Ex-Dodger Steve Sax to Run for Assembly

Former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Sax, a rookie of the year and five-time All Star, stepped up to the political plate Thursday, announcing his candidacy for a seat in the state Assembly.

Sax, a Republican, hopes to succeed Assemblyman David Knowles (R-Placerville), whose tenure will end in 1996 because of term limits. Knowles represents the Northern California district spanning Placer, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, Alpine and Mono counties.

Sax played eight seasons for the Dodgers before leaving as a free agent in 1989. A second baseman, he was a career .282 hitter with the Dodgers and a starter on two of their World Series teams. He remains on the Oakland A’s roster but has been recovering from a heel injury. His spokeswoman said he intends to retire this year.

Sax, 35, said his goals as an assemblyman would include finding solutions to the rising juvenile crime rate, easing Californians’ tax burdens and “bringing fairness and sensibility” to government regulation of businesses.

“I will work to ensure that the residents of . . . California can raise their families in safe neighborhoods free of drugs and crime,” Sax said in a statement.

A father of two young children, Sax was born in Sacramento and owned a flower shop in the city until recently. He now lives northeast of the capital in Loomis. If elected, he would be the first former major league player to serve in the Legislature.