GARDEN GROVE : LeBlanc to Enter Special Senate Race

Democrat Ken LeBlanc, who lost his bid for a state Assembly seat in Huntington Beach last month, announced Tuesday that he will be a candidate next spring in a special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat in central Orange County.

The vacancy was created last month when state Sen. Edward R. Royce (R-Anaheim) won election to Congress. Gov. Pete Wilson is expected to schedule the special election to fill Royce’s seat for sometime in the spring.

LeBlanc, 36, a partner in an auto parts sales company, ran unsuccessfully against Assemblywoman Doris Allen (R-Cypress) in the Nov. 3 election. LeBlanc moved from Huntington Beach to Garden Grove in order to run for Royce’s Senate seat, which includes the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Fullerton.

He could also face competition within his own party since Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) said he is considering the possibility of entering the race. LeBlanc said he has already recruited a staff of volunteers and he has been registering new voters at shopping malls on the weekend.

So far, only one other candidate has officially announced his candidacy--Republican Brian O. Bennett, a former aide to Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove).

In his campaign announcement, LeBlanc said the state economy will be the focus of his attention.

“The performance of the Legislature concerning the economy is tragic,” LeBlanc said. “It is time to let some new leadership into the system to streamline and cut out government waste and political gridlock.”