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Calaveras Supervisor May Run For Senate Seat

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Calaveras County Supervisor Paul Stein said he will decide in two weeks whether he will run for Rico Oller´s state Senate seat. Oller, R-San Andreas, has all but declared his run for Congress.

Tom Sullivan, KFBK radio talk show host, has decided not to run for Republican Rep. Doug Ose´s 3rd Congressional District seat.

In response to Sullivan’s decision, Oller said he has formed an exploratory committee with the intention of running for the open seat. A press release from Oller´s office said the senator will make his announcement soon.

Stein said he knew that Oller would run for Doug Ose´s seat as Ose has decided not to run for re-election. “Assemblyman Dave Cox, the Assembly minority leader, is also a strong possibility for this position, Stein said. “He would be a formidable opponent.”

When asked if he’ll run, Stein said, “It certainly is provocative now that there is a seat open.” Stein said he is taking his time, talking to campaign consultants and figuring how much money a Senate campaign might cost.

Steve Wilensky recently announced his candidacy for Stein’s District 2 Calaveras County supervisor seat, which covers West Point, Mountain Ranch and Mokelumne Hill areas.

Stein’s term ends in January 2005. Stein is the chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He was elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2000.

About Wilensky´s run for office, Stein said, “Whatever decision I finally make, I will vigorously campaign to keep this seat from falling into the hands of socialists and look forward to the coming debate.”

The primary elections will be held in March 2004. If a candidate receives a majority of the vote, 50-percent plus one, they win the primary and avoid the November elections all together. If not, the November elections determine who takes office in January 2005. Also up for re-election are Supervisor Lucy Thein and Supervisor Tom Tryon. So far, no other candidates have announced a bid for their seats.

Calaveras Enterprise story by Vanessa Turner. For more Calaveras news, click:calaverasenterprise.com

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