Redlands' Mayor Has Sharp Words for Joe Baca

As the the race for the 31^st Congressional District draws closer, a political battle has begun to brew with Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar throwing some sharp criticism at the latest challenger, fellow Democrat Joe Baca.

Aguilar announced early this month he would run for the seat currently occupied by Rep. Gary Miller a second time. The mayor lost his bid during the June 5 primaries, coming in third behind Miller and Republican Bob Dutton. Only the top two vote getters, regardless of party affiliation, advanced to Election Day to vie for the seat.

Baca has not formally announced he will run for the seat. But his website affirms he is, “running for reelection in the 31^st Congressional District in order to bring back effective representation.”

Baca ran in the last election for the 35^th Congressional District, but lost to Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod.

Aguilar’s statement follows:

Joe Baca must think Inland Empire voters have short memories. That's the only thing that would explain the fact that he has decided to run against Congressman Gary Miller, the candidate he endorsed in the last election.

Gary Miller has consistently voted against the interests of Inland Empire families, and it's becoming increasingly clear that there's little difference between the two Congressmen.

Gary Miller and Joe Baca represent more of the same partisan gridlock and paralysis that keeps Congress from helping the middle class.

Under the headline, “Democratic Congressman Joe Baca supports Gary Miller for Congress,” former Democratic Rep. Joe Baca is quoted in a Gary Miller mailing as saying, “I’m Democratic Congressman Joe Baca and I support Gary Miller for Congress and ask you to vote for him.”

Joe Baca’s endorsement of Gary Miller is a head scratcher given Miller’s ties to the Tea Party movement and his ultra-conservative voting record on issues ranging from ending the Medicare guarantee and privatizing Social Security, to his refusal to help reform the nation’s broken immigration system.

Although he has already filed paperwork to seek a rematch against Democratic Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod, it is uncanny that Joe Baca now intends to run in the neighboring 31st Congressional district, currently represented by the Republican Congressman he endorsed just months ago.

Aguilar’s statement included copies of a mailer he said was being circulated at the California Democratic Party State Convention in Sacramento by Inland Empire Democrats who oppose Baca’s candidacy.