Garamendi Looks to Regain Insurance Post

The second time might actually be the charm for California’s first elected Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi.

Garamendi, who served as Commissioner from 1990-’94 before leaving the post to make a bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor, has announced that he will seek to regain the Commissioner’s seat next year.

Garamendi, 56, is a 16-year veteran of the State Legislature. Highlights from his resume also include serving as Deputy Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton Administration and working for three years for a private investment business in California. Earlier this month, Garamendi filed paperwork with California officials to run for secretary of state, only to later change his mind.

Although Garamendi’s successor, Chuck Quackenbush, accepted generous campaign contributions from insurance interests, Garamendi did not during his tenure and has said that he will adhere to this position in future campaigning.

Just last summer, Quackenbush resigned from the post so he would not face impeachment proceedings related to major financial irregularities involving insurance settlements.

Current Insurance Commissioner Harry Low, who is filling out the remainder of Quackenbush’s term, has not indicated if he plans to run for the position, while Democratic state legislators Sen. Jackie Speier of Daly City and Assemblyman Thomas Calderon of Montebello are both considered possible candidates.