Ackerman, Garofalo to Run for Statewide Office

State Sen. Richard Ackerman (R-Irvine) and Huntington Beach Councilman Dave Garofalo joined several Orange County Republicans on Wednesday in filing paperwork to become candidates for statewide office in the March election.

Ackerman filed to run against Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer, a Democrat. Ackerman said he will decide in the next month whether to stay in the race or defer to Republican Sen. Bruce McPherson of Santa Cruz, who also has filed paperwork to take on Lockyer.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Ackerman said after Wednesday’s 5 p.m. filing deadline for state and judicial offices. “Lockyer has made some bad business decisions, like his approach to the energy situation. I certainly have more legal experience.”

Ackerman recently affiliated with the law firm of Rutan & Tucker, one of the largest providers of contract city attorneys in Southern California. Lockyer is an attorney but has spent his career in the Legislature.

Garofalo filed to run for the State Board of Equalization, which oversees the state tax system. Garofalo is under investigation by the district attorney for alleged conflicts of interest for taking money from companies doing business with the city. He must leave his Huntington Beach council seat next year because of term limits.

Other county Republicans filing for statewide seats included Edie Bukewihge of Costa Mesa and Nick Jesson of Fountain Valley for governor; radio and television commentator Hugh Hewitt of Irvine for lieutenant governor; Barbara Jean Marr of Fullerton for secretary of state; W. Snow Hume of Fullerton for controller; attorney William Crosby of Santa Ana for attorney general; and Wes Bannister of Huntington Beach for insurance commissioner.

Former Democratic Assemblyman Tom Umberg of Villa Park also will run for insurance commissioner. The deadline for candidates to file was extended until Tuesday because there is no incumbent.

Two Republicans from Orange--Supervisor Todd Spitzer and Gary C. Beck--filed papers to replace Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park), who is termed out in the 71st District seat.