Villines to Run for Calif. Insurance Commissioner

Assemblyman Mike Villines, R- Fresno, made his candidacy for California Insurance Commissioner official by filing the necessary papers at the Fresno County Registrar of Voter’s office.

Villines said he is committed to protecting California consumers, keeping insurance affordable and working to restore California’s economy and job market.

“As Insurance Commissioner, my focus would be protecting consumers and re-building California’s economy,” Villines said. “Fighting to ensure that Californians have jobs and the peace of mind that their insurance will protect them is a top priority for me.”

Villines is endorsed by former state Governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson, former GOP Candidate for Governor, Bill Simon Jr., Secretaries of State Bill Jones and Bruce McPherson, former Senate and Assembly Republican Leader Jim Brulte, former Speaker of the Assembly and current Mayor of Anaheim Curt Pringle, Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, Senator and former Republican Leader Dave Cogdill, Assembly Republican Leader Martin Garrick, former Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee, Northern California legislators, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, the New Majority California and the San Diego County Lincoln Club.

Currently in his final term in the State Assembly, Villines was recognized for his negotiating skills and his ability to lead a united Republican caucus when chosen by his colleagues in November 2006 to serve as Assembly Republican Leader where he served with distinction for over two and half years as one of the longest serving Republican Leaders over the past 25 years.

Prior to his election to the Assembly, Villines served as an aide to former Gov. Pete Wilson where he worked to implement the Governor’s legislative and policy agenda for reforming over-burdensome environmental regulations. He also served as chief of staff to former State Sen. Chuck Poochigian, and was an owner and executive of his own Public Relations and Communications firm.

Other candidates for state insurance commissioner, according to the Secretary of State’s unofficial list of candidates, are: Democratic Legislator Hector de la Torre, Democratic Assemblyman Dave Jones, the DOI’s enforcement attorney and Republican Brian Fitzgerald, American Indepsendent Clay Pedersen, Green party William Balderston, Libertarian Richard S. Bronstein, and Peace and Freedom Party Dina Josephine Padilla.

Current Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizer is running for governor.