The only declared candidate for the Republican nomination in the 74th Assembly District is Sherry Hodges, District Director to current Assemblyman Martin Garrick. Hodges has been making phone calls rounding up supporters from as far back as the summer of 2010. It was pretty clear from everyone I’ve spoken to that the assumption was that Garrick supported Hodges’ bid, although there was some chatter on my last post that that might not be the case. Over the last couple days though there has been quite a bit of email traffic that Hodges is no longer with Garrick’s office. I don’t want to attribute to much to this. It could mean a number of things of course. Anyone know the scoop?
It also sounds like Jerome Stocks (Encinitas), Marie Waldron (Escondido), and Jim Desmond (San Marcos) are taking a look at running for the seat.
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Seems if she is really intent on running, she would have to quit her job or she would be running a campaign on the taxpayer dime working for the same office she is campaigning for.
Sure there are lots of other high profile Republicans considering this seat. Last time the campaign included Jerome Stocks of Encinitas and Marie Waldron of Escondido city councils.
Not sure if Hodges has left Garrick’s office. But, as to MEG’s contention…with all due respect, that argument is a non-starter, and I’d suggest Rostra not allow it to turn into a whispering campaign here. Legislative staffers have run for office LOTS of times, hundreds if not thousands of times. You are correct, they cannot campaign on the public dime, absolutely not. But, there is no conflict whatsoever in being a staffer and campaigning for office, as long as the two efforts are separate. This is no different than an elected official running for another office and not being able to campaign on the public dime, thus having to separate the two efforts. In fact, it is no different than an elected official running for RE-ELECTION and needing to differentiate their work on behalf of the public from their campaign work. There are certainly what could be called gray “perception” areas when an individual is out in the community representing the public and folks knowing they are running. BUT, that is not the fault of the person running and there is NO automatic conflict NOR any legal requirement to leave the staff position. It is ultimately up to the individual to police themselves and for the public to report on known violations of the Political Reform Act, if there are any. BUT, simply because you may not like the fact that a staffer is running does not make a violation or a conflict. I would suggest you not begin to go there.
We couldn’t agree more.
FWIW, the 3-way AD 74 primary in 2006 was between
Republicans Martin Garrick, Marie Waldron and Scott
Packard…… Jerome Stocks was NOT in the field.
Word from a very reliable source that would know… Sherry is now COS to Assemblywoman Diane Harkey. I have a call to Sherry to confirm.
Garrick has not endorsed Sherry Hodges.
Seems to me like Sherry should have gotten Garrick’s blessing before running for his seat.
Confirmed, Sherry Hodges starts as Harkey’s chief of staff tomorrow.