How Juan Alanis can make the most of his time repping Modesto in CA capitol | Opinion

Juan Alanis, the Republican state Assemblyman recently elected to represent Modesto and much of Stanislaus County, has a lot going for him — and has a lot yet to learn.

Born in Modesto and raised and educated in this area, he understands the Valley, its people and its needs. Voters tend to embrace former law enforcement officers; his retirement from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department becomes effective June 30, and he’s using banked vacation time until then to focus on the Assembly.

His emphasis on youth — Alanis has coached soccer and baseball and was involved with scouting — is admirable. His goal of holding four town hall meetings a year, to hear and learn from constituents and have them get to know him, is positive.

Although he shied away from interviews with The Modesto Bee Editorial Board before last year’s primary and general elections, once elected, Alanis answered all questions put to him in a wide-ranging, recent conversation with the board and its Community Advisory Board, a worthy step toward transparency that’s not embraced by all GOP office holders.

Alanis quickly talked himself into the vice chairmanship of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, a position that normally doesn’t go to a freshman politician still getting his footing in Sacramento.

Knowing that the 22nd Assembly District is purple — composed of red and blue alike — Alanis talks a good game about the political middle and his desire to represent it. “The polars are not going to get anything done. You meet in the middle,” he told the Editorial Board.

He also knows the power of partnering, and frequently works the word “relationships” into his dialogue. And he seems to have pep, often arriving first on the Assembly floor when it’s in session.

Against that backdrop, the Editorial Board offers four points of constructive feedback.

• There is danger that Alanis’ legislative calling card will be viewed as a political stunt.

Most Capitol observers know this legislation not by its actual number — Assembly Bill 335 — but by what it seeks to repeal: Proposition 47. That’s the state law that Republican figureheads love to hate, blaming it for all sorts of crime and homelessness.

Prop. 47 was approved in 2014 by California voters willing to try something new in the vein of judicial reform. Because it lowered some felonies to misdemeanors and raised the threshold for grand theft from something worth $400 to $950, the GOP sees a link to many of society’s ills and holds up Prop. 47 as an example of woke overreach in a state ruled by the opposing party’s supermajority.

So a cabal of tough-on-crime lawmakers and authorities showed up in support when the new assemblyman held a press conference for AB 335 in late January. It’s not surprising that GOP leadership sees Alanis, a former sergeant, as the next to carry this banner.

Here’s the problem: it has little chance of success, he knows it, and it could hamper his stated objective of working with Democrats on issues of real substance.

Others from both parties have tried the same thing in years past, with zero luck.

Alanis acknowledged that a logical result of AB 335 would be putting more people in jail and prison. “I tell people that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because that’s where they get services,” he told The Bee.

That’s the wrong approach. People who need services should get services rather than getting locked up, consuming more taxpayer dollars. Warehousing drug addicts in overcrowded jails never was the answer.

• It’s not Alanis’s fault that he knows little about farming, yet sits on the Assembly Agriculture Committee. It will be his fault if he doesn’t take advantage of his time there by learning our farmers’ needs, particularly regarding complex water policy, and using his vote to benefit our economy.
• The assemblyman should continue to seek friendships across the aisle.

Alanis insists he’s putting real effort into reaching out to Democrats, chatting them up and signing onto some of their bills. That’s good.

Linking arms with reasonable Democratic legislators represents a chance at achieving something meaningful. Alienating them by pandering to the far right is a recipe for failure.

District 22 — Modesto, Ceres, Turlock and the west side of Stanislaus County, plus part of north Merced County — did not send Alanis to Sacramento to look good in photo-ops for police union and prison guard interests. The district needs and deserves effective representation.

• Alanis should find a way to mend fences with his former boss and political opponent, Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse.

Although Alanis lost to Dirkse in a 2018 run for sheriff — and initially planned to face him again last year, before switching gears in favor of the Assembly — he needs to let bygones be bygones.

Both are powerful Republicans. They should have more in common than not.

Alanis should recognize the political capital that Dirkse has built, and try tapping into it. Any of Alanis’s bills touching public safety — unsurprisingly, he is carrying several in addition to AB 335 — would benefit from the endorsement of such law enforcement leadership.

In all, Alanis shows courage and promise. His commitment to relationships and collaboration reflects the makeup of his district and should serve him — and his people — well.

This area wants and needs Alanis to succeed as he steps forward to another level of public service.

This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 7:00 AM.