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SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES
December 5, 2003

SAN DIEGO – Howard Kaloogian, a former assemblyman who chaired the Recall Gray Davis Committee, said Friday he would run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Barbara Boxer.

''I decided to enter the race for the U.S. Senate because there is no viable conservative running,'' said Kaloogian, a Carlsbad resident who served in the Assembly from 1994 to 2000.

''We need someone who will fight for lower taxes, a strong national defense, stronger border control and traditional values. I am the only candidate who is this kind of solid conservative.''

The other candidates for the Republican nomination include Toni Casey, a former Los Altos Hills mayor; Bill Jones, former California secretary of state;and Rosario Marin, a former Huntington Park mayor and U.S. treasurer.

''The historic recall election was the result of citizen disgust with California's failed leaders, and Barbara Boxer is just another shade of Gray,'' Kaloogian said in a statement his campaign released.

''We need tocontinue to bring about change in California, and getting rid of Barbara Boxer is the best step we can take for California's future.''

A call to Boxer's campaign for comment, after customary business hours, was not immediately returned. Friday was the deadline for potential candidates to file to run.