Sharon Runner Wins Her Husband's State Senate Seat

Republican Assemblywoman Sharon Runner won a special state Senate election to succeed her husband in the 17th District Tuesday.    

Runner, R-Lancaster, had 68.2 percent of the vote to 31.8 percent for
Democrat Darren W. Parker, a small-business owner also from Lancaster,  with 101 of 572 precincts partially reporting, 17.7 percent.

The seat became vacant by George Runner's election to the state Board of
Equalization. Sharon Runner will serve out her husband's term, which expires Dec. 2, 2012.

The heavily Republican 17th District covers parts of Kern, Los Angeles,
San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring called Sharon Runner's
victory, ``an affirmation of the common sense and practicality that
Californians want from their leadership.''

``Sharon's past experience as an assemblywoman and business leader will
undoubtedly have a positive impact on the California Legislature,'' Nehring
said.

-- City News Service