DeVore not running for senate, but for reelection

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore put to rest rumors of a possible run for the state senate with his announcement he would instead seek reelection for his Assembly seat in the 70th district.

Some political observers speculated DeVore was considering an attempt to challenge incumbent State Sen. Tom Harman, who is also running for reelection.

DeVore made the announcement Monday during an Orange County GOP monthly meeting, where he received the group’s 2007 Legislator of the Year award.

“I couldn’t think of a better night to announce my plans to run for reelection,” he said at the event. “The recognition for doing a job well done only makes me want to work harder for the people of the 70th District.”

DeVore said he was flattered by the suggestions of others that he run for Senate, but ultimately decided it was not in his best interest — or the interests of his constituents — to do so in the 2008 contest.

“We have a very large and difficult budget deficit that will be even more difficult to solve than the one that confronted former Gov. Gray Davis, and a lot of that work is going to be taking place in the middle of this year,” he said.

DeVore will have to leave his seat in 2010 due to term limits; after that, he said, he wouldn’t rule out a possible state Senate run in 2012.

— Chris Caesar