Congressman Brad Sherman denied that he is thinking of running in a newly created district in Ventura County that has a slight Democratic Party registration advantage, according to a report in Friday's Ventura County Star.
The redistricting maps approved by the Citizens Redistricting Commission put both Sherman and fellow Democrat Howard Berman in the same district in the west San Fernando Valley.
"It's dead wrong," Sherman is quoted as saying in the Ventura County Star.
The Star's report goes on to say that Sherman, whose district during the 1990s included Thousand Oaks, said he knows of only one person who has suggested that he make such a move.
"Howard Berman has indicated his preference that I not run in Congressional District 30," Sherman said. "He has pointed out that there is an open seat in Seattle, one in Eureka and one in Ventura County. That's three seats where I could go to take up surfing, but I'm not interested in taking up surfing."
Sherman has $3.7 million in his campaign account, the third highest among members of the House of Representatives, placing him just above House Speaker John Boehner.
Democratic officials nationally and in California are concerned about the potential for an expensive, potentially divisive primary race between the two San Fernando Valley congressmen, but Sherman said none, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, has suggested to him that he move to Ventura County.
"I have brought up to Howard that there are other districts in which he could run," Sherman said.
Read the full story in the Ventura County Star:
