In today’s Stockton Record, Hank Shaw broke the story that Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian (full disclosure: he’s my boss) will run for the open Senate seat of term -limited democrat Mike Machado in what will be the premiere Senate race in the state. Below is Greg’s statement to the readers of the Flashreport:
"In this era of term limits, we elected officials are faced from time to time with opportunities about our future. Sometimes the decisions are easy, sometimes they are not. As I come to the close of my time in the Assembly, it is no secret I have some opportunities. A Congressional run against a vulnerable freshman democrat in the 11th District or a Senate race in the open 5th District – That’s right, Machado is FINALLY terming out. At first blush, the decision seemed daunting, but it really came down to priorities.
My top priorities: FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY
Both my wife’s and my family have deep roots here in the Central Valley and we want our kids to grow up here with the same values and culture we did. A move out of our great state or a long term commute simply was not an option.
I chose to run for the Senate. Not because it is easy, but because it is hard (Sorry about the RFK rip off, but it fit). The future of California is too important and we have an opportunity to make a difference in Sacramento. I look forward to the challenge and thank everyone for their continued support."
Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian (R-Stockton)
Aghazarian to run for Senate
Assemblyman was considered strong candidate for Congress
By Hank Shaw
Capitol Bureau Chief
March 21, 2007 6:00 AM
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, will not challenge Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, for the 11th Congressional District seat in 2008; he will instead run for the state Senate.
Aghazarian, 42, had been viewed widely as a strong potential challenger to McNerney, who as a first-term congressman is expected to face a fierce campaign next year.
Aghazarian said several factors swayed his thinking. Topping them is family: He has 5-year-old twins and an infant about to turn 1 next month. His wife, Esther, runs a successful farming business in San Joaquin County, which means she would have to remain in the county if Aghazarian won a seat in Congress.
"The distance is a huge factor," he said. "We have deep roots here in the Central Valley, and I have young children. I want them to live here – this is where we’re from."
Aghazarian also said that should he win the state Senate seat Linden Democrat Michael Machado will be leaving in 2008, he would be far more effective for his constituents, because he knows and has worked with the Democrat-controlled Senate. Aghazarian said he would lose the advantages of those relationships if he went to Congress.
Aghazarian acknowledged that his choice is something of a game of double-or-nothing: While he would be more comfortable and effective in the Senate, his path to the Legislature’s upper house will be far tougher than the trail to Washington would be.
The reason: McNerney is a Democrat holding a Republican-leaning seat and is viewed as vulnerable by the national political parties. But Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 13 percentage points in Machado’s 5th Senate District. Under normal circumstances, a Republican running in such a seat would be on a fool’s errand.
Aghazarian said one reason he is announcing so early – 19 months before Election Day 2008 – is that he and his Republican colleagues have much work to do to make the race close.
The county party is beginning a countywide registration drive, funded in part by Aghazarian and state Sen. Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, who represents the other half of San Joaquin County. The hope is to close the registration gap in time for the election.
Aghazarian also said he must raise enormous amounts of cash to be competitive: The 2004 5th District contest between Machado and former Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto was the most-expensive state-level legislative race in U.S. history, topping $10million.
He has $107,000 in his state campaign account now. One of his potential rivals, Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, D-Davis, has $118,000.
Wolk already has begun campaigning actively for Machado’s seat, but she could face a primary challenge from Walnut Grove’s John Garamendi Jr., the lieutenant governor’s son, who is a vice chancellor at the University of California, Merced.
Aghazarian is the only potential candidate from San Joaquin County thus far; nearly half the district’s 400,000 registered voters live in the county. The 5th District also includes significant segments of Yolo and Solano counties, as well as the Delta portion of Sacramento County.
He knows he’ll be the underdog.
"It’s going to be a great challenge," Aghazarian said. "But I’m no stranger to tough races."