Candidate Puts Campaign on Hold for Naval Service

A Ventura County prosecutor has suspended his campaign for state Assembly because he is being called to duty as a Navy Reserve officer.

Jeff Gorell, a Republican candidate for the 35th Assembly District, is scheduled to leave for the Middle East in two weeks. He will work as a public affairs officer but would not say precisely where he is being stationed or what his role will be.

Gorell said he volunteered for duty after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and will depart from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.

“It’s not even a question of priorities to me,” said the 30-year-old Santa Barbara resident, who joined the reserves in 1998 as a lieutenant.

“The world is an entirely different place than it was two weeks ago when I sent out an enthusiastic cheerleading piece to my supporters,” he said.

Gorell, a onetime speech writer for former Gov. Pete Wilson and a first-time candidate, announced in March his intention to run for the Assembly district that includes Santa Barbara and portions of western Ventura County.

Conventional wisdom at the time indicated that incumbent Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) would give up her post in 2002 to run for a state Senate seat being vacated by Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo). At least three Santa Barbara Democrats had expressed interest in a possible challenge.

But in the once-a-decade redistricting process completed this month, state lawmakers placed Jackson in a different Senate district with a later election date. Gorell intended to run no matter what but faced an uphill battle against a two-term incumbent with solid name recognition and fund-raising ability.

Gorell, who is not married, said he joined the reserves because the men in his family have a strong Navy tradition. His grandfather was a Seabee in World War II, and his father a career Navy officer.

He has not formally dropped his campaign but said he will do so if his duty extends beyond a month. His criminal cases are being reassigned.

“I look forward to returning and trying it again some day,” Gorell said of a run for office. “But until then, this is my No. 1 priority.”

Jackson said she wishes her would-be opponent the best.

“My concerns are the same concerns I have for all our young men and women being called to service,” she said. “I hope they’ll be back safely, soundly and in as speedy a fashion as possible. This is a time that calls for us all to unite.”

Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury called Gorell “a young man I’m greatly proud of.”

“I know he’s looking forward to serving his country in this regard,” Bradbury said. “We’ll be supporting him and praying for him.”

Gorell’s announcement comes only days after Tom Umberg, a former Orange County assemblyman running for state insurance commissioner, was alerted that he may be called to duty.

Umberg, a colonel in the Army Reserve, said if he is called on a short-term basis he might continue his campaign, but that he would drop out if the commitment is longer.