Change in Congress has upside, down for Valley

Some area politicians lose clout in D.C., others gain.

Published online on Thursday, Nov. 09, 2006

WASHINGTON — The Democrats are taking over Capitol Hill, bringing new dangers and opportunities to the San Joaquin Valley.

The Valley's most highly ranked House member is leaving. Others are losing clout. Some are gaining muscle. All of those remaining must adapt to a new regime.

"We all ought to be Valleycrats," Fresno Mayor Alan Autry said Wednesday. "That's the most important thing."

The one-time Hollywood actor, himself a Republican, used the term to describe the centrist-to-conservative thinking and common agenda shared by many Valley legislators. Farm and water issues, particularly, often erode the region's party lines.

Still, with the Democrats winning 28 seats to regain control of the House, party identification is the difference between power and frustration.

"We have lost some things," said Carol Whiteside, president of the Modesto-based Great Valley Center think tank, "but we have gained some other things."

The specific gains include the prospect — not guaranteed — that at least one Valley Democrat will gain a chairmanship.

"I'm anticipating that I will take a subcommittee on the Agriculture Committee," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced.

It's not yet clear which subcommittee, if any, Cardoza might head up. The timing, though, would be apt, as Congress is poised to write a new farm bill next year. Cardoza and his Democratic colleague, Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno, are likewise hoping for greater influence through the 37-member Blue Dog coalition.

The Blue Dogs were founded a little more than a decade ago, just about the last time the parties switched House control. With a political action committee that already has spent more than $511,000 this year, the Blue Dogs are angling to bridge the gap between liberals and conservatives.

"Dennis has managed to ingratiate himself very well with the moderates in power," said Joel Nelsen, president of the Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual. "That should create opportunities for Cardoza and, thus, for us."

Costa, who is just finishing his freshman term, probably isn't in line for titular power. Still, Whiteside and Nelsen both predicted the veteran politician — who served 24 years as a California legislator — is poised to move up the party ranks.

And if Democrats proceed to take the Senate — as they appear to have done, barring a successful challenge to Democrat Jim Webb's victory in Virginia — Californians could gain a chairmanship relevant to the Valley. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer is in line to chair the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein could again chair a military construction funding subcommittee responsible for assisting Naval Air Station Lemoore, among other bases.

The Democratic opportunities are offset by Republican losses.

The farmers, ranchers and real estate developers who have grown comfortable with Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, as chairman of the House Resources Committee now must look elsewhere for relief. Pombo's defeat by Democrat Jerry McNerney removes the region's highest-ranked lawmaker.

That committee position has empowered Pombo on everything from protecting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to increasing logging on Sierra Nevada forests. The chairmanship also gave Pombo extra clout in securing local funds, like the unexpected $7 million he pulled in to study expanding Route 130 into a six-lane highway connecting the Valley's west side with Silicon Valley.

While Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, survived his own race, he is losing the chairmanship of the House water and power subcommittee. This will undermine Radanovich's ability to move legislation needed to implement restoration of the San Joaquin River.

Pombo's loss and Radanovich's demotion are both part of the Democratic wave that is sweeping Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, into the House speaker's office. Although Whiteside noted "it does not hurt in my mind to have the [House] speaker be a Californian," Pelosi's pronounced liberal views would not be confused with those of a traditional San Joaquin Valley Democrat.

"It will be more difficult to get things done," predicted Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. "No question, it will be much harder to get things passed."

In the past, Michael Marsh, who heads the Modesto-based trade group Western United Dairymen, said as an example, the farm bill has been dominated by Midwestern members of Congress. The resulting legislation has largely excluded California's fruits and vegetables.

"Had Richard stayed in, you would probably have seen more attention paid to California agriculture interests," Marsh said. "From an agriculture perspective, losing Richard Pombo is a very deep blow."

Ironically, though, the Democratic victory was dramatic enough to provide some relief for Nunes. Because so many Republicans were swept off the powerful House Ways and Means Committee by one means or another, Nunes is apparently not in danger of losing his committee seat despite being a junior member.