Ex-Davis Aide Frommer to Seek Assembly Seat

Dario Frommer, Gov. Gray Davis’ former appointments secretary, said Monday he has decided to become a Democratic candidate for the 43rd Assembly District seat being vacated by Scott Wildman (D-Los Angeles), kicking off what is expected to be a hotly contested race.

The big question is whether Davis will become involved.

Gary South, a spokesman for the governor, said Davis has not yet decided whether to endorse in the 43rd District, but Frommer said, “Obviously, I wouldn’t be doing this without the governor’s blessing.”

Frommer has scheduled a news conference today in front of his alma mater, Hoover High School in Glendale, to announce his candidacy to succeed Wildman, who is running for the state Senate.

Frommer, a 35-year-old attorney, lives in Los Feliz.

It appears there may be a crowded field of candidates in the March primaries.

Besides Frommer, others expected to seek the Democratic nomination include former city Ethics Commission Chairman Paul Krekorian and health professional John Hisserich. Attorneys Craig Missakian, Mark MacCarley and computer company executive Elizabeth Michael are among those who may run on the Republican side.

To run for office, Frommer quit last week as the governor’s appointments secretary, where he was in charge of screening and recommending candidates for 2,000 state commissions and boards.

“I grew up in Glendale and went to school there,” Frommer said Monday. “What I bring to the race is that close tie to the community and my experience.”

He previously worked as an aide to state Sen. Art Torres, as a spokesman for the state Democratic Party and was state director of the Yes on Proposition 217 campaign to reform securities fraud litigation.