There is no longer ANY doubt that Jackie Speier is about to run for Congress against Tom Lantos. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that former State Senator Jackie Speier is staffing up.
Demo derby: Former state Sen. Jackie Speier has just signed Mayor Gavin Newsom’s onetime campaign manager Alex Tourk to help launch her still-unofficial campaign to unseat Peninsula Congressman Tom Lantos in next June’s Democratic primary.
“She hasn’t declared yet, but she asked me to join her team – and I’m honored to be part of it,” Tourk said Friday. “And I’m confident when people are reminded of her record and talk to her one-on-one in house meetings, there will be no doubt her time is now.”
Some of you from the Bay Area may remember that Tourk is the now ex-husband of Ruby Rippey-Tourk with whom Newsom had an affair. You may also that Tourk is a very talented, well-connected operative who is highly thought of by everyone in the City’s political commnity. To score this guy is a huge plus in Speier’s favor. It also means that she will be playing to win. However, I do not think he is familiar with the blogging commnuity. We’ll see what happens, but expect fireworks this Spring and Summer.
Why is someone running against Lantos? To encourage retirement? Why would he want to retire, he just became chair of the Foreign Affairs committee is it?