No one's wasting anytime, are they?
Steve Greenhut posted this earlier today on Orange Punch:
I just got off the phone with Anaheim councilman Harry Sidhu, and he said that he has definitely decided to run for the the 33rd district Senate seat. Anaheim comprises 23 percent of the district, so he believes he has a good shot at this seat, although he will face a tough race against Assemblywoman Mimi Walters of Laguna Niguel. Expect the GOP establishment to line up behind Walters. Both are solid conservatives, though, although it's easier to run as a member of the Assembly as opposed to a councilman. I had expected Sidhu to run for Bob Huff's Assembly seat, but Sidhu is aiming even higher.
The candidates for this seat are charging out of the gate even faster than for the 1st Supervisor District special. Still, my hunch is Harry returns to his original plan of running for Assembly. But if Harry goes forward with his 33rd SD plans, it will be a mega-money blow-out.
While it is true that Assemblymembers have an easier time ascending to the State Senate than non Assemblymembers, this last election produced three instances where an incumbent Assemblymember was beaten in the primary election for State Senate by a non Assemblymember.
They were Assemblyman Johan Klehs beaten by Ellen Corbitt in SD 10, Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez beaten by Alex Padilla in SD 20 and, of course, here in Orange County Assemblyman Tom Umberg beaten by Lou Corea in SD 34.
So, while Mimi deservedly enters this race as the front-runner, I would not bet the farm on her clearing the field. Not quite yet, at any rate.
Also, it might be tough for someone so clearly identified with South-County to do well North of the El Toro "Y". Her opposition to the airport could come back to haunt her.
We'll see.
Posted by: One Who Knows | November 22, 2006 at 05:10 PM
It's good to have a competitive primary: good for the voters, good for the consultants and their campaign operatives.
Posted by: Mohawk | November 22, 2006 at 07:10 PM
Cathryn could get in and capitalize on her name ID.
Posted by: Youngin | November 22, 2006 at 07:24 PM
Walters and DeYoung would split the South County vote, allowing Sidhu to win North County and the 33rd.
Posted by: OCNative | November 22, 2006 at 10:32 PM
HARRY SIDHU IS JUST THE PERSON THAT WE NEED AS A STATE SENATOR IN SACRAMENTO FOR THE 33RD DISTRICT - TO DO FOR OTHERS WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF ANAHEIM!!!
Posted by: Town Crier | November 23, 2006 at 08:20 PM
OWK, Corbett and Correa were former Assemblymembers when they got elected to the Senate, so in SD 10 and SD 34, a former Assemblymember beat an incumbent Assemblymember.
In SD 20, Padilla was a City Councilman for a city that encompassed more than 95% of the population of the Senate District.
In SD 33, Sidhu is City Councilman for a city that encompasses less than 10% of the population of the Senate District.
Posted by: OCNative | June 28, 2007 at 12:22 AM