The Political Landscape:

In a symbolic gesture, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore turned in his state-issued gas card to the Assembly Rules Committee last week as the state continues to deal with its mounting budget crisis.

“The state of California is experiencing tremendous economic and budgetary crises, and I therefore do not believe it appropriate to burden the taxpayer with my gasoline expenses,” DeVore wrote in a letter to the committee.

DeVore has refused the use of a state-funded car since he was elected to the Assembly in 2004.

He likes to brag that turning down the car may have saved taxpayers up to $19,250 during his time in office.

NEWPORT BACKS HIGH-SPEED TRAIN

Newport Beach is backing a plan that would create a high-speed maglev train route between Las Vegas and Anaheim.

The city added its formal endorsement to the plan this week. Mayor Ed Selich has written letters of support of the train project to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the California congressional delegation.

The so-called California-Nevada Interstate Maglev Project has been touted as a way to divert traffic from John Wayne Airport. The plan’s proponents believe the train would siphon more passengers to Ontario International Airport if they could take a 15-minute maglev train ride from Anaheim to Ontario. Operating at speeds more than 300 mph, a maglev trip to Las Vegas would take only 81 minutes.

WATER BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS

Ergun Bakall, one of the seven members of the board of the Municipal Water District of Orange County, resigned this week after serving on the board for seven years.

The Municipal Water District is a water wholesaler, which imports water and distributes it to various cities and local agencies like Mesa Consolidated Water District.

The district board has the ability to make decisions about water infrastructure and allocation among its member agencies.

In his letter of resignation Tuesday, Bakall did not give a reason for leaving. District spokeswoman Darcy Burke said it was due to “personal reasons.”

The district has not yet decided how it plans to fill the spot left vacant by Bakall, but will likely make that decision within the coming weeks, Burke said.

IS IT TIME FOR ENDORSEMENTS ALREADY?

Thought you got election fatigue from last year’s never-ending political cycle? Well, as most political observers know there is no off-season for elections.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor is already touting endorsements for his campaign for the 68th Assembly District seat even though the GOP primary is a year away.

Political observers consider the GOP primary the real race since it’s tough for a Democrat to win in the district, but incumbent Assemblyman Van Tran didn’t exactly skate to victory over a Democratic newcomer last year so Democrats are feeling good about their chances.

Word is Democrat Steve Young, who thrice failed to unseat Rep. John Campbell, may run for the Assembly seat.

Mansoor has won the endorsements of Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who is termed out and running for the GOP nomination to unseat Sen. Barbara Boxer, and Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point). Harkey, you might remember, narrowly lost to state Sen. Tom Harman by a couple of hundred votes in 2006.

But where’s the love from Tran? So far he’s playing it coy.

“It’s very early. It’s 11 months away,” Tran said. “But a year goes by quickly. The big race will be in the primary and that’s June. And the filing deadline is March so that doesn’t leave you a lot of time.”

Still, he emphasized things are cordial with the Costa Mesa mayor.

“I have worked with Allan recently on a number of things. He’s been quite active, but I have not endorsed anyone yet. I may or may not endorse anyone because obviously I have my own things to worry about with my own race,” Tran said, referring to his bid to unseat Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove).

Tran’s decision to keep his endorsement in idle might lead some to speculate he’s waiting for another candidate to jump in because it’s unlikely he would endorse another declared GOP hopeful Long Pham, who was involved in an ugly race against Tran for the Assembly seat in 2006.

Pham then raised the explosive issue of Tran’s wife, Cyndi Nguyen, pleading no contest to three misdemeanors in 2004 for helping to create phony medical bills at her paralegal office.