Posted on 06/13/2005 11:52:43 AM PDT by So Cal Rocket
The state Senate GOP leader's withdrawal makes Irvine's Campbell the front-runner for Cox's congressional seat when he takes over the SEC.
State Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman announced today that he is dropping out of the race to replace Rep. Christopher Cox, who is expected to resign his seat to become head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ackerman, an Irvine resident, became the early front-runner when Cox's nomination to the SEC top post was announced by President George W. Bush on June 2. But that began to change Friday, when state Sen. John Campbell entered the race and immediately became a strong contender.
Campbell, also an Irvine resident, had initially said he was uninterested in the congressional post, preferring to remain in Sacramento and assume the leadership post Ackerman was expected to leave. However, Senate Republicans including Ackerman instead were lining up behind La Quinta Sen. Jim Battin for the top GOP post. Campbell responded by throwing his hat in the ring for Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
Darn it I was looking forward to Jim Battin as Senate leader (not that there's anything wrong with Ackerman).
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