The time for industrial hemp is now

Gordon faces 3 challengers in 24th Assembly District

By: Aaron Kinney

Source: mercurynews.com

Assemblymember Rich Gordon is running for re-election to the 24th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Rich Gordon is taking on three inexperienced challengers in the June 5 primary for the newly drawn 24th Assembly District.

Gordon won the 21st Assembly District seat in 2010 after serving 13 years on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Now he's looking to make a sideways leap to the 24th district, which has been reshaped by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission but still has much of the same territory as Gordon's old district.

Gordon, 63, touts his effectiveness as a lawmaker. Fifteen of his 19 bills were signed into law in 2011. He's particularly proud of AB 1149, which provided incentives for California-based companies to recycle plastics in-state rather than ship them overseas.

"I think I've learned to work in a way that is productive," said Gordon, adding that he would focus in a second term on education, the environment, solving the budget crisis, and increasing transparency in budget deliberations.

Gordon raised $178,360 in campaign donations from Jan. 1 to May 19, according to filings released Thursday. Up-to-date information for his competitors was not available.

Gordon's opponents include Geby Espinosa, who co-owns The Contenders Gym in Mountain View. The 47-year-old Democrat supports tougher immigration laws and promotes the legalization of industrial hemp production as a possible solution to the state's budget problems.

"We're sitting on a gold mine," Espinosa wrote in an email. "The time for industrial hemp is now."

Chengzhi "George" Yang, a 35-year-old software engineer, lists education and pension reform as his top priorities. The Menlo Park Republican is skeptical of high-speed rail, saying the much-criticized project, approved by voters in 2008, should head back to the ballot.

"I believe after four years of debate we have to give the project back to the voters, because we know a lot more about the project now," said Yang, who served on the San Bruno Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

Rounding out the field is independent candidate Joseph Antonelli Rosas Jr., a 22-year-old network-security adviser from Sunnyvale. Rosas has also worked as a community organizer with Peninsula Interfaith Alliance and the Occupy movement.

Though he does not list a party affiliation, Rosas insists he is the only liberal in the race. He decries the influence of campaign money on politics and proposes increasing funding for the UC and CSU systems by $1 billion, paid for with tax increases on the wealthiest Californians and by closing loopholes on commercial property assessments.

"I am willing to fight side by side with my constituents for what I believe in, and all my campaigning has been one-on-one, not glossy mailers from Oz," Rosas said in an email.

The California Secretary of State's Office designated Gordon the incumbent because of the overlap between the old 21st district and the new 24th, which consists of southern San Mateo County, including the coast, and northern Santa Clara County. It runs from Menlo Park to Sunnyvale.

The top two vote-getters in the primary will move on to the November general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Contact Aaron Kinney at 650-348-4357. Follow him at Twitter.com/kinneytimes.

Websites of the 24th Assembly District candidates

Geby Espinosa -- none
Rich Gordon -- http://richgordon2012.com
Chengzhi "George" Yang -- http://gcyang.com
Joseph Antonelli Rosas Jr. -- http://jrosas4ad24.com