POLITICS ASIDE -- s.j. cahn

Republican John Campbell wants to be your next assemblyman. And just

about every major politician in the district wants him to be, too.

Included in that list are Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan, Newport Beach

Mayor Dennis O’Neil, Assemblyman Scott Baugh and state Sen. Ross Johnson.

They’ve all endorsed the owner of Saturn of Orange County and Saab of

Orange County.

A comprehensive list it is, but with one major exception: the woman

Campbell wants to replace, Marilyn Brewer.

She has yet to announce what she plans to do -- or exactly why she hasn’t

endorsed a man who, barring some unforeseeable gaffe or

skeleton-out-of-the-closet, is going to take her seat in the state

Assembly.

Campbell thus far has no serious Republican -- let’s just say serious,

then -- opposition.

Possible challengers, including Irvine Mayor Christina Shea, all decided

not to run against the 43-year-old Irvine resident. And with the filing

deadline less than a month away, it’s looking more and more likely that

Campbell can begin searching for an apartment in Sacramento.

Still, Brewer hasn’t jumped aboard the coronation bandwagon. Why?

She isn’t saying. Although she’s in town, she’s been unavailable for

comment. And the rest of her staff got Monday off for the holiday.

Campbell says he’s anxious for her endorsement and he plans to meet with

her -- for the third or fourth time -- this Thursday.

“I certainly will ask for her endorsement, and I’m hopeful,” Campbell

said of the meeting.

“Marilyn has represented this district for six years and has done a fine

job, and I’d certainly want it,” he added.

Campbell says he’s been assured that Brewer’s lack of support has nothing

to do with him -- which begs the question even more.

Does she know of a last-second dark horse? And if she does, can her

support really overwhelm the reams of endorsements from the party

establishment, not to mention Campbell’s potent fund-raising campaign,

which has already brought in more than $200,000?

Brewer certainly can’t be waiting in hopes of a political favor. While

her support would be nice, at this point her name will hover only near

the top of the endorsement list. It’s not like she’s George W. Bush.

Still, it’s too bad for Campbell that his meeting with Brewer isn’t

scheduled for sometime today. Then, given the right pitch, he could

arrive at the grand opening of his campaign headquarters with the icing

on his endorsement cake.

Regardless, he’ll have enough treats to have quite a party. A number of

his supporters are expected at the opening, which begins at 5:30 p.m. at

the Marketplace of University Town Center in Irvine.

It will at least be interesting to see if Brewer makes an appearance.

* S.J. CAHN is city editor of the Daily Pilot. Send your political news

to him at: Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa 92627; by fax at (949)

646-4170; or by e-mail to o7 dailypilot@latimes.comf7 . He can be

reached at (949) 574-4268.