Former Secretary of State Bill Jones mulls congressional run
Former Assembly Republican Leader and two-term Secretary of State Bill Jones is seriously considering a congressional run, according to a person intimately involved in the decision-making process.
Jones is looking at the 19th Congressional District seat, which runs from Fresno north through Madera, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties to the eastern fringes of Modesto and Stanislaus County. The incumbent, Mariposa Republican George Radanovich, announced last week that he is stepping down at the end of this term as his wife battles ovarian cancer.
As Radanovich stepped down, he endorsed state Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, as his replacement. But former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson - who was exploring a challenge of Radanovich, a fellow Republican - also jumped in the race, and former Rep. Richard Pombo of Tracy and Fresno City Council Member Larry Westerlund also are exploring runs.
Several Fresno Republicans reported receiving calls from Pombo's people on Thursday and Friday.
Against that backdrop, Jones is putting together his "kitchen cabinet" after a round of preliminary phone conversations - some initiated by Jones, some that were made to him - convinced the Fresno resident that his candidacy was viable, the source said.
Jones began looking at a run because he feels his status as an elder statesman among Valley Republicans would give him a leg up in Congress, according to the source.
Jones has spoken with several Republican members of Congress as well as local GOP leaders, the source said, adding that Jones feels he is in the best position to work with the Obama administration to come up with creative solutions to the Valley's economic woes as well as the water crisis.
Jones has largely been out of the political spotlight since an unsuccessful 2004 run against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. Now, with his two daughters gone from the house, he feels he is in a position to make the bi-coastal commute, which is a demanding part of the congressional job.
Jones expects to make a decision in the next few weeks, the source said.
--John Ellis
Comments:
Jones has been a conservation champion for over 30 years since he started. We would be lucky to have him but he certainly wouldn't work with the Obama admin.
Posted by: Max at January 3, 2010 4:32 PM
Glad to hear Jones is going for it! This is a great step forward. What was the hold up?
Posted by: Larry at January 3, 2010 5:24 PM
This is great news! He would be a perfect candidate!
Posted by: Mark Adams at January 4, 2010 8:47 AM
What a farce! Jones ran the most PATHETIC campaign against Barbara Boxer and proceeded to run an ethanol company into the ground. The same ethanol that takes more water and energy to produce than it provides, along with greater air emissions. What we (the People) need, are not career politicians, but those who have the courage to stand for what is right, not what next office they can obtain (at government expense). Stay in the private sector Jones and learn to run a company.
Posted by: calvin smith at January 4, 2010 8:57 AM
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