A Democratic challenger to Republican Assemblyman Chad Mayes confirmed to Uken Report that he is “postponing” his bid and will not be a contender in the 2018 mid-term elections.
“It was something that kind of arose this week, Matthew Campos said in a telephone interview. “I’ve been in meetings all week long with my committee members and other counselors, other people whose input I greatly respect. We talked about it and there are things that we looked at. The basic consensus, the majority consensus, was that perhaps the best thing to do would be to postpone it.”
He publicly announced his candidacy in late September.
Campos, 64, lives in the Morongo Valley and is the full-time director of development and programs for Desert Best Friends Closet in Palm Desert, a nonprofit. He is also an elected member of the Community Service District Board, which is responsible for the fire department, city parks and street lights for Morongo Valley. Campos also serves as the fire commissioner.
“I’m not suspending my campaign,” he said. “I’m not saying that I’m not going to run. I most likely am not going to run in 2018.
What’s the difference?
“Well, several people have told me in their minds, when they think of suspension, they think of it being like just a termination, a closing of it,” Campos said. “I’m not terminating it. I’m making sure that I’ve got a few other issues resolved and that everything else needs to be in order that’s supposed to be there. Right now, I’m not right in that spot. Instead of pursuing it for 2018, it’s going to be postponed.”
Campos said he’s been actively raising money and as recently as two weeks ago traveled to the San Francisco area for the Democratic Executive Board meeting to meet the movers and shakers in the party, shake hands, get to know some folks, and sit down and have some conversations. That was just a couple of weeks ago.”
The reality of a campaign and his obligations became clear this week when he sat down with trusted political advisers.
“I want to thank everybody that really did show me support and excitement for my campaign” Campos said. “I do feel bad that I’ve … I don’t want to let anybody down, however, at this point in time we think it’s the best thing. But hold on to your seats because we’ll be coming back strong in a couple of years.”
Two Republican challengers – San Jacinto City Council member Andrew F. Kotyuk and former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron – have announced their campaigns to unseat Mayes in California’s June 2018 42nd Assembly District primary.
The 42nd District represents the San Gorgonio Pass, most of Hemet, San Jacinto, Calimesa, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Palm Springs, Cabazon, Rancho Mirage and desert communities in San Bernardino County, including Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree.
