 drugs - the most dangerous 
classification - and should allow those involved in legal pot 
business to have access to banking services.

Republican Louie Contreras, a real estate salesman, said pot should 
be available for "serious health medical reasons only," and 
Republican Rudy Gaona, a retired Army sergeant, also opposed the 
legalization of recreational marijuana.

Santa Ana independent Nancy Trinidad Marin, a social worker, is 
undecided on whether to legalize recreational pot but said she 
supports decriminalizing it and other drugs.

Republican Irvine Councilwoman Lynn Schott supports the measure "in 
concept," saying, "We need to provide proper and thorough health 
information and education on the pros and cons of marijuana use to 
those who seek to purchase it."

Republican Bob Peterson of Santa Ana, a commander with the Orange 
County Sheriff's Department, was a late entry in the race and was 
unavailable for comment in time for this column.

District residency is not a requirement to run for Congress. Voter 
registration favors Democrats by 20 percentage points in the 46th 
Congressional District.

'Time to change'

Harmeet Dhillon launched a formidable campaign to challenge the bid 
of Irvine's Linda Ackerman to be re-elected as the state's 
committeewoman to the Republican National Committee.

The San Francisco attorney, who is a vice chairwoman of the state 
GOP, racked up endorsements from throughout the state, including 
backing from three state legislators from Orange County and from 
Surfside's Shawn Steel, the state's RNC committeeman who is running 
unopposed for re-election.

"I have nothing against Linda Ackerman," said Dhillon, a 47-year-old 
Indian-born Sikh. "It's just time to change things up. There's a 
certain degree of homogeneity in the party, and it's time for some diversity."

On Tuesday, Ackerman began letting supporters know that she'd decided 
not to seek re-election.

It was tempting to wonder whether Ackerman didn't have the stomach to 
do battle, but she said the decision stemmed from her desire to spend 
more time with her four grandchildren, ages 2, 4, 15 and 16.

"At some point, you set your priorities," said Ackerman, 72.

She has served on the RNC for nearly eight years and will step down 
at the end of this year's national convention.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom