Former santa cruz public official john laird has announced that he will not run for state senate. Laird, who is a former central coast assemblyman and santa cruz county supervisor, is currently serving as the state’s secretary of natural resources. He was considered a potential candidate for the newly re-drawn senate seat currently held by republican sam Blakeslee. Assemblyman bill monning, (who, like laird is a democrat), is running for the seat. Blakeslee has not announced whether or not he will defend the seat, which is expected to lean more democratic, after the removal of portions of santa Barbara county from the district.
