Jones Says He Won’t Run Against Boxer

California Secretary of State Bill Jones announced Thursday that he has decided to run for reelection next year and will not seek to become the Republican challenger to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

Jones’ announcement was the first of many expected over the next few months as political figures sort out who will run for what in 1998--a year in which a Senate seat and the governorship will be at stake.

The announcement left state Treasurer Matt Fong and San Diego Mayor Susan Golding as the most prominent likely candidates for the GOP nomination in the Senate race. A relative political unknown, San Diego businessman Darrell Isaa, has also announced his candidacy.

Fong sounded Thursday as though he was virtually certain to run. “We have not officially announced it, but I’m a candidate,” he said. “I’m the only statewide elected official with a track record as a vote-getter ready to face Barbara Boxer. I’ve demonstrated the ability to get both Republican and Democrat votes.”

Golding was more cautious, commenting that Jones’ decision not to run “makes the race more viable” for those who remain. “I’m certainly interested in it, but I’m not making any announcement at this time,” said the mayor, who is serving her second term.

A campaign consultant to Boxer, Roy Behr, said of Jones’ withdrawal:

“The Republicans are realizing that Sen. Boxer is doing a good job of representing mainstream California and recognizing that their odds of beating her are not very good.”

Jones, 47, is a native Californian and former Republican leader in the state Assembly. He is widely believed to harbor ambitions to someday run for governor, and observers said that he probably felt it most prudent to stay where he is for the time being.

State Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren is a strong favorite to become the GOP gubernatorial nominee next year.

Jones explained his decision by saying that he feels he has not reached all his goals as secretary of state, which he described as primarily combating election fraud and increasing voter turnout. He also hinted at family desires to remain in California, remarking that he was concerned “about my family and the logistics in Washington.”

Aides said Jones has never left California for long and his wife, Maurine, did not look forward to living in Washington.

Jones, who in his legislative years sponsored the state’s three-strikes law, made his announcement in a statewide telephone conference call to political reporters. It came three weeks after a Washington trip in which he said he would make his intentions known shortly.

On Thursday, he also categorically rejected suggestions coming from some Republicans that he try to run for lieutenant governor.

“When I ran for secretary of state I believed there were major reforms needed in elections in California,” he said. “We have been successful at starting this process, but the job is not finished.”

He added that he feared if he got into the Senate race, his ability to accomplish his goals in the remaining time in his term as secretary of state would be compromised.

As for eventual gubernatorial ambitions, his communications director, Beth Miller, said: “If the opportunity presented itself, I would not dispute that speculation at all.”