WESTSIDE — State Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica) didn't waste any time.
Just a day after Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Santa Monica) announced he would not seek reelection after his 20th term, Lieu made public his plans to fill the seat.
Lieu lauded Waxman's public service before turning to his own record in a statement released Friday.
"I have made the hard choices that helped turn California's budget deficit into a budget surplus; fought to protect our environment; co-authored legislation to divest California's pension funds from Iran's energy and nuclear industries; and authored landmark civil rights legislation," he said. "I will fight hard for my constituents in Congress as I have done in the state Senate."
Lieu follows former Los Angeles city controller and mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel into the race for the now-open seat.
New-Age guru and author Marianne Williamson announced her plan to run last year.
Former Santa Monica Mayor, Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) said on his Facebook page that he was considering running for the seat.
Bill Bloomfield, who challenged Waxman in his last campaign, told the Daily Press he was giving serious consideration to running.
Bloomfield spent $7.5 million of his own money and came within eight points of upsetting Waxman in 2012.
Santa Monicans know Lieu for his support of City Hall in its lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration regarding Santa Monica Airport.
"I commend the (city) of Santa Monica for filing suit against the FAA," he said earlier this year. "I believe the courts will once and for all determine (City Hall), as the owner of the airport, has every right to determine the direction of its future. There are undisputed impacts on the city and surrounding residents, including noise and air pollution and safety issues as a result of how close the runway is to neighboring homes."
His position has not changed, Lieu told the Daily Press Friday.
"I've always said that Santa Monica should not renew the lease with the airport," he said. "If I enter Congress, I would do all I can to request the FAA to also not renew that lease."
Marty Rubin, founder of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution, told the Daily Press Thursday that he hoped Lieu would run, praising his strong opinions on the airport.
Lieu said that he has the support of more than two dozen local elected officials including Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin.
"Henry Waxman was a warrior and a legislative giant who delivered for our communities, and I cannot think of anyone better suited to fill those enormous shoes than Ted Lieu," Bonin said in a statement. "A military veteran who lives in and knows our neighborhoods, Ted is one of the smartest, toughest, most accomplished leaders I know."
Lieu won a special State Assembly election in 2005. He lost a 2010 bid for California Attorney General. In 2011, he won his current seat in a special election that did not include Santa Monica voters. After redistricting, he came to represent the city by the sea.
dave@www.smdp.com
