Kathleen Wilson, Ventura County Star
December 13, 2019
Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett announced Friday that he is running in the March primary for the seat that incumbent Monique Limón is vacating in the state Assembly.
Bennett, 68, of Ventura, is seeking the 37th District seat that Limón, D-Santa Barbara, is leaving to run for the state Senate seat held by Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara.
Bennett is nearing the end of his fifth term on the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, which expires in January 2021. He cannot run again for the seat under term limits.
Under state law, the filing deadline extends for five additional days when the incumbent — who in this case is Limón — does not seek re-election to the office. Bennett said he didn’t make his final decision to run until that deadline was expiring Wednesday night.
The supervisor said he only decided then because he was weighing the question of how much time the job in Sacramento would take away from the time he spends in Ventura with his family.
He said, though, that he really feels he is ready and has the qualifications and experience for the job.
Six other people have announced that they will run for the post: Stephen Blum, of Ventura, and five others listing Santa Barbara County mailing addresses: Cathy Murillo, Jonathan Abboud, Elsa Granados, Jason Dominquez and Charles W. Cole.
The district spans both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
Kathleen Wilson covers the Ventura County government, including the county health system, politics and social services. Reach her at kathleen.wilson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0271.