The State : Areias Won’t Enter Race

Assemblyman Rusty Areias (D-Los Banos) announced that he will not seek the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Merced), who decided to leave office rather than let an investigation into his personal finances embarrass his political party. Areias also endorsed Assemblyman Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres), who had previously announced his candidacy to succeed Coelho. A close friend of Condit, Areias said he was concerned that a split Democratic primary could hurt the party’s nominee in the general election. Both lower-house lawmakers are members of the so-called Democratic rebel “Gang of Five” that tried but failed to oust Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) last year.