Tribune endorsements: Our choice for California Assembly
A Republican has represented San Luis Obispo County in the state Assembly for nearly six decades, but that could soon change. The latest round of redistricting placed practically all of San Luis Obispo County in the newly formed District 30 — a predominantly Democratic district that stretches up the coast to Santa Cruz County.
The Democratic candidate is Dawn Addis, a Morro Bay City Council member who has taught in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District for more than 20 years. She’s also a co-founder of Women’s March SLO.
Vicki Nohrden, the Republican nominee, lives in Monterey County. She’s worked in real estate, as a youth director at the Presbyterian church in Carmel and as a family liaison for the justice system.
Both candidates have previously run for state office. Nohrden ran for state Senate in 2020 and for Assembly in 2018, losing both times to a Democrat. Addis challenged Cunningham in the 2020 Assembly race in what was then a predominately Republican district. She lost by 10 percentage points.
Cunningham’s legacy
Over the past six years, Cunningham proved a moderate Republican can get things done in a Legislature dominated by Democrats. Even his crusade to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open — which seemed so hopeless at the start — ultimately succeeded.
Sacramento could use more moderate Republicans like him in the Legislature, but we’ve seen no evidence that Vicki Nohrden is such a person.
Predictably, she’s painting Addis as “too radical for the Central Coast” and like other underdog Republican candidates in California, she’s attempting to score points by depicting the state as a rotten cesspool where citizens are being deprived of their rights.
“Sacramento policies have resulted in failing schools, rising crime, business closures and a higher cost of living,” she wrote in a campaign text. “Politicians and bureaucrats in Sacramento are hurting families, restricting our freedoms, dividing our state and driving out business.”
Like other aspiring GOP politicians, she makes vague promises about reducing crime, helping small businesses and cutting red tape while offering few specifics.
Nor does she have a track record; unlike Addis, she’s never held an elected office.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy do we endorse?
Making endorsements during election season is an important role for newspaper editorial boards, including The Tribune Editorial Board. Elections are key to determining the future of our Central Coast region, and through endorsements, we share our opinion of the qualifications of the candidates and recommend those who would best serve our communities.
Due to the large number of races on the 2024 General Election ballot, we are unable to issue endorsements in every race. We chose to focus on the most competitive contests.
For more about our process, click the arrow on the top right.
Who endorses?
Endorsement decisions are made by Editor Joe Tarica and Opinion Editor Stephanie Finucane.
How do we decide?
Candidates are invited to participate in an interview with The Editorial Board where they are asked a series questions about major issues. It’s our opportunity to learn the candidates’ positions and to gauge how well informed they are about issues they are likely to confront if elected.
We also research voting records of candidates who have held public office; we watch candidate forums; we look at back stories from The Tribune, as well as other publications that have covered the candidates; and we examine public documents. We also take a look at the candidates’ advertising and campaign statements. Are they overpromising, for example, or misrepresenting their opponent’s record?
In the case of ballot measures, we study the background of the issue, the pro and con arguments and consider who is supporting and opposing the measure.
Tell us what you think
If you disagree (or agree) with our endorsements, share your thoughts with us by writing a letter to the editor (200-word maximum). Email your submissions to letters@thetribunenews.com. Due to the volume of submissions we receive during campaign season, we do not publish Viewpoint-length pieces (600-800 words) in support or opposition to candidates.
A voice for small communities
Having served four years on the Morro Bay City Council, Addis is familiar with the challenges facing small communities — challenges that often get overlooked in Sacramento.
Housing is a prime example; much of the legislation out of the state capital is directed at large metro areas.
“One of the things that comes up quite a bit is local areas feeling like they just don’t have enough say in housing policy,” Addis told The Tribune Editorial Board. “I’d love to put together a local housing advisory council to help me come up with legislation.”
She ranks climate action as a top priority.
“We have a lot of crises going on, with our democracy, with housing, with water. But if we don’t solve the climate crisis, it’s not going to matter,” she told the Editorial Board.
Addis acknowledged the need to ensure clean energy projects stay on schedule — something that didn’t happen over the past few years, which contributed to the decision to extend the life of Diablo Canyon.
(Nohrden declined to meet with The Tribune Editorial Board and turned down an invitation to participate in a candidates forum sponsored by The Tribune and moderated by the League of Women Voters.)
‘I will not ever look back wondering if I did or said enough’
Conservatives may find her “too radical for the Central Coast,” yet Addis reflects the values of her district on issues like voting rights, education, energy, health care, diversity, equity and inclusion.
She has strong convictions and a keen sense of justice, which is exactly what we need to protect democracy from the election deniers determined to destroy it.
And she doesn’t back away from a fight.
One example: When Rep. Salud Carbajal invited her to attend President Trump’s State of the Union speech in 2018, she faced some pushback.
“There is no doubt that attending this State of the Union was contentious. I heard from people who thought I should boycott, and others who felt I was ‘selling out,’” she wrote in a Tribune op-ed.
“I am proud to have attended this specific address because I know that my being there was an emblem for standing strong in the face of mounting odds,” she continued. “I will not ever look back wondering if I did or said enough.”
We need that level of commitment in the state Assembly.
We look forward to seeing Addis carry on some of the important work Assemblyman Cunningham began, especially in the area of clean energy.
The Tribune strongly endorses Dawn Addis for the 30th Assembly District seat.