March 11, 2004

AND GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN?

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."

Posted by Timm Herdt at March 11, 2004 9:55 AM