Another GOP elected official joins race to replace Jane Harman

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Yet another Republican local elected official has tossed his hat into the widening ring to replace former Rep. Jane Harman.

Hermosa Beach Councilman Patrick ‘Kit’ Bobko announced Sunday night that he is running ‘to take on the establishment politicians who think we can borrow and spend our way to growth.’ Bobko joins fellow Republicans Mayor Mike Gin and City Atty. Mike Webb, both elected officials in neighboring Redondo Beach.

None seems discouraged by the fact that the 36th Congressional District, which runs from Venice to San Pedro, was drawn to strongly favor Democrats, such as Harman, who resigned Feb. 28 to head a Washington think tank.

When Harman, who was reelected in November, let it be known early last month she was quitting, there was no lack of interest in succeeding her. Although the governor has not yet called a special election, at least five Democrats have announced they are running and have set up campaign operations. Most prominent among them are Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn and Secretary of State Debra Bowen, widely considered front-runners.

Antiwar activist Marcy Winograd, who won 41% of the vote against Harman in last June’s Democratic primary, also is running, as are at least two lesser-known Democrats.

Bobko, the son of a career Air Force fighter pilot, describes himself as a ‘well-known fiscal conservative’ who has been ‘a leading voice’ for public pension reform over the last two years.

--Jean Merl