2 Congress members mired in housing crisis; 1 has more reason to worry

Surprising as it may seem, Reps. Dennis Cardoza and Mary Bono Mack have something unfortunate in common, even though he's a Democrat who reps the farmlands of the San Joaquin Valley and she's a Palm Springs Republican.

Cardoza's congressional district has the sad distinction of having the highest home-foreclosure rate in the country. Mack's is right behind him, with the second-highest rate, according to an analysis released by HotPads.com, a Web-based home-search service.

With California hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, seven of the 10 congressional districts with the highest rates are in our state.

Now, with both Cardoza and Bono up for re-election, the big question becomes: How does a high foreclosure rate translate politically for an incumbent?

Cardoza, an Atwater resident, has no worres as he doesn't have an opponent in the Nov. 4 election. But Mack, challenged by Democrat Julie Bornstein, who has made an issue of the housing crisis developing on Mack’s watch, is likely losing some sleep.

The foreclosure ranking "is very bad news for Mack," said Walter Ludwig, Bornstein’s campaign manager. "People are very angry -- they are very angry about her vote for the bailout [bill]."

--Patrick McGreevy

Photo: AP

Comments

[Nan Lanros]

How are we expected to feel confident in the person that is supposed to be representing us in Washington when Mary Bono Mack only spends every other weekend here at her lavish home in Palm Springs? (Opposite weekends are spent are her husbands home in Florida).
I was particularly disappointed to find out that MBM was at a party last night and failed to show up (again) to meet voters and fellow running mates at a public forum in Rancho Mirage.
After watching Julie Bornstein discuss the various topics on TV news interviews I am very impressed with her background and professional ability. Julie Bornstein has my vote on November 4th!