Republicans vie for state Senate seat Republicans vie for state Senate seat (February 20, 2004)

Two are running in GOP primary

By Grace Rauh

With registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans nearly two to one in District 13, the state Senate race has not traditionally been kind to local conservatives.

But Republican candidate Shane Patrick Connolly doesn't seem to mind. He says he is more concerned about issues than party divisions and plans to bring Democrats into his camp if he makes it onto the November ballot.

Originally from central New York, Connolly has spent the past seven years in the Bay Area. The 35-year-old political newcomer lives in San Jose and works as an area controller for Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation's container plants, managing finances and accounting functions for the corporation. Connolly plans to apply his business savvy to the fiscal crisis in Sacramento.

"There is a great deal of waste, fraud and abuse in state government," he said.

Creating jobs is Connolly's top priority and second is promoting "a balanced budget -- fiscal responsibility at the state level," he said.

Connolly supports Propositions 57 and 58, but adds they are "necessary and unfortunate." He believes the Vehicle License Fee should remain low because "you shouldn't have to be wealthy to get back and forth to your job."

Connolly is single and openly gay, and although gay marriage hasn't been a hot issue in this primary, it has taken center stage in a nationwide debate.

"I think the state should recognize individual rights equally," Connolly said, stopping short of saying he supports gay marriage.

Connolly currently serves on the San Jose-Dublin Ireland Sister City Committee and is active at Trinity Cathedral in downtown San Jose. Mountain View City Council member Mike Kasperzak has endorsed Connolly.

Andrew Abe Diaz, who did not list his occupation with the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, is running against Connolly. The Mountain View Voice was unable to contact Diaz for an interview.

Diaz left Connolly a message to say that he will be away until after the primary.

"Unfortunately, he had some medical issues and is now on vacation," Connolly said. Diaz ran unsuccessfully for a San Jose City Council seat in March 2002.

E-mail Grace Rauh at grauh@mv-voice.com

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