Portantino Challengers Take Loss in Stride

Despite a sweeping loss to his Democratic opponent Anthony Portantino, 44^th State Assembly District candidate Alvaro Day is taking it all in stride.

"I just had some good Peruvian food my grandparents cooked, so, I'm pretty good,'' the South American-born Republican said Wednesday.

Day garnered 32.1% of the vote in Tuesday's general election, while Anthony Portantino earned 64.3% – the highest percentage yet for the two-term incumbent, according to the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder's statistics. Libertarian candidate Eytan Kollin, who opted to watch the returns from the comfort of his living room Tuesday night, netted 3.6% of the vote, according to county records.

Although Kollin's 3,744 votes fell short of the 2008 Libertarian candidate Thomas Logan's 5.85% with 9,446 votes, the Pasadena resident remained unruffled – especially since he nary displayed one lawn sign throughout the campaign season.

"Libertarians aren't so much here to win as they are to keep a light in the window,'' he said Tuesday, adding, "If people truly want liberty, they're going to have to elect Libertarians.''

A science fiction author, former renaissance festival sword fighter and high school teacher of economics, history and government, Kollin, 43, said he'd like to return to the classroom now that the election is behind him. He likened his approach to politics with his classroom management technique: "Be genuinely honest with everyone and hold everyone, including myself, accountable.''

As for what's next for Day, the Arcadia resident said he's going to do a lot of thinking and praying on the matter. For now, he's going to enjoy traveling around the state and parts of the country with his parents and grandparents. When asked to respond to a constituent Tuesday night calling him "the future of the California Republican Party, Day said the accolade was humbling.

"I'm just going to keep working to ensure our conservative ideals continue to be pushed,'' he said, noting, "I'm not disappearing any time soon.''