It appears that there’s already a clear frontrunner to replace Supervisor Mick Gleason, who announced his retirement in October.
Meanwhile, one prospective contender for the job announced he wouldn’t take the plunge.
Dick Taylor, Kern County’s former Veteran Service Officer and aide to Kern County Supervisor Mike Maggard, told KGET that he wouldn’t make a run for the seat after a lengthy session mulling a bid.
Taylor retired as Kern County’s Veteran Service Officer last Fall.
As for the frontrunner? All signs point to Gleason’s district director, Phillip Peters. Peters not only picked up the backing of his own boss, but also a cadre of the biggest names in the county.
The former Kern High School Board member announced he received the endorsement of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R–Bakersfield), State Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R–Bakersfield), and Asm. Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield).
Peters also picked up a number of local endorsements across the eastern Kern district, including Ridgecrest Mayor Peggy Breeden.
Gleason’s seat is one of three Supervisorial seats up for election in 2020, including those of David Couch and Leticia Perez.
Couch’s seat is expected to be hotly-contested as he managed to win a special election in 2018 following a redrawing of boundaries after Kern County lost a federal Voting Rights Act lawsuit.
