Morris looks beyond primary win

Having closed in on the Democratic nomination in California's 2nd Congressional District, county supervisor Jeff Morris is expecting a long, tough battle to unseat U.S. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Chico) in November.

Morris has apparently won that race by less than 100 votes over A.J. Sekhon, who lost to Herger in 2006.

"I'm feeling a little more optimistic," said Morris, a Trinity County Supervisor who lives in Weaverville, northwest of Redding.

"We've been in a planning mode for November for the last few weeks, and it's probably going to be a typical race against an incumbent."

Morris acknowledged his course will be uphill against Herger, a popular incumbent who has never had a serious challenge in his 21 years representing the district of mostly rural counties in far northern California.

But he feels that with Democrats on the rise nationally, Herger shouldn't take the race for granted.

"It's certainly a year for interesting things to happen," Morris said. "I think timing plays much of a role in these races."

Morris also noted that as an elected official, he's an unusual challenger to Herger, who has largely beaten unknown Democrats.

When he was elected in 2004, Morris said, Trinity County was in bad financial shape. Since then the county has turned around its finances and added jobs, said Morris, who runs an advertising and marketing business in Weaverville.

Morris' popularity in Trinity County was the deciding factor the race over Sekhon, a doctor from Yuba City, and John Jacobson, an educator and businessman from Weed.

Election results show Morris winning Trinity County with 79.3 percent of the vote, easily the highest percentage any candidate received in any county. The 1,319 votes Morris received there constituted nearly 10 percent of all the votes Morris received in the district, with encompasses all or parts of 10 counties.

Registration in the district favors Republicans by 44.1 percent to 33.6 percent.

Having closed in on the Democratic nomination in California's 2nd Congressional District, county supervisor Jeff Morris is expecting a long, tough battle to unseat U.S. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Chico) in November.

Morris has apparently won that race by less than 100 votes over A.J. Sekhon, who lost to Herger in 2006.

"I'm feeling a little more optimistic," said Morris, a Trinity County Supervisor who lives in Weaverville, northwest of Redding.

"We've been in a planning mode for November for the last few weeks, and it's probably going to be a typical race against an incumbent."

Morris acknowledged his course will be uphill against Herger, a popular incumbent who has never had a serious challenge in his 21 years representing the district of mostly rural counties in far northern California.

But he feels that with Democrats on the rise nationally, Herger shouldn't take the race for granted.

"It's certainly a year for interesting things to happen," Morris said. "I think timing plays much of a role in these races."

Morris also noted that as an elected official, he's an unusual challenger to Herger, who has largely beaten unknown Democrats.

When he was elected in 2004, Morris said, Trinity County was in bad financial shape. Since then the county has turned around its finances and added jobs, said Morris, who runs an advertising and marketing business in Weaverville.

Morris' popularity in Trinity County was the deciding factor the race over Sekhon, a doctor from Yuba City, and John Jacobson, an educator and businessman from Weed.

Election results show Morris winning Trinity County with 79.3 percent of the vote, easily the highest percentage any candidate received in any county. The 1,319 votes Morris received there constituted nearly 10 percent of all the votes Morris received in the district, with encompasses all or parts of 10 counties.

Registration in the district favors Republicans by 44.1 percent to 33.6 percent.