Debra Bowen eyeing Harman's congressional seat

SacBee: Capitol Alert ^ | 2/7/11 | Torey Van Oot

[SmithL]

Secretary of State Debra Bowen is considering running for the congressional seat expected to be vacated by Democratic Rep. Jane Harman.

"She is very, very seriously considering running for Congress," Bowen campaign consultant Steve Barkan said. "It's brand new news, and so she needs to take all factors into consideration."

News broke today that Harman, 65, will leave office to take a job as president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, setting the stage for a special election in the 36th Congressional District.

Bowen hails from Marina Del Rey, which is part of the district, and represented the area in the state Assembly and Senate from 1992 to 2006. She will be termed out of her job as the state elections chief in 2014.

An added incentive for seeking a job in the Beltway? Her husband Mark Nechodom works in Washington, D.C., as the deputy director for energy and climate in the office of environmental markets at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Another candidate expected to run is Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

[SandRat]

We don’t need more RATS in Congress.

[mapmaker77]

I’m afraid to ask what the Woodrow Wilson Int’l Scholars actually do or study.

[nhwingut]

What kind of district is this? Far left, left, moderate...

[drypowder]

If what I have read about this lady is true re her involvement in the transfer of military weapons illegally and as was testified to Congress by Sibel Edmonds, a former FBI investigator, it sounds like Jane may be getting out before Wekkileaks or somebody else exposes her corruption. Search: who is Sibel Edmonds for the story. Or maybe she's just getting old and tired.

[Cicero]

Debra Bowen was endorsed for her current position as Secretary of State by George Soros and California ACORN-PAC.

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/12/04/soros-eyes-secretaries/

[OldDeckHand]

"What kind of district is this? Far left, left, moderate..."

Comfortably left-wing. Not quite Berkley left-wing, but it's highly unlikely a Republican could win who was to the right of Scott Brown, if a Republican could win at all.

[Cyber Ninja]

It is just south of The People's Republic of Santa Monica.

California's 36th congressional district covers part of
Los Angeles County, notably Redondo Beach, Manhattan
Beach, Torrance, El Segundo, Venice, Wilmington, and
San Pedro and is currently represented by Democrat
Jane Harman; so bright blue.

It contains LAX and a huge sewage treatment plant.

[nhwingut]

Thanks. Wasn’t sure. I know Harman to be fairly moderate (for a lib) so was hoping she was from a right leaning district. But in essence she is to the right of the electorate.

[OldDeckHand]

"But in essence she is to the right of the electorate."

I think it's safe to assume we'll get someone who is well to the left of Harman, especially on defense matters.

That district has changed considerably in the last 30-years. At one time, it was reliably Republican, if for no other reason than the number of defense contractors in it. But, there's been some redistricting, and many of those contractors are no longer there. Now, it's made up of some ghetto(ish) areas, and some very gentrified/hippie/surfer dude areas.

No, it's not as bad as West Hollywood, or Berkley, but it's bad enough.

[newzjunkey]

If Bowen wins Harmon's seat, does Brown appoint a replacement until the next statewide election?

She just won reelection in Nov! I cannot abide politicians standing for election and a few months later 'trading up' like this.

[paddles]

George Soros will tell Moonbeam who to appoint.