Morrow Says He Will Run to Replace Rep. Packard

State Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) became the first Republican candidate Thursday to announce that he will run in March for the seat being vacated by Rep. Ron Packard (R-Vista), who announced his retirement this week.

Morrow said he will open an exploratory committee and begin raising money and support from leaders in the three-county district, which stretches from Laguna Hills to north San Diego County and includes Temecula in Riverside County.

“In Washington, we need a member of Congress who will reach out to others and get things done,” said Morrow, who served six years in the Assembly representing much of his current Senate district.

Packard’s announcement triggered a flurry of interest in the seat, which Packard first won in 1982. He is only the fourth write-in candidate to win a seat in the House.

Among the potential candidates is former Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), who lost his seat in 1996 to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Santa Ana) and failed two years later to win it back. Dornan’s family said they are considering a campaign but haven’t made a decision.

Morrow joins Democrat Peter Kouvelis, a former Marine captain from Dana Point, as an announced candidate.

Others considering running, party officials said, are Darrell Issa, who made millions selling car alarms and who lost the U.S. Senate primary last year to Matt Fong; and Assemblyman Bruce Thompson (R-Fallbrook), who must leave the Assembly after next year because of term limits.