Wilson gets second endorsement from anti-tax group

San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson picked up his second endorsement in less than a week from a prominent small-government group, announcing the support Friday of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association.

The group's president said Wilson was being endorsed in the 15th Assembly District race for many of the same reasons that Ted Costa, CEO of the anti-tax group People's Advocate, endorsed Wilson a week ago.

"Mayor Wilson is a strong fiscal conservative, who has vowed to oppose tax hikes on already overtaxed Californians," said group president Jon Coupal in a press release.

He, like Costa, noted that as San Ramon's mayor, Wilson established a rainy-day fund for the city and helped build a billion-dollar downtown center.

A rainy-day fund related to state spending has been a top priority for California Republicans, including in the current budget debate. Coupal endorsed the idea earlier Friday at a press conference with legislative Republicans in Sacramento.

Wilson, a Republican, is running against San Ramon Valley Unified School District board member Joan Buchanan, a Democrat from Alamo, in the 15th district. Because voter registration narrowly favors Democrats, the race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the state this fall.