For Immediate Release                                                                                               Contact Tim Clark

Tuesday, May 06, 2003                                                                                                  (916) 446-8866

 

 

Tom Wilson to Carry Republican

Banner in the Open 73rd District

                                                                                     

Wilson enters race as “clear frontrunner,” according to GOP sources

 

(Laguna Hills) – Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors Tom Wilson announced today his intentions to seek the Republican nomination in the open 73rd Assembly District, which is currently held by term-limited Member Pat Bates.

 

“With Tom Wilson in the race, you have an immediate frontrunner,” said Crystal Kochendorfer, an active member of Orange County’s educational community.  “We were hoping that a candidate would step forward that has instant name identification and a strong local political base.  The hunt is now over. This is very good news for Republicans.”

 

Wilson was appointed to the Orange County Board of Supervisors by the Governor in 1996 and re-elected in 1998 and 2002.  He will clearly benefit from his name recognition and term of service on the board, where as a supervisor, he has earned a reputation as a tough, fiscal conservative, yet he has drawn support from all sectors of the Orange County GOP. 

 

“Tom’s a uniter,” said former Congressman Ron Packard, who also added his name to Wilson’s list of endorsers.  “I can’t think of a better candidate for this seat.  He understands 73rd District issues and will be a real advocate for us. Tom and I worked successfully together over the years on issues important to both Orange and San Diego Counties. With Tom’s entry into the race, there is an extremely strong likelihood that he will be the Republican nominee.  His record and name ID make him an extremely formidable candidate.”

 

In announcing his candidacy, Wilson said that his goals were to “bring to Sacramento the same kind of fiscal conservatism that has characterized my term of public service, and specifically, to make sure the 73rd District gets a fair return on their investment in state government.”

 

Wilson also announced that the veteran Republican campaign management firm of JohnsonClark Associates has been brought aboard to manage the campaign. “We’re extremely happy to be aboard,” said Wayne Johnson. “Tom Wilson is a perfect fit for this district.  He’s a friend of taxpayers, a solid Republican and an expert on the needs of our district.  You couldn’t find a better match.”

 

###