Councilmember Scherman Kicks Off Assembly Campaign

With new district maps finalized for next year’s elections, Elk Grove city council member Sophia Scherman says she’s ready to start campaigning in earnest to represent the city in the state Assembly.

Scherman’s council district is . Foregoing Elk Grove’s mayoral race, Scherman says she’s got her eyes on a bigger prize: being the first to advocate for the city in the state legislature now that .

“We’re the second-largest city in region and we deserve to have one voice, one person to represent us,” Scherman, who has served on the council since Elk Grove incorporated 11 years ago, told Elk Grove Patch last week. She criticized Assemblymembers Alyson Huber and Joan Buchanan, who each currently represent portions of Elk Grove, for paying scant attention to the city.

“I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen an Assemblyperson here,” she said.

Buchanan’s Chief of Staff, Susanna Schlendorf, took issue with that characterization.

“Assemblymember Buchanan spends a good deal of time in Elk Grove,” she said. “She always seeks out the school district’s opinion on bills related to education. We have a caseworker in our office who has assisted quite a few folks in Elk Grove with issues with state agencies or trying to get a lender to return their calls.”

The newly-created ninth assembly district will encompass Galt, Lodi and part of South Sacramento in addition to Elk Grove. Democrats hold an edge in voter registration, with 46 percent of registered voters, compared to 33 percent for Republicans and 17 percent listed as decline to state, according to consultants Redistricting Partners.

Scherman, a Republican, said she will focus on reducing state mandates like emissions controls that she said harm small businesses. Her campaign website cites Elk Grove’s success at balancing its budget as part of her credentials.

Scherman’s possible opponents could include Huber, whose current district will be split in two next year. Huber’s Chief of Staff, Tim Reardon, says she hasn’t decided whether she will run again and if so, whether she’ll face off against Scherman or seek office in the adjacent eighth district.

Scherman said she will hold a fundraiser for the campaign in September.