Sen. Wright Files Reelection Papers

State Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) on Thursday filed her candidacy papers for reelection for what would be her last term as a state lawmaker.

Under voter-approved term limits, Wright can only serve one more four-year term in the state Senate. However, she could switch back to the Assembly, where she began her legislative career.

“In four years, that’s the last thing I’ll want to do,” said the 66-year-old Wright, who has been in the Legislature for 16 years. “I had another life before I got into the Legislature and I’ll have another life after it.”

Wright would not rule out another bid for statewide office. Last year, she ran an unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor.

“I’m not going to be in a position to say, ‘No I’m not going to do it,’ ” Wright said. “It will depend on what happens in 1998.”

As for her state Senate race in 1996, the conservative senator said she wants to return to Sacramento to continue her work on mental health programs for children and adults and looking out for business interests in laws that control toxic waste.

Wright has no challenger in the March 26 Republican primary, but will face Democrat John Birke, a Chatsworth attorney, in the November general election.

She brushed off his challenge to her reelection. “Don’t know him, haven’t seen him and not going to pay any attention to him,” she said.

Wright still has to retire a $70,000 debt from her $1-million campaign for lieutenant governor and has no plans to mount a major reelection campaign next year.

“I don’t believe in spending money foolishly,” she said.

Wright represents the 19th Senate District, which stretches from Oxnard to Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley and extends into the western San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.