2009.04.15: April 15, 2009: Headlines: Figures: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Congress: CQPolitics.com: Is Mike Honda interested in being named to head the Peace Corps?
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2009.04.15: April 15, 2009: Headlines: Figures: COS - El Salvador: Politics: Congress: CQPolitics.com: Is Mike Honda interested in being named to head the Peace Corps?
Is Mike Honda interested in being named to head the Peace Corps?
Honda in November told a radio station in San Jose (part of which is in the 15th District) and other California media outlets that he hoped Obama would consider him for Education secretary. "If I don't throw my name out, it won't show up in the mix," said Honda, a former school teacher and principal, at the time. That didn't work out for Honda, as the Education post went to Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, a hometown friend and ally of Obama. More recently, California political insiders have reported that Honda has expressed an interest in being named to head the Peace Corps, an opening that Obama has not yet filled. Honda has a long history with the organization, starting in 1965 when he began a two-year stint as a volunteer in El Salvador. But Michael Shank, a Honda spokesman, told CQ Politics in an e-mail that the congressman has "never stated his interest" in the Peace Corps job "nor is he interested in leaving his seat as a member of Congress." Congressman Mike Honda of California served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador in the 1960's.
Is Mike Honda interested in being named to head the Peace Corps?
Democrat Raises Big Bucks in Case Rep. Honda Gets Administration Job
By CQ Staff | April 15, 2009 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
CQ Photo
Joe Simitian
Veteran California Democratic Rep. Michael M. Honda has not been shy about his interest in an appointed position in the Obama administration. And though he has not received one yet, Democratic state Sen. Joe Simitian has sent a strong signal of interest in a potential campaign for Honda's 15th District seat -- by reporting $344,000 in receipts during the first quarter of 2009 for his recently established House campaign account.
Simitian, a political ally of the five-term congressman, says he has no intention of challenging the incumbent for the seat. But he wants to be ready in case Honda does get tapped by President Obama for an executive branch post and vacates the 15th District seat, which would prompt a special election.
"Mike Honda has my enthusiastic support for as long as he wants it," Simitian told CQ Politics. "The funds were raised in anticipation of a possible special election in 2009."
Simitian said he talked to Honda before making the decision to start raising money for a still-hypothetical House race.
Honda since 2001 has represented a South Bay district near San Francisco that includes the high-tech Silicon Valley. He has been hinting at interest in an administration job since shortly after Obama won last year's presidential election.
Honda in November told a radio station in San Jose (part of which is in the 15th District) and other California media outlets that he hoped Obama would consider him for Education secretary. "If I don't throw my name out, it won't show up in the mix," said Honda, a former school teacher and principal, at the time.
That didn't work out for Honda, as the Education post went to Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, a hometown friend and ally of Obama.
More recently, California political insiders have reported that Honda has expressed an interest in being named to head the Peace Corps, an opening that Obama has not yet filled. Honda has a long history with the organization, starting in 1965 when he began a two-year stint as a volunteer in El Salvador.
But Michael Shank, a Honda spokesman, told CQ Politics in an e-mail that the congressman has "never stated his interest" in the Peace Corps job "nor is he interested in leaving his seat as a member of Congress."
Simitian, who hails from Palo Alto, would be well positioned to strongly contend for the 15th District seat were Honda to step aside. Elected to the state Senate in 2004 after four years in the state Assembly, Simitian easily won re-election to his second and final term in 2008. Because of a state term limit, Simitian will be unable to run again for that seat in 2012.
But Simitian likely wouldn't be immune from competition from other Democrats in this overwhelmingly Democratic district. Former California Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, who was barred by a term limit from seeking re-election last year, also announced in November that she would seek Honda's seat if he leaves.
-- Leah Nylen
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: April, 2009; RPCV Mike Honda (El Salvador); Figures; Peace Corps El Salvador; Directory of El Salvador RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for El Salvador RPCVs; Politics; Congress; California
When this story was posted in April 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez. |
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