Vasquez Explores Run for Secretary of State

Orange County Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez said Sunday that he is considering a candidacy for the Republican nomination for secretary of state.

“There’s been some interest, and I’ve received some substantial encouragement in the Republican Party,” Vasquez said.

He said he will weigh the “personal and public considerations” and make a decision in the next two weeks.

Vasquez, 34, is viewed as an up-and-coming Republican politician who has a bright future in a party that is eager to broaden its base to include minorities.

So far, no Republican candidates have emerged in the 1990 secretary of state race. Former Fair Political Practices Commission Chairman Tom Houston has said that he will challenge incumbent March Fong Eu for the Democratic nomination.

Vasquez, a former aide to Gov. George Deukmejian, was appointed Orange County supervisor in 1987 by the governor to fill the unexpired term of Bruce Nestande, who resigned.

By the time of his first election a year later, Vasquez had raised more than $400,000 for his campaign and easily won in the 3rd District.

Vasquez said Sunday that he would be considering the logistics of a statewide race, especially under new fund-raising restrictions imposed by Proposition 73, the campaign financing initiative that was approved by voters last fall.

Proposition 73 limits individual contributions to $1,000 and prohibits corporate contributions. It also restricts most political action committees to $2,500, with larger broad-based committees allowed to contribute $5,000.

Vasquez said he also would be considering the impact of a lengthy statewide campaign on his family. He and his wife, Elaine, have a 9-year-old son, Jason.

“This is an important time in his life,” Vasquez said, “and at my age, I’m not one who’s particularly in a hurry.”

Vasquez said he had considered entering the lieutenant governor’s race, but dismissed the idea when state Sens. John Seymour (R-Anaheim) and Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) announced they would seek the GOP nomination.

He described the Orange County senators as “two very respected individuals who have done a tremendous job in the Legislature for Orange County.”