Attorney sets his sights on DeVore’s seat

Despite never having served on the California Legislature, Attorney Mike Glover, a Democrat challenging Assemblyman Chuck DeVore in November, is no stranger to state government.

Glover has spent twice as many years as DeVore as a stage legislator — just not here. Before moving to California in the 1980s, Glover served four two-year terms as a Democratic assemblyman in a heavily Republican area in Kansas.

He hopes to repeat that feat this year, as he takes on DeVore for the second straight election in a district where more than 60% of the electorate is registered Republican. In 2006, DeVore beat him by 27,271 votes, but like many Democrats, Glover hopes the level of voter excitement in this election will change that.

Glover considers himself a moderate and says he will have an easier time controlling government spending and balancing the budget from the Democratic side of the fence because Democrats are the majority party in the state.

“In Kansas I was part of the minority party, and as a part of the minority you really have little or no influence on legislation,” Glover said.

Healthcare policy is an important issue for Glover, who defends companies from workers’ compensation lawsuits, and he thinks his experience on the business end of the issue will help him draft healthcare laws that work for individuals and businesses.

Friends and co-workers describe Glover as a guy who loves to have fun, but when it comes down to business, he is a hard worker. They say he is an outspoken advocate of causes he believes in, and someone who does not mince words.

Rick Pesota, a former employer and conservative Republican, says Glover is an honest man to whom he contracts business despite their political differences.

“I don’t hold it against him that he’s a Democrat,” Pesota said. “I tell him to his face all the time he’s delusional. As long as he’s not delusional handling my business — which he’s not — then I’m OK with it.”

Coast Community College District board member Jim Moreno is on the other side of the political spectrum, having met Glover at a Democratic Party event a while back, but he says Glover would be good at working across the aisle. Moreno, like Pesota, describes Glover as a friendly guy who’s easy to get along with.

“He works well with Democrats and Republicans, and he’s just really trying to make a difference in the Assembly,” Moreno said.

MIKE GLOVER

Age: 60

Party: Democrat

District: 70th

Family: Two kids and one grandkid

Occupation: Attorney specializing in workers’ compensation claims

Past elected experience: 8 years in the Kansas Legislature

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.