Cox seated in SEC chair

Alicia Robinson

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore has barely warmed his seat in the state

Legislature, but he could be among the teeming masses expected to

seek Rep. Chris Cox’s congressional seat.

President Bush on Thursday appointed Cox, who represents Laguna

Beach, to chair the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, a day

after current SEC Chairman William H. Donaldson announced he’ll leave

his post June 30.

So far the short list of replacements for Cox includes state Sen.

Dick Ackerman, a Republican from Tustin who says he’ll run, and

DeVore, who hasn’t decided for sure. State Sen. John Campbell who

represents Laguna Beach, won’t throw his hat in the ring.

While nothing will officially happen until Cox is confirmed by the

Senate and vacates his congressional seat, candidates for the job

will start raising money and drumming up support right away.

Within two weeks of Cox leaving office, the governor must call a

special election. A primary will be scheduled in roughly two months,

followed by a general election about two months after that, Orange

County Registrar of Voters spokesman Brett Rowley said. However, if

any candidate in the primary gets more than 50% of the votes, that

candidate is declared the winner and no general election will be

held.

DeVore said he’s gotten “a lot of phone calls and e-mails from

people” suggesting he run for the seat, but he hasn’t officially

decided because he’s been swamped with Assembly business. He pointed

out that he was one of Cox’s first staffers when the congressman took

office in 1988, and his Assembly district falls fully within Cox’s

48th Congressional District.

Ackerman said he’s definitely interested, and he noted his 10 1/2

years in the state Legislature.

“I think they’re going to look for somebody with experience and

someone that shares the standards and principles of the people in

that district,” he said.

Other names have surfaced as possible candidates -- including

Assemblyman Todd Spitzer of Orange and former Assemblywoman Pat Bates

-- but Campbell said even if a dozen people express interest, there

probably won’t be more than three serious candidates.

And he won’t be among them.

“I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Californian and I have a lot to do in

Sacramento and in state government, and I’m intending to stay here

and do that,” he said Thursday.