Maienschein's Assembly Campaign Launches in RB

Former San Diego City Councilman Brian Maienschein officially kicked off his campaign for state Assembly District 77 on Thursday before a crowd of supporters, one dubbing him Rancho Bernardo's "favorite son."

"There's no more favorite son in Rancho Bernardo than Brian," said Bob Wells, founder of the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation.

Maienschein, with his parents Carol and Gene, and daughters Taylin and Brenna, among Thursday's crowd at the Eastview Community Center, said he enjoyed growing up here and hopes to make the community better. 

The candidate said he can take to Sacramento the cost-cutting strategies he has learned from working to combat homelessness, and its high cost, in San Diego County as  commissioner of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. 

His mother Carol, who lives in Poway, said she is happy that this time—unlike in 2000 and 2004 when her son was running for San Diego City Council—she will actually have the chance to vote for him.

"I'm very excited," she said. "I know he'll do a good job."

District 77, as drawn through the recent redistricting, includes RB and Poway (see attached map). As councilman, Maienschein represented District 5 for two terms encompassing the wildfires of both 2003 and 2007. 

In the State Assembly race, he is up against Dustin Steiner (R), R.J. Hernandez (D), and Greg Laskaris (No party preference), according to the California Secretary of State (PDF).

Earlier Thursday, The Lincoln Club of San Diego County announced its endorsement of him in the assembly race. He also has been backed by the mayors of Poway (Don Higginson) and San Diego (Jerry Sanders).