Will Andy Pugno Keep that Promise He Made?

Jim Sanders, Sac Bee, June 24, 2012

  Andy Pugno comes from behind to claim Assembly ballot spot.  Friday's outcome leaves Pugno with a decision to make: Months ago, he vowed to step aside and not split the Republican Party by fighting Gaines if she finished ahead of him in the primary.

While final votes were being counted in recent weeks, Pugno did not comment publicly about whether he has changed his mind about stepping aside in favor of Gaines if both qualified for the November general election.

Folsom attorney Andy Pugno completed a come-from-behind win over Democrat Regy Bronner Friday to secure a ballot spot in the November election for a Placer County-based Assembly seat.

The election promises a rerun of a hard-fought primary campaign between Republicans Pugno and incumbent Beth Gaines, who will square off because the state's new "top-two" primary system pits the two highest vote-getters in November, regardless of party.

Gaines, of Rocklin, finished first by a comfortable margin on election night, but Pugno trailed Bronner for second place by 531 votes after precinct votes had been counted by the next morning.

The counting of thousands of provisional, write-in and mail ballots received on election day kept the final outcome in doubt until Friday, when ...

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