Bakersfield councilman mulls run for supervisor
| Wednesday, Sep 30 2009 11:07 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Sep 30 2009 11:07 PM
Bakersfield City Councilman Zack Scrivner is seriously considering running for county supervisor next year, he said Wednesday, a decision that could have implications for races at all levels of government locally.
Scrivner's contemplating a run for 2nd District supervisor, a post currently held by Don Maben, who is not seeking re-election. The district includes most of the southeast quarter of Kern, reaching from Bakersfield to Boron.
At least two other strong candidates -- Maben special projects staffer Mary Beth Garrison and former 2nd District Supervisor Steve Perez -- have already declared their candidacies.
"I'm thinking it over hard and will make a decision real soon," Scrivner said, not giving up anything else just yet.
Scrivner's possible candidacy is intriguing on a number of local political fronts, said local Republican political consultant Stan Harper.
State races
The intrigue starts with next year's race for the 32nd Assembly District seat now occupied by Jean Fuller, a Bakersfield Republican and Scrivner's boss. Scrivner is her district director.
There's been talk Scrivner would run for that seat if Fuller doesn't, Harper said. So if he's going for supervisor instead, either Fuller has decided to run for a third and final Assembly term or she's running for the state Senate and a bigger name than Scrivner's is weighing an Assembly run.
"I think it was a foregone conclusion in Republican activist circles that if Jean was seriously running for Senate, it was Zack's turn to step up and run for Assembly or they have what in politics is called an '800 pound gorilla' that will step in and overwhelm any other candidate," he said.
Scrivner's Ward 7 predecessor on the Bakersfield City Council, Mark Salvaggio, agreed Scrivner would be the obvious Assembly candidate choice for the Republican coalition led by local political consultant Mark Abernathy, whose clients include Fuller and Scrivner.
But then again, Salvaggio said, Scrivner seemed the obvious choice for that same seat four years ago when Fuller first ran for office.
"He was bypassed for the Assembly. Fuller had no experience. She was a school superintendent," Salvaggio said. "If Fuller goes to the Senate, that means the machine -- the Republican party -- does not want Zack to go to Sacramento."
"It surprises me Salvaggio would say that," Scrivner said in response, "since he's encouraged me to run for supervisor on more than one occasion."
What Fuller will do is anybody's guess. She said this week she still hasn't decided whether to run for re-election or for the Senate seat now held by the terming-out Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield.
(Ashburn is running for the Board of Equalization next year).
Fuller said she's now focused on helping solve the valley's water problems and looking at proposals for a part-time California Legislature.
"These are the types of issues I'm hoping to solve and then I will move forward on any other plans I might be making," Fuller said.
Another potential Assembly candidate is Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler, who has filed an intent to run with the California Secretary of State's office but said again Wednesday he's waiting to see what Fuller does before making a final decision.
He wouldn't challenge Fuller, Mettler said.
As for the 18th Senate District seat held by Ashburn, the only people other than Fuller who have filed an intent to run is former Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, and Democrat Carter Pope of Lake Isabella, according to online state records.
The deadline for folks to file a primary declaration of candidacy for the Legislature is March 12. It'll be extended to March 17 if an incumbent does not file for re-election.
The 2nd District
As for the 2nd District supervisor's race, Scrivner's presence and the political and financial backing of the Abernathy group could create a hearty battle.
Scrivner could raise the money needed to win and he's been the most politically active lately in the current field of candidates, Harper said.
Garrison, as a staffer, has a lot of 2nd District contacts, Harper said, but Scrivner has also worked the district hard. (There's overlap among the 32nd Assembly District, city Ward 7 and the 2nd Supervisorial District).
Each candidate's ballot designation could play a big role, too, and put Perez at a disadvantage, Harper said.
Scrivner could put down city councilman, Garrison could use her district staff title but Perez would not be able to say "former supervisor," Harper said.
The California Secretary of State's office confirmed no "former" occupation/vocation titles are allowed, only current ones.
Salvaggio, who endorsed Scrivner to replace him on the council but has since been critical of his style in office, had a different take on Scrivner's bid.
While Scrivner has local government experience from his years on the council and knows how the county works, Salvaggio said, "I don't see anything bold or exciting about him as a member of the Board of Supervisors."
Garrison and Perez discounted Scrivner's prospective candidacy -- and Abernathy's assumed backing -- as a concern.
"That's what makes this country great, we can all run for office," Garrison said. "I look forward to the run. The fact that he's in the race or not in the race isn't going to deter me from my game plan."
Perez said the race will be up to the voters.
"I'm running for the position -- not against Zack," Perez said. "It's not about what I think about him running, it's about what the people think about him running, or me running or anyone else running."
