Three candidates vie for seat

With the June 7 Primary Elections on the horizon three candidates are pushing to see who will make it to the general election in the State Senate race for District 5.

Incumbent Cathleen Galgiani has been challenged by Lodi physician Alan Nakanishi and a Stockton business executive, Samuel Anderson. Galgiani has been in office as State Senator since she was elected into office in 2012.

On some of the major issues that affect people in the state, the candidates agree that prison reform has not been successful and that there is a need for pension reform. All are staunchly opposed to the legalization of marijuana and the Twin Tunnels project to transport water from the San Joaquin Delta to Southern California cities.

Both Republican candidates, Anderson and Nakanishi, are against the High-Speed Rail project and Common Core state standards in education.

Anderson is a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran who works in the tech industry with a focus on law enforcement and has been appointed as a POC Instructor for the FBI Virtual Academy.

Galgiani has previously served as a State Assemblywoman and has worked in several offices of state

politicians. She also worked as a physical therapy aide at Dameron and San Joaquin General hospitals and is PADI certified as an open water scuba diver.

Nakanishi was once a major in the U.S. Army having served as chief of opthamology. He has held several public offices including his current position as Lodi City Council Member in addition to his work as a local physician. Nakanishi has served as Lodi City Mayor and has been a California State Assembly Member.

The top two candidates will move on to the General Election in November. While incumbents traditionally have the advantage in elections, it is unclear at this point who may come out the victor.