April Vargas endorsed by 3rd place finisher, Jack Hickey

From the Mercury News 7/10/10:

Jack Hickey, who placed third in the June primary election for an open San Mateo County supervisor seat, announced Wednesday he is endorsing second-place April Vargas for a November runoff.

Hickey, a frequent candidate for elected offices and a member of the Sequoia Healthcare District, said Vargas will "bring a fresh new voice to the Board of Supervisors" and she "understands the value of dedicated workers, yet is not beholden to union power brokers courted by her opponent."

By "her opponent," Hickey referred to former sheriff Don Horsley, who captured 39.1 percent of the vote in his bid to succeed termed-out Supervisor Rich Gordon. Vargas, an environmental activist, won 23.6 percent of the vote and Hickey 16.1 percent, followed by San Carlos City Council Member Matt Grocott with 14.7 percent and Michael Stogner with 6.5 percent.

While supervisor is a nonpartisan office, Hickey is a longtime Libertarian activist and Vargas has long been active in the Democratic Party.

"I would say the fact that the budget and the county's financial future is so much on people's minds shows that these issues really go beyond partisanship," said Vargas, a Coastside resident.

Horsley said he has supported school parcel taxes and community health programs, which Hickey opposes, and added that Hickey is "a 19th-century man. He believes in no government, I believe in good government."

The former sheriff, who sits on the same health care board as Hickey, pointed out he opposed Hickey's bid for a Redwood City School District board seat last year.

"I didn't seek his endorsement," Horsley said. "I wouldn't want it because of the fact I just don't think he represents the best interests of our children or of our community."

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15415686?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Submitted by Ian Butler