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Two Republicans to face off in June 8 primary
State, national candidates begin campaigns
Bakersfield politician Jean Fuller and Richard Tripp, of Tehachapi, have filed to run as Republicans in the State Senate District 18 race this year, making a primary election necessary.
Fuller and Tripp filed their election forms by the Friday deadline. Barstow’s current state senator, Roy Ashburn, cannot run in the 2010 elections due to term limits. The primary election is June 8. The winner of the primary election will run against Democrat Carter Pope of Lake Isabella and Kevin Lurz, a Libertarian from Visalia, for the state senate seat.
Fuller, who currently serves as District 32 assemblywoman, filed her election papers two weeks ago and gathered a few signatures-in-lieu of filing fees, but not many, she said. Fuller and Barstow’s assemblywoman, Connie Conway, who represents Assembly District 34, will begin campaigning in Tulare Saturday.
“We’re starting to shape up the calendar now,” Fuller said, adding that her staff is scheduling a campaign event in Barstow.
Pope filed his election paperwork Friday. He is in the process of getting endorsed by the Democratic party, he said.
The filing period for candidates competing to represent Barstow in the Assembly and Congress ended Wednesday. Republican incumbent Connie Conway is running against Democrat Esmeralda Castro, a Tulare County student, for the Assembly District 34 seat.
Hinkley Democrat Jackie Conaway is challenging incumbent congressman, Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, for a second time. Conaway filed her election papers March 10. McKeon filed his papers March 3. Conaway ran against McKeon in the 2008 election.
Conaway has already started meeting with the Democratic Central Committee for San Bernardino County. She has also met with participants on Barstow’s Patriot Forum, she said.
“I keep saying it’s not my Congress,” she said. “It’s ours, it’s yours and everybody matters in the district.”
McKeon doesn’t campaign events currently scheduled, said spokesman Bob Haueter. He is currently busy in Washington D.C.
Tripp and Conway were unavailable for comment Thursday. Attempts to reach Lurz and Castro for comment were unsuccessful.
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com
