May 30, 2008

2 strong bids for Congress:

Candidate offers the GOP the best shot for the seat

Editorial

Greg Conlon has experience in government and a carefully mapped out plan for trying to right some of the wrongs in Washington to make him the best Republican candidate for the 12th Congressional District

Conlon has gained valuable experience on both the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Transportation Commission. And he's not afraid of running as a Republican in territory that favors Democrats. Aside from his current campaign, he waged an unsuccessful bid for state treasurer in 2002.

The businessman and retired accountant has made it clear he's running to win, arguing he has a chance by going after the district's decline-to-state voters, who he maintains are "closet Republicans, as well as official Republicans. He has developed a platform that can appeal to both conservatives and moderates.

Conlon touts the need to tame the growing expenses in ever-popular entitlement programs such as Medicare, while calling for a departure from Iraq "with honor, not haste." The Atherton resident also offers moderate views on the environment, endorsing a European-style cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gases.

With his resume and his grasp of the issues, Conlon is the strongest candidate for the Republicans in District 12 and has earned the right to carry the GOP banner into the fall election.