The two leading candidates in the 59th Assembly District primary faced off Thursday night at a forum hosted by the San Bernardino County Republican Central Committee in Rancho Cucamonga.
Anthony Adams (pictured left) of Hesperia in San Bernardino County’s High Desert and Chris Lancaster (pictured below left) of LaVerne in Los Angeles County each took questions submitted by committee members on subjects ranging from taxes to the Second Amendment to abortion and property rights. The forum was cordial, with neither candidate directly attacking the other or making any major gaffes (it’s still early, right?). Both Lancaster and Adams said they were pleased with the way the event was conducted.
Meanwhile, the other High Desert candidates, Susan Slater and Barry Hartz, didn’t show up and have yet to demonstrate any fundraising ability. Hartz in fact actively attempted to discourage each of the other candidates from accepting the invitation to speak to the local GOP governing body of which he’s a member and whose nomination he’s seeking.
Lancaster, though he began his opening remarks by joking that he "heard you were a mean-spirited bunch and that I shouldn’t be here," said he believed the reason the other candidates didn’t participate was because the filing period hasn’t yet closed, but added that for his part, "I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to meet people."
Adams was less accommodating to the absent candidates. "This race has been developing for a year," he said. "Consciously choosing not to participate in their own party’s event says to me that certain candidates have no desire to work within the party. It shows a lack of respect, and we should expect more of our Republican legislative candidates."
In other business, the Party endorsed five county officials in the June election: County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus for Assessor, and Second District Supervisor Paul Biane, Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ovitt, District Attorney Michael Ramos, and Treasurer-Tax Collector Dick Larsen for reelection. Incumbent County Assessor Don Williamson took the occasion of the meeting to announce his candidacy for the 3rd District Board of Equalization seat.