Titus’ congressional run alters others’ political plans

By David McGrath Schwartz

Thursday, May 1, 2008 | 5:14 p.m.

State Sen. Dina Titus' entrance today into the congressional race against Rep. Jon Porter could trigger a number of changes in state legislative contests.

Here's what's happening:

State Senate District 07 ‹ Titus' congressional run means she can't seek re-election to her current state Senate seat, which is up in November.

Two Democratic assemblymen are considering running for the post. Assemblyman David Parks said he is "very seriously considering it" and would have more to say on the subject Friday.

"Today is obviously Dina Titus' day," he said.

Assemblyman Mark Manendo, who also lives in Titus' Senate district, said he too is interested in the seat. "I've been calling all the Democratic senators, letting them know my thoughts," he said.

Assembly District No. 41 (Parks' seat) and Assembly District No. 18 (Manendo's seat) ‹ If Parks or Manendo runs for the state Senate, they couldn't seek re-election to their Assembly seats.

Both seats are safely Democratic ‹ Parks' by 17 percentage points, Manendo's by 20 points ‹ but with Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley needing one more seat to secure a veto-proof majority, Democrats are unlikely to take any chances.

Buckley said that the caucus has had discussions with a potential candidate in Parks' district, but would not identify the individual.

"They're pretty well known in the community, with a long record of public service," Buckley said.

Assembly District No. 13 (Assemblyman Chad Christensen) ‹ Andrew Martin, the accountant who had been running against Robert Daskas for the Democratic nomination in Porter's 3rd Congressional District, has expressed admiration for Titus. Sources say he will not run against her in the primary for the congressional seat. Former prosecutor Daskas dropped out of the 3rd District race this week, citing "family considerations."

Instead, he is said to be interested in running against Republican Christensen for the Assembly. That seat, which had been safely Republican in prior years, is now basically even in voter registration ‹ 40 percent Democratic and 39.8 percent Republican.

"We'll be examining that seat in the next couple of days," Buckley said.