Campbell Wants Spitzer’s Office

Assemblyman Bill Campbell, who must leave his seat because of term limits, became the first candidate to announce that he will run for Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer’s seat should Spitzer be elected in November to Campbell’s legislative seat. Campbell (R-Villa Park) declared his intentions Tuesday--seven months before the November election, when Spitzer faces Democrat Bea Foster, a Santa Ana teacher. The winner will be sworn in Dec. 2. Spitzer is favored because the district has a majority of Republican voters.

If Spitzer wins, the election to replace him would occur in February. It would be the first such replacement election; an initiative passed last month gives voters the job of filling supervisorial vacancies. In the past, the governor appointed replacements. The new county charter requires an election between 56 and 70 days after a vacancy occurs, with the top vote-getter taking office immediately.

Campbell, a former Assembly Republican minority leader, already has several endorsements for the county seat, including Sheriff Michael S. Carona, Reps. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) and Gary G. Miller (R-Diamond Bar), and several Orange County legislators.

The 3rd Supervisorial District covers Brea, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park, Yorba Linda, portions of Anaheim and unincorporated county areas.

The 71st Assembly District includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Orange, Rancho Santa Margarita, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Tustin and the unincorporated communities of Coto de Caza and North Tustin.