AD-38: Scott Wilk Releases California State Senator Tony Strickland from Endorsement

This is an interesting development and I have to say I have never seen this before – a candidate for office releasing a POL from his endorsement.

On the heels of his announcement to run for Congress, state Sen. Tony Strickland is no longer endorsing Scott Wilk in his bid for the state’s 38th Assembly District seat, Wilk confirmed Monday.

“Tony Strickland gave me the option of releasing him from his endorsement,” Wilk said. “He told me I could keep the endorsement but gave me the option of releasing him … and I’m going to release him.”

Strickland, who announced his candidacy in the 26th Congressional District election last week, would not comment on the endorsement issue.

“Senator Strickland doesn’t have a comment about that at this time,” said his spokeswoman, Sarah Walsh, when asked if he still endorses Wilk.

I have known Scott Wilk for a long time. Wilk has worked with Tony Strickland a LONG time as well and I recall Scott’s son helping Tony to the extreme during his last campaign, where he beat Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson by a very slim majority (primarily from the Santa Clarita area).

But, there is this piece which sort of explains it.

It is called political pressure by a sitting Congressman, Buck McKeon for his wife, Patricia, who just so happens to be running against Scott Wilk.

I first met Patricia McKeon at Tony Strickland’s announcement for Congress. Here is a photo of her with Simi Valley Republican activist Steve Frank.

Contested primary elections are HARDBALL enough with an open (no incumbent) Santa Clarita based California Assembly seat, but throw this into a top two system change and you have some interesting permutations come June.

Tony Strickland, seems to have them calculated.

Now, will Strickland endorse McKeon?