News
State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, is considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2010 after his second term in the state Senate ends.
The 4th District senator said Friday his exploratory committee is gathering money for the run. “I’m leaning toward it,” Aanestad said, although he added he has not made a firm commitment.
The senator’s statement came on the heels of announcements from former GOP assemblymen Rick Keene, of Chico, and Doug LaMalfa, of Richvale, who said Friday they would run for the seat Aanestad will leave because of term limits. Both Keene and LaMalfa met term limits last year and had to leave the Assembly after six years each.
A race for the state’s No. 2 spot would be costly and will be hard to gather money for because the news media doesn’t get excited about it and donors know the person in the position does not have sway in the Legislature, Aanestad said.
“It’s really tough, even for the Democratic candidate in this Democratic-controlled state,” Aanestad said.
In addition, the oral surgeon admitted it would be “a pretty uphill climb” to win the nomination because he lacks name recognition, athough he has been talking to state GOP leaders.
Yet he is considering a run because many business people, party leaders and legislators are urging him to do so, Aanestad said. The lieutenant governor job is often a stepping stone to running for governor, but Aanestad said he wants to focus on one race at a time.
“We could have a Democratic governor next time, and it would be great to have a Republican lieutenant governor to add to the mix,” Aanestad said.
The senator also said he was not prepared at this time to endorse either Keene or LaMalfa as his Senate replacement.
“I’m still senator from this region, and I need to work with everybody in the district,” Aanestad said. “I don’t want to alienate anybody by getting involved too early in the race.”
Too much work on complicated issues such as the state budget, water storage and education remains, and that is why Keene has decided to get back in the Legislature.
The former 3rd District assemblyman, recently replaced by Dan Logue of Linda, said he wants a spending cap for the state during strong years so that lean times like now can be afforded.
“The Democrats didn’t set anything aside for days like today,” Keene said.
An outpouring of support from people in his former 2nd Assembly District caused LaMalfa to run for the Senate, he said Friday from his Butte County home near Oroville.
There are certain things in the state that need more work and change, LaMalfa said, adding he would get more specific about those topics when he officially files for office.
“You don’t do this for six years and just walk away,” LaMalfa said. “I’ve got a lot of sweat and emotion into this and I want to keep going.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
The 4th District senator said Friday his exploratory committee is gathering money for the run. “I’m leaning toward it,” Aanestad said, although he added he has not made a firm commitment.
The senator’s statement came on the heels of announcements from former GOP assemblymen Rick Keene, of Chico, and Doug LaMalfa, of Richvale, who said Friday they would run for the seat Aanestad will leave because of term limits. Both Keene and LaMalfa met term limits last year and had to leave the Assembly after six years each.
A race for the state’s No. 2 spot would be costly and will be hard to gather money for because the news media doesn’t get excited about it and donors know the person in the position does not have sway in the Legislature, Aanestad said.
“It’s really tough, even for the Democratic candidate in this Democratic-controlled state,” Aanestad said.
In addition, the oral surgeon admitted it would be “a pretty uphill climb” to win the nomination because he lacks name recognition, athough he has been talking to state GOP leaders.
Yet he is considering a run because many business people, party leaders and legislators are urging him to do so, Aanestad said. The lieutenant governor job is often a stepping stone to running for governor, but Aanestad said he wants to focus on one race at a time.
“We could have a Democratic governor next time, and it would be great to have a Republican lieutenant governor to add to the mix,” Aanestad said.
The senator also said he was not prepared at this time to endorse either Keene or LaMalfa as his Senate replacement.
“I’m still senator from this region, and I need to work with everybody in the district,” Aanestad said. “I don’t want to alienate anybody by getting involved too early in the race.”
Too much work on complicated issues such as the state budget, water storage and education remains, and that is why Keene has decided to get back in the Legislature.
The former 3rd District assemblyman, recently replaced by Dan Logue of Linda, said he wants a spending cap for the state during strong years so that lean times like now can be afforded.
“The Democrats didn’t set anything aside for days like today,” Keene said.
An outpouring of support from people in his former 2nd Assembly District caused LaMalfa to run for the Senate, he said Friday from his Butte County home near Oroville.
There are certain things in the state that need more work and change, LaMalfa said, adding he would get more specific about those topics when he officially files for office.
“You don’t do this for six years and just walk away,” LaMalfa said. “I’ve got a lot of sweat and emotion into this and I want to keep going.”
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
