In one of the most breathtakingly stupid political moves of all time, the Fresno Police Officers Association has endorsed Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown for Attorney General over our own State Senator Chuck Poochigian. The Board vote, as reported in the Fresno Bee, was 12-2.
This is idiocy for a number of reasons, to wit:
Senator Poochigian, throughout his entire service in government, has been a reliable law and order vote in the State Assembly and Senate;
Poochigian is from Fresno and has represented Fresno in the legislature for 12 years;
Pooch will outpoll Brown at least 60-40 in Fresno County if not by more;
85 percent of the Fresno Cops will vote for Poochigian.
What is the real issue here? Real simple. The cops hate, I mean HATE the Workers’ Comp reform bill written by Senator Poochigian and signed into law by the Governor in 2004. Workers’ Comp is no longer easy street, and unions are madder than a hornets nest about it.
No doubt, the FPOA vote was stupid, and I look forward to saying that to Union President Jackie Parks next time I see him. He can’t defend their actions with any logic whatsoever.