While Republican Tom Leppert hasn't exactly been coy about his plans to mount a campaign for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Representative David Dreier confirmed Leppert's intentions late last night. He told the Forum, Claremont McKenna College's newspaper, that a fellow CMC graduate "is running for [Senate]."
Dreier, a 30-year congressman from California, graduated from CMC in 1975. Leppert graduated two years later.
The story also quotes a CMC government professor who considers Leppert to be a strong candidate.
"He has won in a constituency that is not a cakewalk for a Republican," Jack Pitney told the paper. "He has a strong business background, and he doesn't have the taint of a professional politician."
Doesn't have the taint of a professional politician? Really?
We've heard from a couple sources that Leppert plans to make his announcement and resign from his position as mayor on Monday, at which point Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway would assume the job.
In the comments of the Leppert story, we also learned about a lesser-known candidate for Hutchison's seat. Her website doesn't offer much info, but we've posted her pic after the jump. Enjoy.