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Expecting a long, tough race for the District 4 state Senate spot that is coming open, campaigners for Rick Keene have landed early endorsements from Nevada County supervisors John Spencer and Ted Owens.
State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, will step down due to term limits next year, but he may run for lieutenant governor, staff spokesman Bill Bird said.
In the meantime, conservative Spencer said he endorsed Keene because he believes the former GOP state assemblyman from Chico is a better choice than Doug LaMalfa.
“I think that he knows a lot about what goes on up there” in Sacramento, Spencer said Tuesday. “I want someone who is not afraid to speak up, and he's pretty active.
“When he was in the Assembly, he understood” what rural counties need, Spencer added.
Fellow conservative Owens could not be reached for comment, but he did make a statement in a release issued by Keene's campaign.
“Rick has fought hard to protect our rural counties and has been an effective advocate on our issues,” Owens wrote.
The June 8, 2010, primary race for the Republican nomination will be tough, Keene spokesman Cliff Wagner said, and he held no illusions about the Nov. 2 general election.
“This Senate race will be one of the hottest in California this year,” Wagner said, because both Republican candidates are well known and will be able to attract GOP money.
“This is usually considered a safe Republican seat, but these days, the bottom line is, we have a ton of work to do” for both elections, should Keene win the nomination, Wagner said.
Aanestad trounced Democrat Paul Singh in the race in 2006.
California Democratic Party spokesman Bob Mulholland said one person from Del Norte County has come forward to run for the party's nomination, but he did not know his name.
“It's early,” Mulholland said. “March 12 (2010) is the deadline to file for the primary.”
LaMalfa, a Richvale rice farmer, has won early endorsements from several Republican senators and from sheriffs and district attorneys in several northeastern counties.
Aanestad, an oral surgeon, has not made an endorsement in the Senate race and may not do so in the future, Bird said.
“As for lieutenant governor, he has not made a decision, although he has an open account and has been gathering money for the race,” Bird said.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
State Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, will step down due to term limits next year, but he may run for lieutenant governor, staff spokesman Bill Bird said.
In the meantime, conservative Spencer said he endorsed Keene because he believes the former GOP state assemblyman from Chico is a better choice than Doug LaMalfa.
“I think that he knows a lot about what goes on up there” in Sacramento, Spencer said Tuesday. “I want someone who is not afraid to speak up, and he's pretty active.
“When he was in the Assembly, he understood” what rural counties need, Spencer added.
Fellow conservative Owens could not be reached for comment, but he did make a statement in a release issued by Keene's campaign.
“Rick has fought hard to protect our rural counties and has been an effective advocate on our issues,” Owens wrote.
The June 8, 2010, primary race for the Republican nomination will be tough, Keene spokesman Cliff Wagner said, and he held no illusions about the Nov. 2 general election.
“This Senate race will be one of the hottest in California this year,” Wagner said, because both Republican candidates are well known and will be able to attract GOP money.
“This is usually considered a safe Republican seat, but these days, the bottom line is, we have a ton of work to do” for both elections, should Keene win the nomination, Wagner said.
Aanestad trounced Democrat Paul Singh in the race in 2006.
California Democratic Party spokesman Bob Mulholland said one person from Del Norte County has come forward to run for the party's nomination, but he did not know his name.
“It's early,” Mulholland said. “March 12 (2010) is the deadline to file for the primary.”
LaMalfa, a Richvale rice farmer, has won early endorsements from several Republican senators and from sheriffs and district attorneys in several northeastern counties.
Aanestad, an oral surgeon, has not made an endorsement in the Senate race and may not do so in the future, Bird said.
“As for lieutenant governor, he has not made a decision, although he has an open account and has been gathering money for the race,” Bird said.
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
