Republicans Dahle and Fennell likely to vie for Senate District 1 in November
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Shasta County and Siskiyou County voters can help decide the outcome of the State Senate, District 1 race in November after they cast their ballots in the Presidential Primary Election on March 5.
Regardless of party affiliation, the top two vote-getters in the primary will vie for the first senatorial district seat on Nov. 5. The winner will take office at the end of current Senator Brian Dahle's term, according to the State Senate and the Shasta County Elections office.
As of Feb. 7, two names are on the ballot: Politician and North State farmer Megan Dahle of Bieber and Silicon Valley businessman and entrepreneur David Fennell of Chico. However, additional write-in candidates can throw a hat in the ring until the Feb. 20 deadline, Assistant Shasta County Clerk Joanna Francescut said.
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Currently serving as State Assemblywoman for District 1, Dahle hopes to win the senate seat occupied by her spouse Brian Dahle since June 12, 2019.
Brian Dahle isn't eligible to run again for state senate or assembly, having reached his lifetime term limits. He first won the District 1 State Assembly seat in November 2012. "A person may serve no more than 12 years in the Senate, Assembly, or both, in any combination of terms," according to the California State Senate.
About Megan Dahle
Campaign website: votemegandahle.com
Social media accounts: On Facebook at voteMeganDahle and Instagram at megandahlesd1
Background: Dahle is a dry land wheat farmer and former small business owner who was born in Fall River Mills. She served as Big Valley Joint Unified School District board president before she entered state politics, according to her campaign biography.
If Dahle wins the senate seat, it will be the second time she followed in her husband's political footsteps. She first won the state assembly seat vacated by Brian Dahle in the 2019 special general election; she garnered 57.3% of votes over Democrat Elizabeth Betancourt's 42.7%. She won reelection over Betancourt in 2020 with 58.9% of votes, and over Belle Starr Sandwith in 2022 with 62.1%.
Top issues on candidate's platform:
In her candidate's statement in District 1 booklets, Dahle said primary issues facing District 1 include the state's high cost of living for families and high property taxes.
She also said she supports "legislation that addresses mental health and addiction issues that are often a root cause" of homelessness.
Another primary issue on her platform is crime, she said. She supports legislation intended to "crack down on smash-and-grab robberies" and "to more severely punish human traffickers" and fentanyl dealers, Dahle said in her statement.
As of Thursday morning, Dahle hadn't responded to an interview request.
About David Fennell
Campaign website: fennellforsenate.com
Social media accounts: On Facebook at FennellForCalifornia, Instagram at FennellForCalifornia and Twitter at DavidFennell
Background: Fennell grew up in Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County. He earned a bachelor's degree in commerce from Santa Clara University and a master's degree in Asian studies from the University of San Francisco. He served as chairman of Oakland’s Crime Prevention Council and worked for and launched several Bay Area tech companies, according to Fennell's biography on his former campaign websites.
"After falling in love with the North State, I moved my businesses from Silicon Valley to Chico," he told the Record Searchlight.
Fennell made three unsuccessful bids for lieutenant governor in past primaries. He came in third in the June 2022 Primary Election with 13.4% of votes behind Democrat incumbent Eleni Kounalakis and Republican candidate Angela Underwood Jacobs. He also came in third for the lieutenant governor seat in the June 2014 Primary with 8.6% of votes and fifth in 2018 Primary with 7.9% of votes, according to the Secretary of State's election results archive.
Top issues on candidate's platform:
Fennell blames "lack of leadership in Sacramento" for failed legislation that could help District 1.
"We are outvoted and outnumbered by Los Angeles County, which does not understand our communities’ needs or values," Fennell said in an interview with the Record Searchlight. In his candidate statement, Fennell also blamed "lack of leadership" for an assault on the "values of the families of the North State," but didn't clarify which of the district's diverse values he meant.
Another primary issue on his platform is growing the North State's economy, he said. As Baby Boomers retire, "we need to ensure that we develop our cities and rural areas in a way that protects and grows our current economy, so we can keep and attract the next generation of community leaders and provide services for our families," Fennell said in the interview.
In his official statement, Fennell also lists crime ― specifically "violent criminals allowed to rob at will," water restrictions on North State farmers and "forests mismanaged, resulting in historic burns" as top District 1 issues.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Meet candidates for California State Senate District 1 on March 5
