Local news: Ron Oden to run for state assembly

The Desert Sun:

[Palm Springs] Mayor Ron Oden will run for the 80th State Assembly District seat now held by Republican Bonnie Garcia but will not step down as mayor unless he wins the election.

Oden, a Democrat, paid a filing fee and received nomination papers from the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office on Tuesday.

He needs to collect 40 signatures by Friday.

Expect an official announcement on Thursday. Oden is set to face Democrat Steve Clute in the June primary.

By political leanings, this should be a Democratic seat. Garcia benefits from the large Latino community here.

Oden has a couple pluses. He has big name recognition, and he is an excellent fund raiser. His current opponent in the primary had about $1,250 in cash on hand at the end of last year, less than a tenth of Garica's total.

Garcia will be relying once again on the fundraising draw that is Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, he may not be as quick to support Bonnie as she snubbed his requests for her to campaign for his failed propositions last November, including Prop 74 which was Garica's idea in the first place.

Oden has no web page at this time.