Pan, Scherman Get Endorsement From Bee

Endorsed by the Bee in 2000.

In an editorial published today, the Sacramento Bee endorsed Democrat Dr. Richard Pan and Republican Sophia Scherman in the June primary for the newly drawn Ninth Assembly District.

Pan, who currently serves in the assembly for the Fifth District is moving to district and Scherman is a longtime resident of Elk Grove.

In endorsing Pan the Bee noted Pan "has practical real-world experience in areas that the Legislature deals with on a daily basis. His background in medicine and academia is an asset. He also has demonstrated an ability to get things done in a chaotic, term-limited Legislature where real accomplishments are rare. He successfully introduced a bill to bring $90 million in federal funds for local firefighters and another that bans the sale of expired infant formula and medicines."

As for Scherman, the endorsement was a little less enthusiastic saying she "is another candidate who deserves a chance to compete for the Assembly seat in November. A founding member of the Elk Grove City Council who has twice served as mayor, Scherman is well grounded in the issues of economic development, home foreclosures and local government finances."

While any candidate well gladly accept an endorsement from a major media outlet, are they worth anything? The anecdotal evidence suggest there worth is at best negligible.

Longtime Elk Grove political observers will recall back in 2000 when Elk Grove voted to incorporate and select its first city council the Bee offered endorsements. One of the 21 candidates to receive and endorsement was Joey Tomko.

So did that endorsement help Tomko? Out of 21 candidates, Tomko finished in 19th place.

So take endorsements for what they are worth.