Bruce Kranz

Kranz won't run for Assembly

By: Jim Ruffalo, Journal Correspondent

Citing a number of reasons - Bruce Kranz removed himself from a race that he never officially entered.

The 57-year old Kranz, currently midway through an inaugural term as Placer County's Fifth District Supervisor, had earlier admitted that he would enter the 2008 race to succeed Third District Assemblyman Rick Keene.

He was expected to make a formal announcement next week, but late Tuesday afternoon told close friends and the Journal that he had decided this was not the time to move up the political ladder.

"After a long talk with my family, and especially my wife (Carol), we decided this was just not the right time," Kranz said.

"Carol came up with the decider when she asked me, 'Why would you want to run for the Assembly when you obviously enjoy being a (county) supervisor?' She made a lot of sense," he added. "Because it's true that I do enjoy what I'm doing now."

Kranz cited his work on biomass (converting forest waste to energy production) and wildfire safety as some of his more enjoyable projects, but declined to comment on how recent events have changed the political makeup of Placer County's Board of Supervisors.

Many times the lone vote on the losing side of issues such as Placer Legacy, Placer Conservancy and fiscal matters, Kranz might now have three votes on those very same issues, what with the election win of F.C. "Rocky" Rockholm in the First Supervisorial District, and the recent appointment of Kirk Uhler to succeed Ted Gaines in the Fourth Supervisorial District.

"Frankly, after looking at political realities, I realized that winning an Assembly seat may not have been in the cards the next time around," Kranz said. "There will be a whole lot of candidates to succeed Keene, and if the governor has his way with re-apportionment and lengthening current office terms, Keene might remain in office in 2008."

Kranz, who is slated to become the next board chairman and appears to have a minimum of four votes to do so, did keep the door open for future tries at an Assembly seat.

"Who knows? If I do a good job here and get things accomplished, maybe down the line will give that (the Assembly) a try. But right now, there are things to do in Placer County, and I fully intend to run for re-election as a supervisor."

Jim Ruffalo can be reached at jmruffalo@yahoo.com.