Ueberroth enters California governor's race
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Peter Ueberroth
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Peter Ueberroth, who led the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and served as commissioner of Major League Baseball, will try to add a new title to his resume -- governor of California.
Ueberroth announced Friday evening in a statement that he will be a candidate in the October 7 recall election. Although he is a registered Republican, he will run as an independent stressing bi-partisanship.
"Between now and October 7, California voters will be subjected to the same bitter partisanship that too often interferes with getting California to work again," he said. "Once the campaign has ended, I believe that I will be the best qualified person to get the tough job done."
Ueberroth, 65, served as president of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee from 1980 to 1984 and was named Time magazine's "Man of the Year" for 1984 in recognition of his efforts. He was baseball commissioner from 1984-1989, and he served as the head of Rebuild Los Angeles, a group formed to restore the city after the 1992 race riots.
Ueberroth is entering a crowded field of contenders to replace Gov. Gray Davis, including actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who's running as a Republican, columnist Arianna Huffington, an independent and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, both Democrats.
