Strickland keeps seat; Masry won't run again
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com

Although Democrat Ferial Masry's numbers crept up from 2004, Republican incumbent Audra Strickland beat her again to retain her 37th District Assembly seat.

Strickland took 56.4 percent of the votes in the district which serves Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ojai and parts of Los Angeles.

"I'm very honored that I'm going to be able to serve the district again," Strickland said. "I think the people of the community had the chance to look at where I stood on the issues and my record in Sacramento, and I share the majority of the beliefs of the people in the community."

Masry captured 43.6 percent of the votes, after taking 41.1 percent in 2004. The Los Angeles Unified School District history teacher and former small business owner had hoped to become the first Saudi American elected to U.S. office. She said her background gave her a unique perspective.

"I'm very, very proud, taking a small race and making it into a political phenomenon, nationally, internationally and locally," Masry said. "Getting this amount of votes against an incumbent-with enough money and support, I could have won that, I have no doubt in my mind.

"I'd like to say, okay, I congratulate my opponent, but I think our district deserves better than what we have," she said.

Strickland said there are a number of issues that contributed to her victory.

"Obviously my strong support for public safety, and my desire to keep our schools safe and keep our streets safe is one," Strickland said.

Masry had campaigned to limit prison sentences to nonviolent criminals, while Strickland strongly disagreed.

"The people of California have spoken, and public safety is a top priority," Strickland said at a recent debate. "There is no dollar amount you can affix on a human life, on the safety of a child. We need to build more prisons--it's a matter of planning."

Strickland also counts her policies on illegal immigration as a major contributor to the win. As co-chair of the task force on illegal immigration, Strickland supports the construction of the wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

"I think the people of California are very, very frustrated with the effort of Sacramento to give illegal immigrants driver's licenses, to give illegal immigrants college tuition and to give illegal immigrants welfare benefits," Strickland said. "These are all things I oppose and fight against in Sacramento."

Strickland said her work with the task force will go on. The panel will continue to hold local hearings, Strickland said, and look at new legislation.

Strickland opposed Proposition 89, a plan for campaign finance reform and Proposition 87, a tax on oil companies, while Masry supported them. Both measures failed.

Strickland, a former junior high school teacher, replaced her husband, Tony, as the 37th District Assembly member two years ago. Tony Strickland, also a Republican, tallied 40 percent of the vote for state controller in this election, but fell to Democrat John Chiang's 50.9 percent.

Strickland has served as vice chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee during this legislative session.

The appointment will be reevaluated now, post-election, as will her positions on the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and the Health Committee.

Masry said she won't run again. "It's just too costly. I think I'm going for something else. But I want to work for democracy, and work to create a good image for this country."

She said it will be tough to explain her loss to her students. "As a teacher teaching democracy, I'm disappointed," Masry said. "It's sad to see it depends on money, not the choice of the people-that's the biggest challenge. How do I explain this to my students? That's really going to be the hardest part of it."