Friday, May. 09, 2008

Denham relieved, not satisfied by stalled recall

Despite signs that efforts to oust him have passed, senator continues campaign fo keep his seat in Sacramento.

By LESLIE ALBRECHT
lalbrecht@mercedsun-star.com

State Sen. Jeff Denham said he's breathing a sigh of relief now that Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata has called off the campaign to oust him from office -- but that doesn't mean Denham's halting his own campaign.

Denham's name will still appear on the June 3 ballot. And if enough voters want to pull him from office, he's out and Monterey County Democrat Simon Salinas is in.

Salinas suggested Thursday that his campaign is now on hold.

"I'm going to campaign like I have been," said Denham, R-Merced. "I plan on still walking and making sure I get out and talk to people, not only about last year's budget but also about the one that's coming up."

Perata, an Alameda Democrat, was the driving force behind the recall, which began after Denham's refusal to vote on the state budget sparked a 52-day stalemate. Perata announced Wednesday that he was ending his effort because it would allow lawmakers to work on the budget deficit and other top priorities in Sacramento.

Denham's camp unveiled new television and radio ads on Thursday. One featured several Central Valley leaders, including Merced County Supervisor Jerry O'Banion, speaking out against the recall.

Denham spent the morning in Sacramento, where he said Democrats and Republicans alike approached him with messages of relief and congratulations.

On the recall side, spokesman Paul Hefner said his team had ended its campaign. Crews that had worked putting up yard signs were dismissed late Wednesday, said Hefner. Media buyers were instructed to cease airing all TV and radio ads immediately.

Meanwhile Denham's challenger Salinas said Thursday he's not sure how he'll proceed with his campaign for the 12th District seat. "Right now it's sort of on hold -- I've got to wait to see what the local activists will do," said Salinas. "They're pretty angry and frustrated about Perata's announcement."

Salinas said he's waiting to hear whether local recall backers have the resources to keep their campaign going without Perata's blessing. "This was never about Perata," said Salinas. "It's about the 60,000 people that signed the petition."

Salinas said he halted his phone-banking and other campaign activities Wednesday and spent Thursday concentrating instead on his work as a Monterey County Supervisor. Salinas had raised $88,947 in campaign funds as of April 19; most of that came from a $75,000 donation from the Democratic State Central Committee. The day before Perata's announcement, the Democratic State Central Committee dropped another $50,000 into Salinas' coffers.

Reporter Leslie Albrecht can be reached at (209) 385-2484 or lalbrecht@mercedsun-star.com.