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Media asks: Where’s Sam Blakeslee?

July 24, 2010

The League of Women Voters is scheduled to host a debate Monday night at Cuesta College. All four candidates in the special state Senate election have been invited to participate. So far, only three are confirmed: Democrat John Laird, Independent Jim Fitzgerald, and Libertarian Mark Hinkle.

Republican Sam Blakeslee, thus far, has declined to participate, citing the need to stay in Sacramento and attend to legislative business.

Blakeslee’s low profile on the campaign trail is earning him brickbats from media outlets throughout the 15th Senate District, which stretches from Santa Maria to Santa Clara.

Friday night, television station KSBW in Salinas took Blakeslee to task in an on-air editorial by station manager Joseph Heston, who compared the Republican Assemblyman to the mythical whale Moby Dick.

“His campaign rarely returns our calls, never provides a direct answer to our interview requests, and as far as we can tell, Blakeslee hasn’t made any public appearances on our Central Coast,” Heston said. “Other civic organizations like the League of Women Voters are just as frustrated.”

Heston’s comments echo similar editorial positions taken recently by the San Luis Obispo Tribune, the Santa Cruz Sentinel, and the San Jose Mercury News, all calling for Blakeslee to debate Laird.

Blakeslee’s campaign staffers insist that their candidate is more than willing to debate–provided that the forums are held on Fridays, or weekends, when he can be away from Sacramento. They point to invitations Blakeslee has already accepted in San Jose and Arroyo Grande to debate.


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Did the League of Women make any effort to synchronize schedules among the debate participants? It would be much more clear if the League would release a meaningful statement regarding the attempts at scheduling.


In the absence of such a statement, some people jump to the conclusion Blakeslee is trying to avoid the debate.


Other people, myself included, jump to the conclusion that the League is trying to smear perceptions of Blakeslee in a nefarious fashion. As evidence, I point out that Sam is pleased to participate in candidate forums in at least two other venues.


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Sam is in Sacramento, because Sam is MUCH more comfortable hanging out with lobbyists, and special interest donors than to actually show up in his district.


Sam has become a Sacramento Capitol creature and doesn’t give a damn about whom he supposed to be representing. Its much easier to kowtow to special interests and rake in $$$ up in Sacramento than have actually show up and listen to his constituents in his district.


Wham bam, no thank you Sam


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Ref the letter to editor from Mary Lea Harris (second post below)


Harris is North County woman who is entrenched in Republican Party and Republican Women’s Federation.


I have no problem with your party affiliation but for God’s sake Mary … let Sam speak for himself. You don’t need to fight his battles too do you ?


He should debate and be done with it. Hiding from debate signals weakness.


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Just to clarify some of the misinformation above:


Blakeslee doesn’t serve on any Budget committees (see list of committee members here:

http://www.asm.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=4 )


Blakeslee is no longer in a leadership position like he was last year (Assembly Minority leader), so he doesn’t participate in the Big 5 meetings anymore. See here for current Republican leadership: http://www.asm.ca.gov/acs/newcomframeset.asp?committee=4


Furthermore, the Assembly is adjourned until the speaker says they need to come back. He has not done so, so members are free to be in their districts.


This is just more of the same from Sam- doesn’t see the need to answer to his constituents. If this is him in campaign mode, just imagine how absent he’d be if he was elected to the Senate…


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Oh poor Sam – he’s being faulted by the League of Women Voters and others for not participating in debates because he has to be in Sacramento on “legislative business.”


BUT – the GOP in California are running TV ads dissing DEMS for not being in Sacramento to do their work.


So, is Sam attending meetings with members of his own party and none of the opposition? Or are the TV ads lying about Republican wanting to work and Democrats staying away – you can’t have it both ways.


A better scenario is that Sam believes he has the district wrapped up because it’s heavily gerrymandered in his favor.


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This is a Letter to the Editor we received from Mary Lea Harris of Atascadero that has direct bearing on this issue:


I too was concerned about why Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee was not committing to the SLO’s League of Women Voters Debate. So, I asked why he might not attend the debate.


Simple question. Simple answer. When asked for possible debate dates he responded with a variety of options. But, also said that Mondays are NOT possible because on Monday the Budget Advisory committee meets. This committee is composed of Democrat and Republican leadership.


The League asked about Monday, July 19th. Blakeslee responded, “No, there is a Budget Advisory Meeting. They are scheduled for every Monday.” To me, when the League scheduled the debate for MONDAY, July 26, the League was saying, “We don’t care about your committment to the California Budget. We are more important than the California Budget.”


I am offended that citizens expect Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee to not honor his commitment to California voters by being at a debate instead of doing state business. If he was at the debate instead of the Budget meeting someone would complain about that too. Sam’s priorities are

where they should be. Thanks Assemblyman Blakeslee for doing your job.


By the way, there are four other opportunities to hear Sam Blakeslee debate his opponents.


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I think this makes a good point. Did the League try to find a night for all four? Was this the only opportunity? On the face of available info I agree with Dave, Sam should attend to business and debates should make every effort to accommodate his commitments to our business in Sacto.


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That’s right. Sam should stay huddled with his naysaying cronies prioritizing the concessions that they will demand in order for the state to get a budget passed. They also have to draw straws to choose which among them will be the goat and vote with the Dems. Tough work that takes a strong stomach. Glad Sam’s up to it. Besides, if he was frittering way “his” time debating for a Senate seat, his loyal comrades likely would nominate him for the cross-over vote and resultant stain upon his clean conservative record.


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I disagree. Sam could send a proxy to the meeting.


In a debate, Laird would solidly knock out at least one of the three legs of Blakeslee’s stool — that he considers himself an environmentalist. To me that’s a big stretch, but I know locals who buy that characterization, and use it to justify their support for Sam. When Sam pushed the DREAM initiative to start his political career, it was clear that the environment would be wholly compromised by this man. He is willing to sacrifice one ecology for another. PG&E got a slap on the wrist, we got another rate increase to cover it. Oh, lest I forget, we can now walk our dogs on another couple of miles of coastline.


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The budget meeting(s) he is referring to are Republican-only.

http://www.ksbw.com/politics/24400581/detail.html


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Just a thought… Blakeslee wouldn’t be the first Republican that doesn’t like women…


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Funny one!


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Sam shouldn’t be out on the campaign trail debating. He belongs in Sacramento until we get the budget that was due in June. This whole special election is a crock, anyway. Sam and John both have legislative records and debates/campaigns aren’t going to change those.


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