Tustin Councilman Joins Race for Badham Seat

Tustin City Councilman John Kelly, 26, has become the third candidate to announce intentions of running for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach).

Kelly joins Newport Beach business consultant Nathan Rosenberg, 35, and Charles S. Devore, 25, a Pentagon liaison to the National Security Council, State Department and Congress, in the race.

The 58-year-old Badham announced Monday that he would retire when his current two-year term is completed at the end of this year. Badham has represented the 40th Congressional District since 1976.

Among others contemplating a run in the heavily Republican district is state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach), who is considered the leading contender, should she choose to enter the race. Assemblyman Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) and Irvine City Councilman C. David Baker have said they are interested if Bergeson does not get in the race. Also considering a run for the seat is Orange County Supervisor Roger R. Stanton of Fountain Valley.

All are expected to make their decisions within a week or two.

Kelly first ran for City Council when he was 18. He finally won on his fourth try, after an unorthodox campaign in which he drove around in a red, white and blue Cadillac and sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” to senior citizens.

If elected, Kelly said his first priority would be to obtain federal help for the county’s transportation problems.

Kelly said Tuesday that he so far has no money for a campaign fund but promised “a real spirited campaign with limited funds.” He said he also plans to rely on what he calls his “built-in campaign team”--his parents, Tom and Mary Kelly, also of Tustin, and his 11 brothers and sisters.

Kelly attended Tustin High School and works with the family’s business, Kelly’s, in the old town section of Tustin. The business includes a gift shop, craft store, tobacco shop, tuxedo shop and beauty salon.

The 40th District includes Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, El Toro, Fountain Valley, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and part of Huntington Beach.