Senator ponders national run

Alicia Robinson

After saying last week that he wasn’t interested in leaving

Sacramento, state Sen. John Campbell may try to succeed Rep. Chris

Cox after all, Campbell’s chief of staff said Thursday.

Orange County Republicans have been jockeying for position since

Cox was named by President Bush on June 2 to chair the Securities and

Exchange Commission. Cox is awaiting Senate confirmation hearings,

which have not been scheduled.

Campbell, who represents Newport-Mesa, had given an endorsement to

state Sen. Dick Ackerman of Tustin, but on Wednesday he took it back

and said he might enter the race himself.

Campbell did not return calls Thursday, but his chief of staff,

Floreine Kahn, confirmed that the senator is considering a

congressional run and should decide by early next week.

“I was a little surprised, obviously, because he was one of the

first persons to endorse me,” Ackerman said. “I thought that was the

end of it, then I got a voicemail from him [Wednesday] saying that he

was going to withdraw his endorsement of me and he was thinking of

running.”

Before his election to the state Senate in November 2004, Campbell

served two terms as assemblyman for the 70th District, which includes

Newport Beach.

“John Campbell’s name surfacing throws the race into a tizzy,”

said John Lewis, a former state senator from Orange who also may try

for Cox’s seat.

For some, a Campbell candidacy could be good news.

Former Newport Beach Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer said Campbell

may take voters away from Ackerman, aiding her now-confirmed

candidacy.

“They attract the conservative, far-right base.... I think the

fact that I’m a mainstream conservative will serve me well in this

district,” Brewer said.

In the 48th Congressional District, Campbell may have high name

recognition and he could likely raise the needed funds, said Orange

County Treasurer-Tax Collector John Moorlach, yet another of the

possible candidates. Some estimates put the race at $1 million per

candidate.

Ackerman said Campbell’s announcement won’t trip him up.

“It wasn’t going to be an easy race no matter who it was,” he

said. “Our game plan is still the same.”

Much is expected to happen next week. Campbell is likely to decide

if he’s in, Lewis expects to announce one way or the other, and other

candidates may make up their minds as well.

If Cox is confirmed for the SEC post, a special election will be

set to pick a successor to fill his seat in the U.S. House of

Representatives.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers government and politics. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at alicia.robinson

@latimes.com.