Councilman Will Seek Assembly Seat

Longtime Torrance City Councilman Dan Walker surprised his colleagues this week with the announcement that he will run for a proposed new state Assembly seat and will not seek reelection to the council.

Walker’s news, which came in the final minutes of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, immediately sparked speculation about the impact on the March, 1992, city election. Walker and two other incumbents were planning to seek reelection.

Officials said Walker’s decision will probably generate more interest in the election, which will fill three at-large seats on the seven-member council.

“Whenever there’s an open seat, it definitely brings out lots of candidates,” Councilman Mark Wirth said.

But because Walker is bowing out late in the season, not much time is left to organize a campaign, Mayor Katy Geissert said.

In the upcoming race, incumbents Timothy Mock and George Nakano are seeking reelection. Don Lee, vice chairman of the Planning Commission, is the only other declared candidate.

Walker, 51, a 13-year incumbent who is a self-employed public relations and business consultant, said he decided earlier Tuesday to run for the Assembly after learning Monday of the newly proposed 53rd Assembly District that includes most of Torrance.

“I now want to represent the city of Torrance and the entire South Bay in Sacramento,” said Walker, who will stay on the council until his term ends in March. He said he had not anticipated that such a district would be created.

The redistricting plan must be approved by the state Supreme Court, and could be changed if Gov. Pete Wilson and state lawmakers can agree on an alternative plan by Jan. 28. Walker acknowledged that he is taking a risk in announcing his plans now but said he is stepping down from the council because he does not want to be seen as running for two offices at once.

Walker, a Republican, was first elected in a November, 1978, special election and has become one of the council’s most outspoken and colorful members. He is a vocal critic of Mobil Oil Corp. and its Torrance refinery, which has suffered a series of fires, explosions and accidents in recent years.

He launched an initiative campaign seeking to force Mobil to stop using a toxic chemical known as hydrofluoric acid in its refining process in Torrance. The March, 1990, initiative failed, but Walker gained exposure in the South Bay.

Walker’s decision not to run is expected to benefit Lee, who said he plans to file his candidacy papers Friday. But Lee said he is taking nothing for granted and that the prospect of an open seat is sure to draw more candidates.

“There’s a lot of pent-up demand,” said Lee, who waged an unsuccessful 1986 council campaign.

The filing period for council candidates begins today. The period would normally end Dec. 26 if all incumbents filed for reelection, but if Walker does not file, the deadline will be extended until Dec. 31, City Clerk John A. Bramhall said.