Sen. Bergeson to Run for Orange County Supervisor

In an event that resembled a coronation more than a political campaign kickoff, state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) announced her candidacy Tuesday to succeed Orange County Supervisor Thomas F. Riley as representative of the county’s sprawling southern region.

Bergeson’s announcement drew a unanimous endorsement from the Board of Supervisors and a wide range of community leaders, a show of political strength that is expected to clear the field of potential opponents.

“This announcement sends a clear message that Marian is serious about this seat,” Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez said. “I haven’t heard of anybody else out there.”

Perhaps most imposing about Bergeson’s candidacy was her choice of campaign leadership, a team that includes the immensely popular Riley, a former Marine Corps general, and former baseball Commissioner Peter V. Ueberroth.

Bergeson has long been mentioned as Riley’s choice to succeed him when his term ends in 18 months. That likelihood grew even stronger when the 67-year-old state senator failed to win confirmation as California’s superintendent of public instruction earlier this year.

With a campaign sign already affixed to the wall of a first-floor meeting room at the Hall of Administration, Riley introduced Bergeson on Tuesday as a “strong advocate for Orange County” who was coming back home to finish her career in public service.

“There was a time once when the state and federal government were the dominant forces . . . but that has changed,” Bergeson said. “The people on the front lines are the city and county officials. . . . The state government has become more polarized and this change has pushed us farther away from the people.

“So it’s time to put my experience to a good use,” she said. “It’s time to go back to where I started and back to where the action is--back to local government.”

During her 15 years in Sacramento, first as an assemblywoman and then as state senator, Bergeson has been credited with defending a conservative philosophy that marks local government and politics in Orange County.

Because of state-mandated term limits, Bergeson is serving a final term in the Senate that expires in 1996.