Assemblywoman Jean Fuller officially announced Friday that she is running for the 18th District State Senate seat. The news came a day after retiring District Attorney Ed Jagels said he is considering a run for the same office.
Fuller's official announcement went off without a hitch, but news of Fuller's plan to run came earlier than expected. Fuller let the cat out of the bag accidentally Thursday night when she left a voicemail for Californian columnist Bob Price, thinking she was calling former Bakersfield Police Chief and Mayor Bob Price.
"Hi, Bob and Sandy, it's Jean Fuller," Fuller said on a voicemail meant for former Mayor Price. "I just wanted to tell you first that I am going to announce tomorrow that I am running for the Senate."
Columnist Bob Price thinks the mishap may show some political maneuvering.
"I think it's interesting that Jean Fuller was trying to get the other Bob Price to endorse her," The Californian columnist explained. "Bob Price being the former police chief, you would think some in the law enforcement community would want to side with him and of course Ed Jagels is going to get a lot of law enforcement people."
However, Fuller wouldn't admit any tactics and was somewhat evasive when asked about the faux pax. "It will be our secret forever," Fuller said when asked if it was a political tactic.
Something that isn't a secret is the tough race Fuller could face if Jagels joins the race. The hard-line district attorney is known throughout the state as tough on crime, but has been criticized a documentary that aired across the country for molestation convictions in Kern County in the 1980's, almost all of which have been overturned.
Political Consultant Stan Harper is pulling for Jagels and counters the criticism. "You go out to the Joe six-pack, as I like to call them, and ask them what do you think of someone who stands tough on the criminal, wants term limits, wants to prosecute to the fullest, refuses to let people out of jail. Where they going to go?" Harper questioned.
Fuller supporter Ray Watson says the assemblywoman will bring public safety as well as water and budget issues to the table.
"Jean is certainly a strong law enforcement person," Watson said. "If Ed wants to run and broaden his scope, I hope he can find a venue to do that and not compete with somebody that's already doing a good job."
Calls to Fuller's campaign consultant Mark Abernathy were not returned. Harper says the public will know if Jagels is officially running for the senate seat in as little as 10 days.
