RC CitizenView

Mayor Don Kurth, Rex Gutierrez, and Dennis Michael all look to be on the move in 2010. The campaigning will start soon with fund raising already begun for the assembly seat expected to be vacated by Assemblyman Bill Emmerson.

Rex is a little more candid about his intentions to run for the 63^rd district assembly seat. He stated that he is looking for a bigger challenge that the Rancho City council.

“It’s time to take on a bigger challenge,” said Gutierrez. “I’ve been on the council off-and-on since ‘92. I’ve been through the thick and thin and developed a lot of relationships. I need to show my skills and utilize my talent at a higher level.”

Mayor Kurth is a little cagier about his intentions.

“My current intention is to run for mayor again,” he said. “I enjoy serving as mayor. Public service seems to suit me, but you do look around for other opportunities.”

The real concern for these two will be who will get the political funding to make a successful run for the seat. There is little change of a viable challenge from the democrats in the district. Republicans will assuredly hold the seat until the gerrymandered district is threatened by a dramatic change in the way district boundaries are drawn.

The party insiders will have to make a choice for all of us, who will have the shot at the seat. So the real politicking will be done early in the season to will their favor. Surely one of them will move on to the assembly.

Council Member Dennis Michael will be waiting to see how things shape up with the Mayor. His recent performance as stand in for Kurth gives him a taste of the center seat on the council. The appetite for a robust local election season will be satisfied soon enough in Rancho Cucamonga.