Without fanfare, San Mateo County Supervisor Jerry Hill has opened a campaign account with the California Secretary of State's Office to run for the 19th Assembly District seat now occupied by Assemblymember Gene Mullin.

Mullin will serve his last term in office ending in 2008. Hill has eyed the seat, working his district in preparation for a run but Hill has consistently demurred when asked about a possible Assembly bid — but there's no denying it now.

To make matters more interesting, the telephone number listed on the Secretary of State's web page as the contact number for the campaign account is the office phone of local campaign consultant Ed McGovern.

McGovern was the campaign consultant for the failed state senate bid of former San Mateo County Supervisor Mike Nevin. In fact, McGovern has had a bad run of luck in San Mateo County politics as of late having lost several high profile races including Measure Q in Redwood City in 2004 that would have enabled the Marina Shores development in that city as well as the 2002 Measure E in Pacifica that would have enabled development in Pacifica's former rock quarry.

Hill will likely face opponents such as San Mateo County Community College District Trustee Richard Holober and possibly Millbrae City Councilmember Gina Papan in the Assembly race.

Rumors have also swirled that former Supervisor Mike Nevin is moving out of his home in Daly City to take up residence in San Mateo to make his third (or fourth) run for legislative office against Hill.

Whatever the final ballot looks like, it is clear that Hill is making the jump early in an effort to scare off any potential competitors. This is a tactic Hill has employed throughout his career in local politics with demonstrated success.

But Hill has also had his share of missteps as a county supervisor, particularly in the past couple of years as detailed by Peninsula Politics.

These stumbles may yet catch up with Hill in a competitive race, something Hill has never faced.

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http://peninsulapolitics.blogspot.com

– Written by politicalblunder