Who is using Who? The Developing Symbiotic Relationship of Mayor Singh-Allen and Rep. Matsui

Years ago, former PBS McNeil-Lehrer NewsHour liberal commentator, the late Mark Shields, noted in one of his Friday sessions with conservative counterpart Wall Street Journal editor Paul Gigot that every morning, all U.S. Senators look in the mirror and think they could be the next President of the United States.  

We would add to Shields' wise observation that applies to most elected officials, especially those on the bottom rungs of politics, like the Elk Grove City Council, who desire higher positions. From our backbenchers on the Elk Grove City Council, we have seen members advance to the Sacramento Sheriff, the California Assembly, and the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors.

For every advance, there have also been setbacks. A prime example is Councilmember Darren Suen, who failed at his attempt to become Elk Grove mayor in 2018 and could not even launch his assembly race after being edged out by former Councilmember and now California Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen.

With our current city council, it is no mistake that Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen is biting at the chump to advance her career, especially after Ms. Nguyen leapfrogged her in 2022. Ms. Singh-Allen has set her sights on Washington, D.C.

When Ami Bera represented Elk Grove in Congress, he was her best buddy. When Bera and Matsui swapped seats, and Matsui started representing the city, Ms. Doris became her bestie.

From a political point of view, a few things are going on with Singh-Allen's "friendships." Politically, in terms of lubricating these relationships, the mayor may be doing nothing more than making sure Elk Grove gets its fair share of federal pork.  

The other aspect is more self-serving. As anyone who has watched Singh-Allen's political career knows, she has consistently cozied up to anyone she assessed would advance her career.

Remember when she was best buddies with former Republican Elk Grove City Councilmember Sophia Scherman. Singh-Allen often referred to Scherman as her second mother.

If they were such good friends, why didn't Singh-Allen trot out Ms. Scherman during her initial run for mayor in 2020? Obviously, Scherman's usefulness to Singh-Allen had passed, and that friendship was tossed in the trash like a stinky fish.   

Like President Donald Trump, Singh-Allen's relationships are transactional. Once she extracts everything of use, it is discarded.

Enter Congresswoman Doris Matsui. It is not coincidental that Mayor Singh-Allen has become Rep. Matsui's political pilot fish.

Should Matsui, who turns 82 next September, defeat upstart challenger Mai Vang in the June primary and November general elections, it is rumored that she is nearing the end of her legislative career. Should Matsui defeat Vang and hang it up in 2028, who will be better positioned than Singh-Allen?   

We are quite sure that when the mayor looks in the mirror every morning, applying her trademark bright red lipstick, she is saying to herself, It is my destiny to be in Congress - That seat will be mine!

But a funny thing has happened, and it can be traced to Ms. Vang's challenge to Matsui. Suddenly, Vang's high-energy campaign has forced Matsui to press the flesh, conduct a hastily scheduled town hall meeting, and become more visible than at any point during her congressional tenure.

In a word, Vang has forced Matsui out of her 20-year campaign hibernation. Matsui is suddenly, relative to her 20-year hibernation, everywhere, including Tuesday's state of the city address by Singh-Allen.

During her speech. Singh-Allen called Matsui "a close personal friend." The mayor also heaped praise on the congresswoman for bringing almost $6 million in federal grants to the city in the last few years.

A few weeks ago, Singh-Allen posted a video on social media featuring Elk Grove Assistant City Manager Jacqui Guzman, which served as a political rally for Matsui. Notwithstanding the appropriateness of an Elk Grove high-level official attending a blatant political event, these events appear to be well-orchestrated to enhance the mayor and the congresswoman.

Ms. Matsui has happily availed herself to Singh-Allen's events. Given the mayor's electoral popularity in Elk Grove, and barring some Kristi Noem-like family scandal beyond her documented IRS problems that could arise between now and the November election, Singh-Allen will easily win her fourth term.

For Matsui, Elk Grove will be an important part of her reelection. Why not glom onto Singh-Allen's popularity and milk it for every vote she can get, even if she has to do a butt-kissing reversal?

Once in office and they get that sweet intoxicating taste of influence and money, polticians will do anything, even if it is humiliating, to stay in power. Matsui is proving that point.

As we move toward the June primary and the expected general election match-up between Matsui and Vang, it will be noteworthy to watch the symbiotic relationship between Singh-Allen and Matsui, its effect on the November race, and whether this helps the mayor fulfill her self-ordained destiny.