Alicia Robinson
Now that President Bush has won reelection, expect a new round of
speculation from the pundits on which of his cabinet members will
seek other jobs and who might replace them.
A recent article on the www.govexec.com website suggests Newport
Beach Rep. Chris Cox would likely make the short list to replace
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, should Ridge take a
private-sector job. Cox now chairs the House Homeland Security
Committee.
Based on history, it's advisable not to read too much into such
idle musings. Earlier this year, Cox was a rumored choice to replace
George Tenet as CIA director, and the congressman has been mentioned
as a potential senatorial and vice presidential candidate. Cox
himself has generally declined comment on such hearsay.
Moving beyond
election day
Not content to rest on their laurels or cry in their beers, many
of Tuesday's winners and losers alike had post-election plans by
Wednesday, and they ranged from the personal to the political.
"Getting married is my next project," said Van Tran, who won the
68th District Assembly seat, which represents Costa Mesa. On Nov. 20,
he'll wed fiancee Cindy Nguyen in Sacramento, but before that, he's
scheduled a more traditional activity for a contest winner: "I'm
planning to go to Disneyland, seriously," he said.
Libertarian Timothy Johnson, unsuccessful in his bid for the 35th
District state Senate seat, will revisit his political ambitions.
Johnson said he plans to run in 2006 to represent the 73rd Assembly
District, which includes cities in southern Orange County and
northern San Diego County.
Another disappointed Libertarian, Orange County Superior Court
Judge Jim Gray, will return to the bench Tuesday. He took a year
leave of absence to run for U.S. Senate but failed to defeat
Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.
"I made some very good friends, and I'm proud of what we did," he
said. "I don't foresee something like this [election bid] again."
He'll also exercise a lesser-known talent, writing musicals.
Gray's first musical, "American's All," was recently performed by
students in Irvine, and he plans to follow it up with one that's not
just for young people.
"I'm going to write another one, so that's going to keep me a
little bit busy," he said.
Gray has a topic in mind, but "it's not developed enough to talk
about yet."
New state senator to
move into new digs
Now he can shop on his lunch break.
Newly elected 35th District state Sen. John Campbell will forsake
