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With just a week left for prospective candidates to decide whether they are in or out of the state Senate race to replace Bakersfield Democrat Michael Rubio, today capped a sometimes-bizarre three-day stretch of political jockeying.
It started and ended with Shafter Democrat Fran Florez. On Friday she said via Twitter that she would seek Rubio's 16th Senate District seat, and this afternoon she made the announcement official in front of Fresno City Hall.
In between were more twists than a drive up Highway 168 to Shaver Lake. On Friday, former Fresno Mayor Alan Autry met with a group of Republicans at a north Fresno Starbucks that included Senate GOP leader Bob Huff. They wanted Autry to consider running for Rubio's seat, which is the 16th Senate District.
By Saturday afternoon, Autry — with a couple of acting irons in the fire and a mentoring program still in its early stages — decided to pass.
On Sunday, Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle — a Democrat — did the same.
