AND GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN?
The strong showing of Deputy District Attorney Jeff Gorell in the 37th Assembly District Republican primary, in which he finished a close second despite being outspent by a ratio of more than 2-to-1 by each of two opponents, has raised an obvious question among politics-watchers in Ventura County: What next for Gorell?
I put that question to him and received a thoughtful answer — one that ought to enlighten anyone who may believe that running for political office is a kind of glorified ego trip. It can be that, but it can also be a lot of hard work and personal sacrifice.
Will you run for office again, Jeff?
"I'm going to have to consider that very seriously. It means taking a year or more out of your life and putting your career path on hold. It drains your finances and puts your social life on hold... When I came back from Afghanistan (he served there with U.S. military forces) I didn't anticipate running. I was looking for a house. I took all the money I had put aside for investing in a house and put it into the campaign. I've got no regrets — I got to participate in democracy, after having just come back from the Middle East where they can't even conceptualize it. But will I run again? There's nothing on the horizon that piques my interest."
