He said he expects to run in the special election to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher if she is confirmed as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. Tauscher, a Democrat, represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda and Sacramento counties. California Lt. Governer John Garamendi served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia in the 1960's.
Garamendi drops out of governor's race
Garamendi drops out of governor's race
April 22, 2009
SACRAMENTO (AP) — Lt. Gov. John Garamendi said Wednesday he is dropping his bid for governor and running instead for the U.S. House if an eastern San Francisco Bay area congressional seat opens as expected.
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He said he expects to run in the special election to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher if she is confirmed as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. Tauscher, a Democrat, represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda and Sacramento counties.
Garamendi, who lives in the delta town of Walnut Grove, has trailed in early polling in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial primary. But he said his decision to seek Tauscher’s seat is because he could have a more immediate impact if he wins a special election this year rather than waiting until 2011 to take office if he were elected governor.
“We have an economic crisis going on right now, and the opportunity to solve that and to get people back to work is now in Washington, D.C.,” Garamendi said in a telephone interview. “The opportunity to be involved in creating programs that meet the needs of this district is immediately available, perhaps as early as this summer or early fall.”
The immediacy also is why he is seeking Tauscher’s seat rather than using his name-recognition to help Democrats in another, more Republican-leaning district in 2010, Garamendi said.
Garamendi acknowledged he is not legally a resident of the 10th district, although that is not a requirement to represent the area. His spokesman, Peter B. Collins, said Garamendi’s property straddles the line, with his front yard in the district but his bedroom in the neighboring 3rd Congressional District.
Two other Democrats already announced their intentions to run for Tauscher’s seat if she steps down, Sen. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan of Alamo. Tauscher has endorsed DeSaulnier, but Garamendi said he expects to pick up labor support.
Tauscher, who was elected last November to a seventh term, has not yet been formally nominated to the State Department post, which requires confirmation. She does not intend to resign until she is confirmed, said Jonathan Kaplan, her spokesman.
Garamendi, 64, announced his plans Wednesday while visiting job training centers in Concord and Fairfield to emphasize his focus on job development.
Garamendi had surgery in 2006 to repair a heart valve, but he said his health is fine and not a factor in his decision.
