Santa Ana Mayor Passes Up Chance to Run for Vacant State Senate Seat

Mayor Daniel H. Young said Wednesday that he has decided not be a candidate in an upcoming special election to fill a vacancy in the Legislature left by state Sen. Edward R. Royce’s election to Congress last November.

The Republican mayor said in a written statement that a campaign for the state Senate was not in the best interests of his family or his business. Young also said that instead of serving in Sacramento, “my personal interests for political advancement are focused more on a congressional seat, should that opportunity arise in the future.”

Young joined a surprising list of elected officials from the area who have decided to pass on the race. In addition to Young, Assemblymen Ross Johnson (R-Fullerton) and Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) have announced their decisions not to run for the seat.

Young’s decision leaves only one major candidate in the race, a wealthy Garden Grove businessman who has never served in public office. Republican Robert Hurtt, owner of Container Supply Co., has conducted most of his political activity behind the scenes as a major contributor to conservative causes.

So far, only Democrat Ken LeBlanc, co-owner of an auto parts sales company in Huntington Beach, has filed for the seat.

The special election is scheduled March 2 in the cities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Fullerton. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a runoff election between the top vote-getters in each party will be held April 27.

The deadline for candidates to file for the race is next Tuesday and some moderate Republican leaders have vowed to find a candidate to challenge Hurtt. But with the race less than six weeks away, political observers say that a credible candidate would have to be well known or well financed.