Is Sam the man?

Sam Aanestad (pictured), former state assemblyman and state senator, has confirmed, according to the Paradise Post, “reports that he is contemplating a run” for the congressional seat that will be vacated by longtime Rep. Wally Herger this fall. Aanestad is a Grass Valley oral surgeon who was elected to the 3rd District Assembly seat in 1998, replacing Chico’s Bernie Richter. In 2002 he won the 4th District State Senate seat, defeating incumbent Maurice Johannessen of Redding.

Aanested was termed out of office in 2010 and replaced by Sen. Doug LaMalfa, who has announced that he is running for Herger’s empty seat. This could mean three Republican candidates, Aanestad, LaMalfa and Pete Stiglich, will be competing for votes in the June primary against Democratic candidate Jim Reed. The top two finishers will then face off in the November general election. Reed ran unsuccessfully against Herger in 2010, gaining 43 percent of the vote.