thedrifter
04-20-07, 06:43 AM
Hunter's military status could jeopardize congressional plans
By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
NORTH COUNTY -- Marine Capt. Duncan Duane Hunter, son of U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, had no idea he would be recalled to active duty when he decided to run for the congressional seat his father now holds.
Now, his status as a reservist recalled to duty could jeopardize his political aspirations because of a prohibition against uniformed military personnel seeking elective office.
Hunter said Thursday that he hopes his deployment ends in time for him to remain a candidate for a seat that he will not be able to campaign for while on active duty.
"I'll probably deploy in May or early June and should be back in time for the filing period and no longer on active duty during the primary or general election," he said.
The 2008 primary takes place on June 3 and the filing period of elective office opens in December and closes in March.
The blogosphere and some Democratic operatives cried foul after learning that Hunter planned to remain a candidate while serving on active duty, a status that appeared on first blush as a violation of federal policy. Hunter has said he will not do any campaigning while on active duty.
A Marine Corps spokesman in Washington said this week that Hunter's deployment should be under 270 days and he would likely be deactivated by the filing period and therefore would not run afoul of the policy.
"There appears to be no interference with the performance of his expected duties," Marine Maj. Stuart Upton said, adding that if his deployment extends beyond 270 days, Hunter can seek a waiver from the Defense Department that could allow his candidacy to proceed.
Hunter leaves San Diego this weekend for the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to undergo training before shipping out for what will be his third assignment in Iraq.
Hunter, 30, was in the service's Individual Ready Reserve program when the Pentagon announced last month it was recalling 1,200 of the reservists to active duty.
Right before he got his letter, Hunter had announced he would seek the GOP nomination for the 52nd Congressional District seat that his father has held since 1981. The district includes portions of North County, including Ramona and Poway.
The older Hunter, R-El Cajon, is running for president and announced last year that he would not seek re-election to the House seat.
Duncan Duane Hunter said he will rely on his wife, Margaret, and other family members and supporters to campaign for him while he is in Iraq carrying out his duties as an artillery officer.
On Thursday, he conducted one of his final acts as a candiate before redonning his Marine Corps uniform. He hosted a fundraising breakfast as a San Diego waterfront hotel, drawing about 80 people to the event.
Hunter's name familiarity and his status as an Iraq war veteran is viewed as giving him a big boost in the race for the 52nd District seat. He has already picked up some endorsements, including one from state Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-36th Senate District.
A story Thursday in Roll Call, a Washington newspaper focused on political events in and around the nation's capital, speculated that Hunter could have several opponents in the GOP primary, including millionaire businessman Ken King, radio talk show host and family friend Mark Larson, and possibly former state Assembly members Charlene Zettel and Jan Goldsmith.
Zettel now works for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Goldsmith is a San Diego County Superior Court judge.
Jess Durfee, chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, said last week that several Democrats also are eyeing the seat and that the eventual GOP nominee would face a serious challenge.
-- Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Ellie
By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer
NORTH COUNTY -- Marine Capt. Duncan Duane Hunter, son of U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, had no idea he would be recalled to active duty when he decided to run for the congressional seat his father now holds.
Now, his status as a reservist recalled to duty could jeopardize his political aspirations because of a prohibition against uniformed military personnel seeking elective office.
Hunter said Thursday that he hopes his deployment ends in time for him to remain a candidate for a seat that he will not be able to campaign for while on active duty.
"I'll probably deploy in May or early June and should be back in time for the filing period and no longer on active duty during the primary or general election," he said.
The 2008 primary takes place on June 3 and the filing period of elective office opens in December and closes in March.
The blogosphere and some Democratic operatives cried foul after learning that Hunter planned to remain a candidate while serving on active duty, a status that appeared on first blush as a violation of federal policy. Hunter has said he will not do any campaigning while on active duty.
A Marine Corps spokesman in Washington said this week that Hunter's deployment should be under 270 days and he would likely be deactivated by the filing period and therefore would not run afoul of the policy.
"There appears to be no interference with the performance of his expected duties," Marine Maj. Stuart Upton said, adding that if his deployment extends beyond 270 days, Hunter can seek a waiver from the Defense Department that could allow his candidacy to proceed.
Hunter leaves San Diego this weekend for the Marine Corps base at Camp Lejeune, N.C., to undergo training before shipping out for what will be his third assignment in Iraq.
Hunter, 30, was in the service's Individual Ready Reserve program when the Pentagon announced last month it was recalling 1,200 of the reservists to active duty.
Right before he got his letter, Hunter had announced he would seek the GOP nomination for the 52nd Congressional District seat that his father has held since 1981. The district includes portions of North County, including Ramona and Poway.
The older Hunter, R-El Cajon, is running for president and announced last year that he would not seek re-election to the House seat.
Duncan Duane Hunter said he will rely on his wife, Margaret, and other family members and supporters to campaign for him while he is in Iraq carrying out his duties as an artillery officer.
On Thursday, he conducted one of his final acts as a candiate before redonning his Marine Corps uniform. He hosted a fundraising breakfast as a San Diego waterfront hotel, drawing about 80 people to the event.
Hunter's name familiarity and his status as an Iraq war veteran is viewed as giving him a big boost in the race for the 52nd District seat. He has already picked up some endorsements, including one from state Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-36th Senate District.
A story Thursday in Roll Call, a Washington newspaper focused on political events in and around the nation's capital, speculated that Hunter could have several opponents in the GOP primary, including millionaire businessman Ken King, radio talk show host and family friend Mark Larson, and possibly former state Assembly members Charlene Zettel and Jan Goldsmith.
Zettel now works for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Goldsmith is a San Diego County Superior Court judge.
Jess Durfee, chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Party, said last week that several Democrats also are eyeing the seat and that the eventual GOP nominee would face a serious challenge.
-- Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
Ellie