Incumbents facing fight to keep their seats
Ryan Carter
Local legislators seeking reelection will not go unchallenged this
year.
A list of candidates released by the Secretary of State’s office
shows that 10 newcomers are competing for state Senate and Assembly
seats in the November 2004 election.
Area incumbents include state Sen. Jack Scott (D-Burbank) and
Assemblyman Dario Frommer (D-Burbank).
The two candidates formally vying for Scott’s seat are Libertarian
and Glendale businessman Bob New and Richard Joseph St. Andrew III, a
registered Republican.
Former Montrose-based gubernatorial Independent candidate Christy
Cassell also has announced she is running for Scott’s seat, but her
name does not appear on the county’s list of registered candidates.
New said his candidacy is partly a reaction to the massive budget
deficit the state encountered this year and will have to grapple with
again next year.
“We’ve got to return to the original thrift and industry that made
this country great,” he said.
But Scott, 70, is not ready to relinquish his seat before term
limits force him out of office.
“I am not a career politician,” Scott said. “I was an educator
before this. But I chose to run because I thought my experience could
be of help. There are still issues I can be effective with.”
Gun-safety laws, an emphasis on education, and bills designed to
protect seniors have been hallmarks of Scott’s tenure in the Senate.
Frommer, meanwhile, is being challenged by Libertarian Sandor
Woren, a Glendale resident. Frommer could not be reached for comment
Tuesday.
The candidates will appear on the March 2 presidential primary
ballot.