Will 22 year old Margarita Fedorova run unopposed for Assemblymember Jim Wood's position?

 

Assemblymember Jim Wood posted this on his Facebook half an hour ago. The link is to a press release. This is a week after I reported that 22 year old Arcata resident Margarita Fedorova is running against him.

11/13: Healdsburg Mayor Ariel Kelley filed nomination papers today for Assemblymember, District 2.

Assemblymember Jim Wood's statement:

The 2nd Assembly District, historically, has not been considered competitive, with Wood taking nearly 70 percent of the vote in 2022.

“Many in public office say they are leaving for personal or family reasons, but that is very real for me,” said Wood. “My mother has been in declining health and now requires an increasingly higher level of care and I want to be a meaningful part of that. I look forward to finding different ways to support my district and the issues that are important to them, especially challenges faced by rural communities.”

“Jim Wood will go down as one of our most distinguished legislators,” said Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas (D-Salinas). “His love for this state knows no bounds, and he’s committed a lifetime to ensuring future generations can realize the California Dream. I thank Jim on behalf of the entire Caucus, for all his achievements and dedication, and I’m also proud to call him a dear friend and trusted colleague. I also look forward to working with him into 2024, in particular on health care priorities, as he completes a decade of service in the California State Assembly.”

“I’ve known for a very long time that our Speaker, Robert Rivas, would be a strong leader and the right person to lead our caucus and the entire Assembly into the future,” said Wood. “He is a true friend and someone who understands the common interest we have in supporting and protecting the people in our rural communities and how their needs are unique, oftentimes requiring unique policies and solutions. I’m so grateful to be working with Speaker Rivas and it makes me proud to serve and extremely optimistic for California’s future.”