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Nakanishi Radio
By Calpeek
This is an OPEN seat now belonging to State Sen. Patrick Johnston (D-Stockton). In this battle between Demo Assemblyman Mike Machado and Lodi Councilman Alan Nakanishi, Calpeek rated this battle a toss up. We still do, but things have become more complicated for Demo consultant Richie Ross, who is Machado's consultant. The Demo Assemblyman has been pounded in the local press for the past 10 days over remarks he made on the Assembly Floor to State Sen. Maurice Johannessen (R-Redding). The remark was overheard by at least one other person (Michael Umbrello of the Cahto Tribe who was on the Assembly Floor w/Johannessen opposing Machado's CALFED water bill). As reported in the Stockton Record, Machado told Johannessen "to go back to where he came from." Does that mean Norway? Or does that mean go back to the State Senate side of the building? Johannessen thinks it was a racial slur by Machado. Machado's response: a fantasy, a fabrication. Johannessen says there also was an ethnic slur remark made by Machado about Nakanishi, but there's no independent or 3rd party confirmation. Machado's campaign says much of brouhaha is nothing than political spin. Perhaps, but the local papers are not siding with Machado...
Machado, Nakanishi face off at Galt luncheon
By Ross Farrow
GALT - Republican Alan Nakanishi and Democrat Mike Machado squared off during a forum Thursday, taking opposing views on key issues such as school vouchers and binding arbitration.
Machado, of Linden, and Nakanishi, of Lodi, are the leading candidates for the Fifth Senate District seat being vacated by Patrick Johnston due to term limits. They spoke at Thursday's Galt District Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Thursday's forum was the first head-to-head confrontation between the two for the November general election.
Machado, a six-year Assemblyman for the Stockton-based 17th District, said he is one of the few legislators who farms for a living and faces payroll responsibilities every two weeks.
Machado said he wants to continue the Legislature's work in improving health care, education, retaining business in California, Medi-Cal reform, and welfare reform.
Nakanishi, vice mayor of Lodi, and long-time ophthalmologist is Lodi, Stockton, and Tracy, cited his experience in the medical field, the knowledge he gained with the Lodi City Council, and his own fiscal conservatism as reasons he should be elected.
Through his two years on the council, Nakanishi said he has been involved with the municipal electric utility system and assisted in the development of a greenbelt as a buffer between Lodi and Stockton.
Responding to a question about a high-profile shouting match that took place with a Republican state senator on the Assembly floor Aug. 30, Machado said the incident was blown out of proportion.
Machado was accused of shouting profane and racially insensitive statements at state Sen. K. Maurice Johannessen, R-Redding, during a debate on Machado's CALFED water bill, which went down to defeat.
Johannessen, who was born in Norway, accused Machado of making a racist statement by telling him to go back to where he belonged. Johannessen also alleged that Machado said of Nakanishi, "You have to get an opponent who speaks English."
Machado said Thursday that no racial slurs were intended. He admitted telling Johannessen to go back where he belonged, but he was referring to the Senate side of the Capitol.
Machado said legislative protocol calls for an elected official from one legislative house to avoid lobbying for or against a bill in the other house.
Nakanishi replied, "I wasn't there. If Mike told me to go back where I belong, I would say 'I belong in the Senate.'"
The two candidates disagreed on several issues. Among them:
• School vouchers. Nakanishi supports them because, he said, students are failing in the public school system. Machado said that Proposition 38, which would allocate $4,000 per pupil (half the national spending average per pupil) allows for no accountability. State funds would be better spent on the existing school system and charter schools, Machado said.
• Sales tax on Internet purchases. Nakanishi said he opposes the sales tax altogether on the Internet, while Machado said he opposes the state taking action. Taxes on Internet purchases in a national issue, and Congress is studying it, Machado said.
• The CALFED bill, one of Machado's key proposals. Machado said it enhances wildlife and fishery habitat in the Delta and waterways feeding into it.
Nakanishi said it's a bad bill that, on the surface, looks good. However, too much water would be sent to Southern California, Nakanishi said.
• Binding arbitration for city police and firefighters. Nakanishi opposes Senate Bill 402, which is awaiting Gov. Gray Davis' signature, which would require binding arbitration when cities are at impasse with police or firefighter unions.
As a Lodi City Councilman, Nakanishi said he wants city councils to maintain their authority over police and firefighter contracts.
Machado supports binding arbitration to insure that police and fire service aren't interrupted.
Both candidates agree that the highway system, including Highway 99, needs serious improvement. Machado cited the need for Caltrans to improve the Highway 99 interchanges in Galt.
Nakanishi, accusing the state of failing to improve highways to accommodate rapid growth throughout California, said the state's gas tax should be used to improve roads, not for mass transit.
Two other Senate candidates, Libertarian Carol Brow of Clements and Natural Law candidate William Nicolas of Stockton, were not invited to the luncheon, said Rex Albright, the chamber's executive director.
Second Major Law Enforcement Group Backs Nakanishi
Press release from the California Peace Officers' Association
SACRAMENTO - In the second major reversal for Mike Machado in a week, the California Peace Officers' Association voted to endorse his Republican rival Alan Nakanishi in the hotly contested 5th Senate District race.
"Alan Nakanishi is widely respected by law enforcement," said CPOA Endorsement Committee Chair Rick TerBorch, "and frankly, we have been disappointed in Mike Machado this past session in the Assembly."
The announcement by the CPOA comes on the heels of the dramatic reversal earlier this week by the California Police Chiefs Association, who pulled their endorsement of Machado and endorsed Nakanishi.
"What we look for is stability, and evenhandedness," said TerBorch. "Dr. Nakanishi has a sterling reputation for integrity and truthfulness. We apreciate that."
For information contact Leslie McGill at 916-263-0541.
Police Chiefs up ante, begin radio against Machado
SACRAMENTO - A major statewide law enforcement organization that reversed its endorsement of State Senate hopeful Mike Machado, has launched a radio campaign against the embattled Democrat, while the state's peace officers also weight in, endorsing Machado opponent Alan Nakanishi.
"We have never in our history switched an endorsement, but we do so now," says a tough new commercial featuring California Police Chiefs Association President Craig Steckler. The ads, aimed at Assembly Member Mike Machado, began running throughout the 5th Senate District Monday.
Citing "Mike Machado's behavior in the last session of the Legislature," the sixty-second spot takes issue with the Democrat Assemblyman's voting record. "He was, no doubt, under pressure, but no more than any other legislator," continues the spot, "The difference was, Mike Machado buckled under the pressure."
"Alan Nakanishi is widely respected by law enforcement," said Rick TerBorch, Endorsement Committee Chair of the California Peace Officers' Association, "and frankly, we have been disappointed in Mike Machado this past session in the Assembly."
"What we look for is stability, and evenhandedness," said TerBorch. "Dr. Nakanishi has a sterling reputation for integrity and truthfulness. We apreciate that."
"I am deeply gratified by these expressions of support," said Nakanishi, a Lodi physician and councilman. "My experience in dealing with local law enforcement and the challenges they face will serve me well in the State Senate. I'll work hard to keep their trust."
Machado losing support to opponent Nakanishi
By Jennifer Pearson Bonnett
Twice in recent days, support has been yanked from Assemblyman Mike Machado and thrown to Lodi City Councilman Alan Nakanishi in the race for a seat in the state Senate.
The California Peace Officers' Association voted to endorse Alan Nakanishi last week, becoming the second law enforcement organization to make a surprising switch.
Nakanishi, a Republican, is running against Machado, D-Stockton, for the District 5 state Senate seat.
The same day - Oct. 16 - the California Police Chiefs Association also reversed its support, citing concerns surrounding Machado's past performance and legislative voting record.
The switch was a first for the police chiefs.
"I'm very please that they did that," Nakanishi said. "They saw Machado's record, and they chose to endorse me."
Both law enforcement organizations have thrown their support toward Nakanishi after being dissatisfied with Machado's performance surrounding the issue of binding arbitration. In September, the governor signed legislation that would impose binding arbitration - performed by an independent mediation panel - on cities and counties when the reach and impasse over salary and benefit issues with any public employee union. Currently, employees, such as police officers and firefighters, are not permitted to go on strike over a contract deadlock.
"The bill that originally came through the Legislature was vehemently opposed by the police association," said Rick TerBorch, chairman of the California Peace Officers' Association's endorsement committee.
"During that process we were very active in Sacramento, and we let it be known that any legislator who voted for Senate Bill 402 in its original form, we would not support. And, if we had an existing endorsement out there, we would pull it." Machado, though not surprised with the recent endorsement switch, maintains that he is in favor of binding arbitration for the safety of citizens.
"Nobody wants to see police officers go on strike, and what I voted for was a public safety issue," he said. "For Alan Nakanishi being against binding arbitration is the same as being against public safety."
Machado said he is endorsed by the Police Officers Association of Lodi as well as deputy sheriff's associations for both San Joaquin and Sacramento counties.
"It seems incredulous that police chiefs would not go to bat for the officers who put their lives at risk everyday," he added.
"Likewise, it seems incredulous that Alan Nakanishi, a city council member, would not support the rank and file of officers for the city of Lodi."
TerBorch, a police chief in Arroyo Grande, said the police chiefs will continue to support Nakanishi.
"In our discussions with Nakanishi and evaluating his platform and where he stands, he deserves our endorsement," TerBorch added.
Nakanishi said he has not sought the formal endorsement of the Lodi Police Department due to a potential conflict of interest.
"I'm a City Council member, and I try not to influence the local police department because I have a job to do," he added.
Mike Machado "Earns" a Place on NTLC's "Enemy of the Taxpayer" List
"Throughout his legislative career Mike Machado has voted against the interests of taxpayers in his district and across California," said Lewis K. Uhler, President of the National Tax Limitation Committee (NTLC).
"We have just completed our 1999-2000 Taxpayer Scorecard and find that Machado earned an 'F,' a flunking grade, to go along with the 'D' he earned during the 1997-98 session and an 'F' during his first term in 1995-96. Anyone with such a consistent anti-taxpayer voting record qualifies for our 'Enemy of the Taxpayer' list.
"Machado's score is exactly the same as Sen. John Burton of San Francisco, Senate Majority Leader and an unabashed liberal. What makes Machado's record so puzzling is that he claims to be a champion of the taxpayer, while other legislators with similar records are self-acknowledged liberal big spenders and proud of it. Machado's representations that he is a 'tax reformer' who 'cuts taxes every year' and wants to 'cut taxes for working families' are simply contrary to the fact.
"Let's look at Machado's actual voting record over the last two years to see what the facts are:
• He voted for a budget bill designed to prevent the 'trigger' from being pulled on the sales tax cut just announced. In other words, he tried to keep the average family from enjoying a $120 sales tax cut.
• When a bill to end the sales tax on gasoline was brought to the Assembly floor for consideration, Machado voted - twice - to prevent that bill from being heard and acted upon. The gasoline tax remains in place, costing the average motorist in Machado's district nearly 15¢ extra per gallon.
• Machado voted to reduce the two-thirds vote required to raise taxes at the local level, which could have cost local taxpayers billions in new taxes at the same time the state is awash in surplus revenue.
"The list goes on and on - and while he showed no mercy for taxpayer in his district, Machado voted to put Prop. 33 on the ballot so he could benefit personally from a new pension plan and retirement medical benefits for legislators only - paid for by the taxpayers.
"We didn't arbitrarily place Mike Machado on NTLC's 'Enemy of the Taxpayer' list. Machado earned his way on that list during six years of anti-taxpayer votes," concluded Uhler.
Machado Lies About Utility Deregulation Authorship
LODI - The campaign of Senate candidate Alan Nakanishi today produced copies of the Utility Deregulation bill co-authored by Assemblyman Mike Machado - a bill he denied "authoring or co-authoring" in today's Stockton Record newspaper.
"This is a outright fabrication, and Mike Machado knows it," said Nakanishi spokesman Wayne Johnson. "Mike Machado's name is listed as the co-author. It's his bill, and it is outrageous that he can claim otherwise in a newspaper story, without someone at that paper bothering to check the facts."
An official copy of the bill's cover page is included with this release.
"Last week, Mike Machado said on the Tom Sullivan radio program that he voted against taxing the Internet," said his Senate opponent Alan Nakanishi. "We pointed out that he voted 'Yes' on the bill, and he then claimed his name just somehow 'ended up on the rolls.' Mike Machado needs to stop getting a pass on all these fabrications."
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