CJ's endorsements - AD 38 Cameron Smyth

This was probably one of the easier picks this year. We all watched the AD 38 Primary fight unfold here on the blog so we have a great deal of back-story for this one.

Let's do the rundown of my criteria:

Does this candidate reflect the views and concerns of the district in which they seek to be elected, or rather their own?

Cameron Smyth is a fiscal conservative in a conservative district. While I don't agree with some of his views, they are in line with his district.

Lyn Shaw, whose name seems to change from Lyn Shaw to Lyn Hilfenhaus whenever she sees a benefit, holds a left wing agenda so far askew of the district that she never has been taken seriously as a candidate... Even by herself.

Has the candidate run a clean campaign consistently through the primary and general election?

Cameron Smyth has generally ignored his opponents in both the Primary and General elections. He has not launched a single attack that I could find, and has been running a campaign even though he has been the odds on favorite for some time.

Lyn Shaw's (and her supporters) tactics of gutter politics in the Primary is just the kind of slash and burn politics we need to get rid of, not encourage.

Has the candidate provided clear a vision for the district?

Cameron Smyth has been talking about issues such as transportation, education and fiscal responsibility for some time. He has taken to the airwaves with a positive message of what he will do if elected. He has the experience of City Councilman and former Mayor of Santa Clarita under his belt which shows when compared to his no-experience opponent.

Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus has not presented any vision for the district at all. In fact she hasn't run any visible campaign at all except for the last 2 weeks of the Primary. Even then she did 3 mailers (including the 2 hit pieces) and appeared on a few slate mailers. She just barely squeaked past her opponent in the Primary and has no real desire or ability to put any challenge to Smyth.

Does the candidate demonstrate that they have the ability to lead, and fight for, the district which would elect them?

As previously stated, Cameron Smyth has leadership experience that his token opponent does not. He resides squarely in the district and is clearly in touch with his constituency.

Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus has not demonstrated any ability to lead or fight for anything. According to voter records she resides barely 2 blocks from the extreme southern tip of the district which normally wouldn't matter to me but her views are so out of step with the conservative leaning district that she would be better suited running for Jester of West Hollywood than for the California State Assembly.

In reviewing this race it became readily apparent that Cameron Smyth has no opponent for the State Assembly seat. Even looking at the "official" photographs Cameron shows he at least can play the part of a statesman and presents the US and California flags. The only way to describe his opponent is to say the photo resembles the north end of a southbound cow. Harsh words? Yes. But after the display shown by Shaw-Hilfenhaus in the Primary I would have at least expected an attempt to make it look as if she gave a damn about the district.

In the end Lyn Shaw-Hilfenhaus wanted the central committee appointments that come with being the Democratic nominee, and the perceived power that came with them. She was willing to knock out, through any means necessary, the only opponent who had the balls to at least put some challenge to Smyth. To what end? Only to deprive her party of any campaign at all and give a seat to the opposing side by default. The irony is that this mentality is why the Demcrats have such a hard time in so many races. Because their State candidates refuse to run any visible campaign they cede ground and hurt their up-ticket chances. So when Angeledis loses bad... blame the people like Lyn Shaw who refused to carry a message to the district after fighting so dirty for the right to do so.

Cameron Smyth shows dignity, and is running a campaign when he really doesn't have to. He has displayed that he is ready, willing and able to take the seat he has earned in the California State Assembly.