Art Torres has been a fixture at the helm of the California Democratic Party since 1996, when he stepped in as party chairman after Bill Press went off to paid punditry at CNN. Now Torres, who was elected to four-year terms in 1997, 2001 and 2005 is playing out his final year after presiding over the Democrats recent convention in San Jose.
"Art has made it clear for the last three or four years that this is his last term," said party consultant and veteran activist Bob Mulholland.
Torre's replacement will be elected in 2009 at the April 24-26 state convention in Sacramento. And the political jockeying is already under way to replace him.
Eric Bauman, leader of the Los Angeles County Dems, the former Southern California office manager for Gov. Gray Davis and currently L.A. boss for Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, announced in an e-mail before the convention that he covets the party chairman's job.
Other wannabes are said to be Francine Busby, the former Cardiff school board member who ran strongly but lost in a overwhelming Republican district in a bid to replace imprisoned Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Also rumored to be in the bidding is Alexandra "Alex" Gallardo-Rooker, the party's first vice chair and an executive board member for the Communications Workers of America.
Outgoing Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez has told friends he doesn't want the party chair gig, but speculation persists he may change his mind. Others to watch for are former state Assembly Democratic leader Dario Frommer of Glendale and perhaps termed-out Senate leader Don Perata.
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