Former Assemblywoman Betty Karnette has dropped her bid for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, endorsing Democratic rival Tom Torlakson for the post in the 2010 election cycle.
Karnette represented greater Long Beach in Sacramento for nearly 18 years before being termed out in December, and her decision likely ends a storied political career that began in 1992, when she defeated 7-term incumbent Gerald Felando in a close race for Assembly.
The bid by Karnette, drawing on more than 30 years' experience teaching in the Los Angeles Unified School District, was well-received among area lawmakers, but she faced a formidable challenger in Torlakson, a Bay Area Democrat, whose reported to hold a significant fundraising and organizational advantage.
With Karnette's departure, only Torlakson and Gloria Romero, D-East Los Angeles, remain in competition for the post, as the GOP has yet to publicly field a candidate.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
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Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
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He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
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Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
This is just as well. It's time for Betty to retire. When someone gets termed out, the rule ought to be that for the next two years, the individual must have nothing to do with any level of government, including as a lobbyist or "strategic consultant."