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Frank Riggs
Remember Frank Riggs?
We haven’t heard much about the former North Coast congressman since he left office in 1999 and then quit California for more Republican-friendly Arizona.
Now, he’s back in the news. Earlier this week, Riggs stood alongside surging presidential primary candidate Rick Santorum in Phoenix, where he is chairman of Santorum’s Arizona campaign.
Santorum told a conservative crowd he’s never been part of the D.C. establishment and that as freshman representatives in 1990, he and Riggs “shook things up to its very core.”
Frank Riggs, bottom left, and Rick Santorum, top right, were part of the "Gang of Seven" who set out to shame House leaders over overdrafts at the House bank. AP PHOTO
It could be the stuff of a good political-trivia quiz that newbies Riggs and Santorum — and John Boehner — were part of the Gang of Seven that blew the whistle on congressional corruption that included Rubbergate, the scandal over representatives routinely bouncing checks in their House accounts.
The activism by the Gang helped the Republicans retake the House in 1992. But Riggs lost to Mendocino Democrat Dan Hamburg.
Riggs later re-won the seat, then left it rather than run against Mike Thompson, the St. Helena Democrat who’s seeking his eighth term.
Where Riggs may go with his old ally who’s now a presidential candidate, who knows. But at the moment he’s got his horse hitched to a brisk-running wagon.
– Chris Smith
The Press Democrat
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jobs are leaving californication? TOO many morons in current gubment, including the county of sleaznoma county, gubment by retarded relatives of relatives.
When I was a kid my good Lutheran minister explained that both Catholics and Mormons were not only not Christian, but were followers of Satan. Same goes for the Jews. I was able to accept that, but then, later on, he told our class that dinosaur fossils were put in the rocks by Satan to fool modern people and my faith was challenged. At the age of 13, forced to choose between dinosaurs and Jesus Christ, I choose science and haven’t attended a church service since.
Santorum sounds a lot like my Lutheran minister.
Obviously according to democrat humanist orthodoxy, Santorum is satan. They have seen the spiky tail and the cloven feet.
I wonder why none of us have seen this in the former senator?
Obviously I’m remembering wrong about Riggs’ Congressional district. I thought for sure he was my congressperson at some point and then Woolsey. Oh, well… “Of all liars, the smoothest and most convincing is memory.”
Can we get some reporters to ask Obama whether he believes in Satan? He is a Christian, right?
There’s an audio clip of Rick Santorum in circulation that was recorded in 2008. He was telling students that “Satan is devouring America”. Isn’t that kind of a big deal? Shouldn’t we be focused on not being devoured? Or has Satan become sleepy from all the tryptophan?
Graeme, Dan Hamburg defeated Frank Riggs in 1992. Frank Riggs came back to defeat Hamburg in 1994. Riggs served until 1998 when Mike Thompson decided to run and Riggs made a quixotic run for the US Senate to avoid facing Thompson (he had nearly lost to carpetbagger Michela Alioto – who until very recently served on the SF Board of supervisors) in 1996. Woolsey replaced Barbara Boxer when she ran for the Senate in 1992.
I still remember the sign I saw on 101 in 1990. “Rank Pigg” for Congress. Priceless.
Mr. Riggs is what is called an early adapter. He moved to a state which hasn’t gone over to the dark side. Many wish they too could move to a politically reasonable state where radicals do not call all of the shots.
Arizona is a beautiful state with clean, modern cities and spring training. Life is good there. That is why so many former Southern Californians moved out of crime ridden, politically correct LA and San Diego.
I wish Mr. Riggs well and hopefully Mr. Santorum will help turn this country around and get us back on the right track.
The jaded press here in California and New York attempting to destroy Santorum with their single focus on contraception and abortion will not have the impact they long for in Arizona and other right thinking states.
Ayatollah Rick Shall Rule America…
His Christian like Sharia law shall save the sinners.
Democrat Doug Bosco who preceded Riggs left congress in a check kiting scandal; democrat Hamburg who came after Riggs later joined up with a wife swamping guru and his cult and is now a supervisor in Mendocino. Two tidbits conveniently left out of this article.
I’m pretty sure Woolsey replaced Riggs. Look at what Woolsey did for us for 20 plus years? The one and only law Woolsey wrote was the one that legalized Indian Casinos. Other than that, she spent the decades speaking to an empty house chamber reciting her same screeds over and over. Thanks Lynn – for nothing. Riggs would have made a difference. Woolsey may as well never have served at all.
Interesting article. Riggs tried to run for governor in Arizona in 2006 but it turned out he had not lived in the state long enough. Another former Sonoma County politico who is active in AZ politics is Sam Crump, former Sebastopol mayor and State Assembly candidate in 1998. He is/was a state rep down there and ran for congress in 2010 but did not make it out the of the primary.
Aside, the Republicans won the house in 1994 not 1992.
When I get frustrated by Mr. Thompson, I remember who he replaced… Mr. Riggs. Sometimes the lesser of two evils is a lot less.