Tax Lawyer to Challenge McClintock : Politics: Kevin Staker says he will focus on the four-term assemblyman’s ‘negative’ style in his Republican primary campaign.

Camarillo tax lawyer Kevin Staker, a political neophyte, said Wednesday he intends to run for the Republican nomination against Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) in the June primary election.

Staker, 35, said he filed papers declaring he will run against the four-term incumbent in the 36th Assembly District, which covers southern Ventura County. Winning the GOP nomination is usually tantamount to being elected in the Republican-dominated district.

Staker, making his first bid for public office, said he plans to make McClintock’s “negative” political style his main campaign issue. He charged that McClintock’s style has rendered him ineffective in Sacramento.

“I really feel that it is time for positive representation for the district,” said Staker, who is a bishop in the Mormon Church. “Assemblyman McClintock just has so much negative baggage now that he’s an ineffective representative.”

Staker cited McClintock’s recent ouster as GOP whip, the No. 4 leadership position in the Assembly Republican caucus, by Assembly Leader Ross Johnson.

McClintock has had serious disagreements with Johnson over the caucus’ direction and GOP political tactics. He recently announced that he is organizing an effort to dump Johnson as caucus leader. He said last week that he is one vote short of forcing Johnson out.

Staker charged that McClintock “presents his views in such an extreme manner that he turns people off . . . any time he opens his mouth he’s ignored up there.”

“All one has to do is read his newsletters,” Staker said. “They’re just vindictive and vitriolic and full of negative things in discussing the issues.”

Asked to cite an example of how McClintock’s political style has damaged his ability to represent the district, Staker said, “unfortunately, I can’t think of anything right now.”

Staker acknowledged that he will have a difficult time unseating McClintock.

“This is totally an uphill fight all the way,” he said. “But I think he’s vulnerable because he hasn’t been subjected to scrutiny. I intend to put a spotlight on him.”