CA-12

SAN MATEO -- Beginning at 10 a.m. today, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier will preside over the renaming of a post office in this small peninsula city after her former boss and mentor, Congressman Leo J. Ryan.

But as she does, the newly minted congresswoman will undoubtedly reflect back on the horrible massacre that occurred 30 years ago Tuesday at the Guyana compound of the Rev. Jim Jones and his People's Temple cult.

SAN MATEO -- For Jackie Speier, the incumbent congresswoman representing much of the San Francisco Peninsula in CA-12, next Tuesday's election comes just a little more than six months after she won a special election to replace the late Congressman Tom Lantos.

From one perspective, this second election for Speier is more like an employer (in this case, the voters) deciding whether or not to take a new hire off probation.

While it's not a completely foregone conclusion that she will receive "permanent" job status, Speier is expected to easily win re-election to office over a handful of competing candidates including Republican Greg Conlon, Libertarian Kevin Peterson, Green Party candidate Barry Hermanson and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Nathalie Hrizi.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - Delegate Greg Conlon is frank about his status as a Republican congressional candidate on the Bay Area peninsula, the heart of Democratic territory: "It's lonely."

Conlon, an Atherton resident who's attending this week's Republican National Convention as a guest, is hoping to run a credible challenge in California's 12th Congressional District against recently-elected U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough).

A special election will be held today to fill the 12th district seat of Rep. Tom Lantos, who died in February
Voters in California’s 12th Congressional District go to the polls today to choose a replacement for Congressman Tom Lantos, who died of cancer in February after serving 27 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. If none of the five candidates wins 50% today, there will be a runoff between the top Democratic and Republican candidates in June.

The leading candidate is former State Sen. Jackie Speier, who faces Democrat Michelle McMurry, Republicans Greg Conlon, a former state Public Utilities Commission Chairman and Mike Moloney, and Green Party candidate Barry Hermanson.