The Dougherty Valley attorney who lost his 10th Congressional District bid against Rep. John Garamendi in 2009 will try his luck again, this time in a neighboring district.
Republican David Harmer has entered the crowded GOP primary field in District 11, a seat held by Democrat Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton.
After weeks of rumors, Harmer officially announced his candidacy Thursday night on KSFO with talk show host Brian Sussman.
Harmer, an attorney, joins five other declared GOP candidates: Brad Goehring, a Lodi grapegrower; children's advocate Elizabeth Emken of Danville; construction safety signage company owner and author Robert Beadles of Lodi; former U.S. Marshal Tony Amador of Lodi; and Manteca teacher Jeff Takada. Former San Jose Councilman Larry Pegram, now living in Tracy, is expected to drop out Monday.
Harmer may quickly become a front-runner, a status that may hinge on how the candidates stack up after the release of the next fundraising report on Jan. 31.
He ran a surprising strong race in the heavily Democratic 10th District, finishing 10 points behind then-lieutenant governor Garamendi in the November special election. He is a proven fundraiser and has the benefit of having had a recent dress rehearsal.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14150999