Senator who represents Santa Paula, Fillmore won't seek re-election

SACRAMENTO — Sen. Sharon Runner, elected last year in a special election in the district that includes Santa Paula and Fillmore, announced Wednesday she will not seek re-election next year.

Runner, R-Lancaster, has an autoimmune disease and is on a waiting list for a lung transplant. When she ran last year to fill the vacancy created because her husband, George, was elected to the Board of Equalization, her condition had improved and she had been taken off the transplant list.

Although her condition has worsened since she took office, Runner said in a news release that her prognosis is good and that she expects to make a full recovery.

The Ventura County parts of her High Desert district were removed in redistricting. She and her husband are encouraging Republican Assemblyman Steve Knight of Lancaster to run in the new 21st District.