Prosecutor Announces Bid for Assembly Seat

A Ventura County prosecutor and former speech writer for Gov. Pete Wilson said Wednesday he intends to run in 2002 for the seat held by Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara).

Republican Jeff Gorell said he expects Jackson, who was reelected last year, to run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo).

“If she doesn’t, that doesn’t change my mind,” said Gorell, 30, who lives in Santa Barbara. “I’m still 100% committed to running and winning this seat.” Jackson has not announced her plans.

Ventura County Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury, a Republican, endorsed Gorell, calling him a fine lawyer and “a good human being with a good heart.”

“We see eye-to-eye on criminal justice issues,” Bradbury added.

Gorell said his priorities include bolstering mental health funding, eliminating some education posts at the state level and pushing for further public school class size reductions.

Gorell has been a deputy district attorney in Ventura since 1999. Before that, he was communications director for the California Manufacturers and Technology Assn.

He also served on the board of Paratransit Inc., which provides transportation for the elderly and disabled in the Sacramento area. And from 1993 to 1996, he wrote speeches, public service announcements and radio addresses for Wilson, for whom he also campaigned.

Gorell, a Naval Reserve officer, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UC Davis and a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento.