Schaupp ends run for Congress; supports Vann

The field of Republicans seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. John Garamendi has shrunk again, with Yolo County farmer Charles Schaupp announcing this morning he was ending his campaign and endorsing Colusa County Supervisor Kim Vann.

Schaupp said polls he’d seen indicated he’d have a tough time breaking out of the pack of five GOP candidates for the Third Congressional District, and he felt Vann had the best shot in November.

“I’m first and foremost a Marine, and a Marine puts country first,” Schaupp said. “In this case, it’s time for Charlie Schaupp to step aside and do what’s best for the country.”

His endorsement of Vann was surprising because Vann touted endorsements from such local Republican stalwarts as Assemblyman Jim Nielsen and state Sen. Doug LaMalfa, who Schaupp has said he dislikes and in the case of Nielsen, ran against more than once.

But during the course of attending various candidate forums and party functions, Schaupp said, he came away impressed with Vann’s knowledge and abilities.

“She’s proven to me she’s trustworthy and knows what she’s doing,” said Schaupp, who made the announcement at the outset of a candidates’ forum presented by the North Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce this morning in Yuba City. “It’s clear to me Vann is the one who should represent the party.”

By dropping out, Schaupp had narrowed the field to four Republicans: Vann, Vacaville pilot Rick Tubbs, Vacaville martial arts instructor and real estate agent Eugene Ray, and Sutter County deputy district attorney Tony Carlos.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.