Buchanan looks to face Wilson in AD 15 race

San Ramon Valley Unified School District board member Joan Buchanan said she'll be ramping up her campaign for California's 15th Assembly District seat by August.

Buchanan, a Democrat from Alamo, will be doing so while the final word on who her Republican opponent will be is still up in the air. Buchanan believes she'll ultimately face San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson, who led Robert Rao, a small businessman from Livermore, by less than 300 votes in the most recent tally from the June 3 primary.

But Buchanan believes Wilson will be her general election foe, and that comes with some personal connections, she said.

"I've known him over a decade, and our sons played high school football together," Buchanan said. "I expect this to be a close race."

Party registration in the 15th district, which encompasses largely suburban and rural areas in four Northern California counties, is slightly in favor of Democrats, who hold a 39.4-38.1 percent lead over registered Republicans.

California Democrats believe it's one of three Assembly seats they can take this November, drawing them closer to a two-thirds majority in that house. Such a majority would allow Democrats to pass legislation on such topics as budgets and taxes without Republican votes.

Buchanan said California's economy is the top issue for any would-be legislator.

"How do we deal with this $17 billion deficit, and how do we get the economy back on track?" she said.

Independent voters will decide the race, and Buchanan believes that as a moderate Democrat, she can attract that vote.

The winner in November will replace termed-out Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-San Ramon).

EARLIER on Politickerca.com:

• Rao won't concede AD 15 primary
• Wilson appears to have won AD-15 Republican race