Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who lives in San Pedro, has announced her 2010 bid for lieutenant governor.
Hahn, sister of former Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn and daughter of the late County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn, announced this week that she will seek the Democratic Party nomination for the slot.
The state's No. 2 position is currently open. In November, former Lt. Gov. John Garamendi won a Northern California congressional seat.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently named state Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, to the post, but some Democrats have argued it should remain open as the state grapples with a deficit.
Regardless of what happens, Maldonado plans to run in the Republican primary for the seat in June. Other expected GOP contenders include state Sens. Sam Aanestad of Grass Valley and Dean Florez of Shafter.
State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, had expressed interest in the job but said recently that he was leaning against running in order to finish out the final two years of his Senate term.
In announcing her bid, Hahn named Garry South of Los Angeles as her chief campaign consultant. South is considered a heavy hitter among Democrats. He managed Gray Davis's campaigns for governor in 1998 and 2002.
