Van de Kamp Takes Job With L.A. Law Firm

Former Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp announced Tuesday that he has taken a job with a law firm in Los Angeles and has ruled out another run at elective office for the “foreseeable future.”

Van de Kamp, 55, who was defeated last year in his bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said he has joined the national law firm of Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood and will serve as chairman of its litigation department in Los Angeles.

“I don’t have any plans for running for office right now,” Van de Kamp said. “For a number of years down the pike this is what I expect I’ll be doing.”

Before spending eight years as California’s attorney general, Van de Kamp served as Los Angeles County district attorney, U.S. attorney for the Los Angeles area, and as a federal public defender.

“I have to sort of re-establish a career,” he said from his 30th-floor office downtown. “I thought this was a great place to do it.”

Dewey Ballantine, headquartered in New York, specializes in corporate law. While his interest in politics will continue, Van de Kamp said it was somewhat of a relief not to be running for office.

“You can only ask people for money so many times,” he said. “It’s good I can call friends and not be asking for money for a campaign. . . . I’ve said I intend to be a vocal private citizen.”