Local News in Brief : McClintock’s Chief of Staff Will Seek His Assembly Seat

Pledging to support a conservative political agenda, Republican activist Marlee Means on Tuesday announced that she would seek the 36th District Assembly seat being vacated by her boss and mentor, Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks).

Means, 26, of Camarillo has been McClintock’s chief of staff for three years. The strongly Republican district includes Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Ventura.

At a press conference in Thousand Oaks, Means promised to work for the ouster of state Chief Justice Rose Bird and for a stronger death-penalty law. She also voiced support for the conservative fiscal policies of Gov. George Deukmejian.

McClintock is running for the congressional seat held by Rep. Bobbi Fiedler (R-Northridge). Fiedler is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Alan Cranston.

Fiedler’s political future has been clouded, however, by a Los Angeles Grand Jury indictment alleging that she attempted to bribe state Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia) to drop out of the crowded Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat.

With speculation that Fiedler may seek reelection to her congressional seat, McClintock has hedged his bets by filing candidate’s papers for Fiedler’s seat and his own.

Means said Tuesday that she would withdraw from the June 3 primary if McClintock decides to seek reelection.