2002 Assembly race gets started already

Paul Clinton

COSTA MESA -- A Westside substitute teacher, a perennial Garden Grove

candidate and a sitting assemblyman have all announced their desire to

represent Costa Mesa in the state Assembly.

The three candidates all filed paperwork Wednesday to replace

Assemblyman John Campbell, whose 70th District was redrawn outside the

city’s boundaries in early September, Assistant Registrar of Voters

Suzanne Slupsky said.

The city was placed in the 68th District, a seat now held by Ken

Maddox. Teacher Doug Scribner, Al Snook and Maddox have all announced

they would seek to represent Costa Mesa beginning in 2003.

The primary election for the seat will be held March 5, with the

general election Nov. 5. The deadline for filing a “declaration on

intent,” required to seek election to a state office, was Wednesday. No

other candidates may enter the race, but any of the three on record can

still drop out.

Maddox, who lives in Garden Grove, said he is now looking for a house

in Costa Mesa. Maddox acknowledged he is still familiarizing himself with

the city’s issues.

“I plan on getting more involved in that area as we get closer to the

election,” Maddox said. “[Costa Mesa] is not something to be discounted.

I plan on having a very active campaign in the Costa Mesa area.”

Scribner, 34, is a regular presence at City Council meetings. In

addition to teaching abused children at the Orangewood Children’s Home in

Orange, he also appears on “The Libertarian Alternative,” a local cable

show.

Scribner, who will run as a Libertarian, has never held an elected

office. But former Councilman Joe Erickson appointed him to the city’s

child care and youth services committee.

“It’s pretty much my first foray into partisan elected office,”

Scribner said. “If [voters] want a different option than the usual stuff,

I’m there.”

Snook has run for City Council and several other offices in Garden

Grove. He also opposed Maddox as a Reform party candidate in the Assembly

race in 1998. He’s now running on the Democratic ticket.

Campbell, who still represents Newport Beach, must also face

reelection in November.

Two candidates have said they will make a play to oppose Campbell.

John Kane, who lives in Lake Forest, will run as a Democrat in the race.

Paul Studier, another Lake Forest resident, is also on record as a

challenger. Studier, a retired computer engineer, will fly under the

Libertarian banner.