Lawmaker to vie for state Senate seat
It's official: Assemblyman George Runner announced Wednesday he will run for the state senate, perhaps clarifying one piece of the Valley's future political landscape.
Runner said he will either run for the 17th District seat to be vacated by termed-out Sen. William J. "Pete" Knight in 2004, or redistricting could draw a new senatorial district for him to run for.
"Obviously I'm in my final (Assembly) term, and we're looking ahead," the Lancaster Republican said. "We want to continue to serve our area, and we think we've been active in doing what the constituents want."
Runner's term as 36th Assembly District representative ends in 2002, fueling speculation that he would either try for Knight's senate seat or run for U.S. Congress.
Complicating matters is the redistricting process, by which legislative districts will be redrawn after population totals are released from last year's U.S. Census.
Sacramento lawmakers will be putting forth possible maps in late summer, but the process could take many more months if Republican state representatives put up a fight and take the issue before the voters.
Runner said Wednesday he does not plan to run against U.S. Representative Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, but if a new congressional seat is created, he would consider vying for it.
"That would certainly be something to look at, but it's way more hypothetical," he said. "I don't have any desire to run against Buck."
McKeon is from Santa Clarita, which currently is paired with the Antelope Valley at the state and federal legislative levels.
"It's unfortunate that term limits make us lose a good man like George Runner out of the Assembly," McKeon said. "If we can keep his services in the Senate, that would be good."
If the next state senate district closely resembles the current 17th District, Runner would wait for Knight to term out in 2004. But the district could be split or renamed an evenly numbered district, which would mean a local senate seat would be up for election in 2002.
"The challenge we've got is we don't know what the maps are going to look like until mid-September, and the (primary) election is in the first part of March (2002)," Runner said.
Several potential candidates have surfaced for Runner's Assembly seat, including Antelope Valley politicos Jim Ledford, Frank Roberts, Andy Visokey, Larry Logsdon and Rick Norris.
Santa Clarita City Councilman Cameron Smyth also could run for the seat if the district retains both the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.
Most said their potential candidacy would depend on how the district is drawn up and who else would be running.
"If things fall right, there's a very, very good possibility (of running for the Assembly seat)," said Visokey, whose term on the Lancaster City Council expires in 2004.
Logsdon also expressed interest in the Assembly seat and perhaps in the congressional seat if the districts are drawn to his advantage.
Roberts, Lancaster's mayor, said he has ties to both the high desert and to Santa Clarita and may consider running for the seat.
Ledford, the mayor of Palmdale, and Palmdale City Councilman Mike Dispenza were at a conference in Washington, D.C., and could not be reached for comment on their possible aspirations.
Palmdale Councilman Rick Norris, elected in November to a three-year term, said he is weighing his options for a potential Assembly bid, but is concentrating on his council position.
Smyth, who grew up in Santa Clarita and worked for Knight in his senate office, said he is considering higher office. He also said his first priority is representing his constituents on the Santa Clarita council, to which he was elected one year ago.
Runner's wife, Sharon Runner, also may throw her hat into the ring, depending, again, on where the lines are drawn. Sharon Runner has been active in Republican politics locally and for George W. Bush's presidential campaign last year.