Today is a big day for breaking news for California Republican Party politics. Today 
CRP Treasurer Keith Carlson announced the formation of an exploratory committee looking at a run for the State Assembly – for a run in 2012. He is looking at the coastal Orange County seat currently occupied by Assemblyman Jim Silva, who is running for his third and final term this year. Carlson’s efforts start strong out of the gate with support from Silva, as well as popular local Congressmaen Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce, District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, Assemblyman Van Tran, along with a host of others. Carlson is a well-respected conservative. His new exploratory bid website can be found here.
Carlson’s announcement has significant impacts in the world of California Republican Party Central Committee politics. Carlson was the leading (and only) announced candidate for the CRP Vice Chairmanship – and in fact had tied down the lion’s share of California Republican leaders – grassroots and legislative – in that effort. With the announcement of his exploratory effort for the State Assembly run, Carlson also made it clear that he has decided to no longer seek higher party office, though he will serve out the remainder of his term as Treasurer through this March.
Those who follow CRP politics closely will not be surprised that quickly announcing a candidacy for CRP Vice Chairman is current CRP Secretary Steve Baric, who is also the President of the California Republican Lawyers Association. Baric, who is known statewide as a grassroots Republican leader, is also known for being one of the state’s foremost elections-law attorney. Baric will be a very strong candidate. I’ve already endorsed Steve, and can tell you that he possesses the leadership qualities and vision necessary to be a strong leader for the party.
But wait, there’s more! Baric’s campaign for Vice Chairman means he is no longer seeking re-election as the party’s Secretary. Throwing her hat into the ring for this statewide officer position of the party is Patricia Welch. Patricia has been served on the Board of Directors as the elected Northwest Vice Chairman. A tough campaigner, Welch will be a strong candidate to replace Baric. Patty has my strong support.
Of course I have recently written on some of the politics of the apparent race for State Party Chairman, where former Assemblyman Guy Houston called to say he would be running for the top spot — taking on front-runner Tom Del Beccaro, the Party’s Vice Chairman.
There will be a lot more news coming out on Carlson’s look at the Assembly, and Baric’s run for the 2nd highest post in the State Party, Welch’s run to replace Baric… And we’ll see if a challenge to Vice Chairman Tom Del Becarro’s bid for Chairman turns into something credible, or fizzles out…