Candidates “R” Us

Jeff Rainforth

Age: 35

Residence: Sacramento

Party: Filed as nonpartisan but registered as a member of the Reform Party.

Occupation: Market coordinator for Best Buy’s district office in Sacramento.

Family: Single

Education: Spent two years studying political science at Santa Rosa Junior College in 1998-2000 (did not graduate).

Career highlights: Ran for Congress in California District 6 in 2002 as a Reform Party candidate. Is chairman of the board of the Reform Party of California.

Quote: “Our message, which has been the same for the last 10 years, is fiscal responsibility and political accountability. We’re primarily interested in the financial well-being of the United States and keeping American jobs in the U.S.”

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Ned F. Roscoe

Age: 42

Party: Libertarian

Occupation: President of family-owned national discount cigarette chain.

Residence: Napa

Family: Married, three children

Education: B.A. in economics, University of Chicago, 1982.

Career Highlights: Family has been in the grocery business since 1957. In 1990s, began specializing in discount cigarettes. More than 300 stores in 20 states, including 150 in California. Sponsored Proposition 28, an unsuccessful attempt to repeal the cigarette tax in 2000.

Quote: “No new taxes, no new stupid laws I have a better chance of winning the election than I do of purchasing a winning lottery ticket.”

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Sharon Rushford

Age: 52

Party: Nonpartisan

Occupation: Co-owner of Rushford Construction

Residence: San Jose

Family: Married; two children, two grandchildren

Education: San Jose High School, 1969

Career Highlights: Member of Managed Care Reform Council and Kaiser Permanente Reform Committee.

Quote: “I’m taking this opportunity to use my firsthand experience with problems within the health-care industry and the flaws within the mandatory arbitration system to bring justice back into managed care.”

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Georgy Russell

Age: 26

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Software engineer

Residence: Mountain View

Family: Single, no children

Education: B.A. in computer science, UC Berkeley, 1999

Career Highlights: Ten-year member of Death Penalty Focus, a nonprofit group working to abolish the death penalty.

Quote: “The current list of candidates is career politicians and millionaires; I’m running so someone can represent the average Californian.”