It's Musical Chairs Time for California Pols (San Francisco Chronicle Politics Blog)

Posted By: John Wildermuth
San Francisco Chronicle Politics Blog
July 11, 2008

In California's wonderful world of term limits, the future is now for any officeholder looking at the imminent -- or not so imminent --end to a political career. And in the state's version of musical chairs, those politicians already are figuring where to jump when the music stops.

Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, for example, has taken the Boy Scout motto "Be Prepared" to heart by opening 2010 campaign committees for both lieutenant governor and the state Board of Equalization, even while he's running for a North State congressional seat in November.

The secretary of state's list of campaign committees shows which officeholders (or out-of-work pols) are looking toward the future:

- Termed-out GOP East Bay Assemblyman Guy Houston, who lost a Contra Costa County supervisor's race in June, is already planning a 2010 run for the state Board of Equalization.

- Democratic state Sen. Don Perata has a committee for that very same seat, even though it's currently occupied by another Democrat, Betty Yee of San Francisco, who's planning to run for re-election.

- Termed-out Democratic state Sen. Tom Torlakson, who's expected to win a Contra Costa County Assembly seat in November, apparently is planning a brief stay in the Legislature's lower house because he's opened a 2010 committee for a run at state superintendent of public instruction.

- When Democratic Lt. Gov. John Garamendi began telling anyone who would listen that he wasn't interested in seeking re-election, he started a statewide stampede to the secretary of state's office. Seven Republicans and one Democrat already have begun raising money for the 2010 race, even though they can't turn in official nomination papers until February 2010.

Campaign committees also provide a convenient place to stash political cash for candidates who are leaving office but aren't ready to give up the the political power that money can bring.

Former state Sen. John Burton, for example, left Sacramento four years ago but moved his campaign cash to his "Burton for Superintendent of Instruction" committee.

The committee had $389,000 in cash on hand at the end of 2007, but the San Francisco politician isn't likely to be hitting the campaign trail anytime soon. The only money going out of his committee has been for contributions to Democratic campaigns and donations to civic groups like Chinese Hospital and Marin Services for Women.

For several politicians, thinking ahead means thinking waaay ahead.

Assemblyman Jim Beall of San Jose isn't termed out until 2012, but he's already collecting money to run for the state Senate seat Joe Simitian of Palo Alto will give up then. Termed-out Assemblyman John Laird of Santa Cruz also is signed up for that race, while Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, who will give up her Mountain View seat this year, is getting ready to run for the state Senate seat Democrat Elaine Alquist of Santa Clara will surrender in 2012.

The earliest early bird, however, might be San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno, who beat incumbent state Sen. Carole Migden in the June Democratic primary and is expected to easily be elected in November. He's already opened a committee to collect money for his 2012 re-election campaign.