Speier contemplates next move following defeat

By Jeff Shuttleworth, Bay City News Service

June 7, 2006

One day after being defeated by California Department of Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi in the lieutenant governor race, state Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, must now decide what her next career move will be.

Just before noon today, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Garamendi garnered 43.4 percent of the votes while Speier received 38.6 percent of the votes. State Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, received 18 percent of the votes, according to California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson's Web site.

"She won by huge margins in Northern California, especially in the Bay Area," Speier's campaign spokesman Nathan Ballard said. However, "It wasn't quite enough to overcome the name recognition" that Garamendi has.

As for what's next for Speier, Ballard said she will continue to work as a state senator and advocate for consumer protections.

"She's got some time to think about what she's going to do next," Ballard said. "She's got plenty of opportunities. We know that she will do something meaningful."

Speier's current state Senate term will end in December of this year.

Today, Ballard said Speier is spending the day at her son's graduation from Menlo School in Atherton. Speier's son will attend Stanford University in the fall.

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