Election roundup: Candidates drop in, out of local races
| Friday, Mar 12 2010 07:19 PM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 12 2010 07:19 PM
There was a hail of elections news Friday as the deadline for filing nominations for many state and county offices passed.
In races where incumbents are leaving office by choice, deadlines were extended until the end of business Wednesday.
Other races saw incumbents benefiting from a lack of challengers. And then there were races that won't start for months.
CITY TICKET
Russell Johnson, an ex-Bakersfield planning commissioner and former chief-of-staff to Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard, announced Friday he will run for the Ward 7 Bakersfield City Council seat currently held by Zack Scrivner.
He said the city needs to promote job creation, support local businesses, protect funding for public safety services and tighten its belt to weather tough financial times.
The filing deadline for the November council election isn't until July so Scrivner, who is running for 2nd District supervisor, could run for re-election to the city council if he fails to earn enough votes in June to stay in the county race.
Johnson touted his experience on the planning commission and in Maggard's office. He also committed to putting aside past conflicts with Councilman Ken Weir, who tried to oust Johnson from the Bakersfield Planning Commission.
"When I'm elected, and Ken Weir is on the council, I will work with him like I work with anyone else," he said. "Now is the time for working together. People don't want fighting right now. They want people to put aside their differences and get things done."
Johnson left Maggard's office in December to start a public affairs and community relations consulting firm. He said he has several business, nonprofit and political clients.
CHANGING FACES
A lot of faces in the 32nd Assembly District Republican primary have changed. More changes could come before the nomination period closes Wednesday.
Friday, Taft College professor Harold Pease announced he won't run for the 32nd Assembly District GOP nomination after all. Three other prospective candidates, including incumbent Jean Fuller, have decided not to run, leaving only Ken Mettler and Shannon Grove in the Republican field. Fuller is running for the 18th Senate District seat.
"The great enthusiasm for my message did not translate into adequate financial contributions to compete against some well-entrenched political operations," Pease wrote in a news release.
Pease did not announce an endorsement for any of his former opponents.
Two new names joined the 32nd race -- Democrat Holly Spohn-Gross of Kernville and Republican Shannon Holloway.
OPEN/CLOSED
Nominations for the 30th Assembly District, 32nd Assembly District, Kern County District Attorney and 2nd Supervisorial District races remain open until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The nomination period to run for the 3rd District supervisor, Kern County sheriff, Kern County assessor-recorder, Kern County treasurer-tax collector and Kern County auditor-controller offices closed without challengers filing to run. Incumbents in those offices will run unopposed.
Here are the lineups for local Senate races, the nomination period for which closed Friday:
16th Senate District
Information for Kern, Fresno and Tulare counties
Michael Rubio, Democrat, Bakersfield
Tim Thiesen, Republican, Dinuba
Phil Wyman, Republican, Hanford had announced a run for the office. We were unable to confirm if he had filed papers in Kings County.
18th Senate District
Information for Kern and Tulare counties
Richard Tripp, Republican, Tehachapi
Jean Fuller, Republican, Bakersfield
Carter Pope, Democrat, Lake Isabella
Kevin Lurz, Libertarian, Visalia
