Hats in the Ring
Pedro Nava officially set his cap for the post of state attorney general on May 28. Termed out as California’s 35th District assemblymember, the Santa Barbara Democrat is highlighting those aspects of his career that qualify him to crack down on white-collar crime, including his current chairmanship of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, his specialization in consumer business law when he worked as a Santa Barbara County prosecutor, and his leadership of the Targeted Narcotics Prosecution/Asset Seizure Program for the District Attorney’s Office in Fresno. Nava may have to face incumbent Jerry Brown in the 2010 Democratic primary, if Brown decides to run for reelection rather than for governor. Other Democrats in the primary field with Nava are Alberto Torrico, Kamala Harris, Bobby Shriver, Rocky Delgadillo, Ted Lieu, and Joseph Canciamilla. Only two Republicans have stepped forward: Chuck Poochigian and State Senator Tom Harmon.
Rumors have been flying that Tim Allison, who ran the Obama campaign in Santa Barbara County, will make a primary bid for the 24th Congressional District, which is long-time incumbent Elton Gallegly’s territory. However, Allison, a Village Properties real estate agent, said that he has merely formed an exploratory committee, and will make a decision in a month or two. Ventura City Councilmember Shawn Stern has announced he will run in the primary. It is unknown whether Gallegly will at last step down from the seat he has held for 23 years.
On May 29, Michael Self formalized her intention to run in the November race for one of the three open Santa Barbara City Council seats when she invited press to her official announcement on June 5. Self describes herself as a former entrepreneur and CFO, retired from a career in sales. She cut her profile in civic life a few years ago by initiating a fierce campaign against traffic-calming devices, ultimately founding Santa Barbarans for Safe Streets.
