From OC Register
February 15th, 2013, 4:28 pm



The 2014 elections got more interesting with county Supervisor Janet Nguyen's announcement she'll vie for the state Senate seat being vacated by termed-out Lou Correa, D-Anaheim (pictured) - but significant battles were already shaping in that race and two other Orange County contests for state office.

Former Assemblyman and Supervisor Jim Silva, R-Huntington Beach, has already opened a campaign account for the Correa seat - Senate District 34 - as has former Assemblyman Jose Solorio, a Santa Ana Democrat who now sits on the Rancho Santiago Community College District board.

Democrats have a 2 percentage-point advantage in the district's voter registration, a margin somewhat offset by larger turnout typically produced by Republicans.

Meanwhile, in the southern coastal Senate District 36, Orange County Supervisor and former Assemblywoman Pat Bates of Laguna Niguel has opened a campaign account, as has former Assemblyman Martin Garrick of Solana Beach.

The two are vying for the seat of termed-out Mark Wyland, R-Oceanside, in the heavily Republican district.

But consultants are especially licking their chops for Board of Equalization District 4 race, where more than half million dollars has already been raised by four candidates competing to replace termed-out Michelle Steel (who, in turn, is running for Orange County Supervisor in this giant game of musical chairs).

Wyland, termed-out Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, and former state Sen. Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach, have all raised more than $100,000 for the race, while Correa has raised $98,000.