Torrance Man May Run for 66th District

Torrance School Board member Al Muratsuchi might be a new candidate for the open seat in the new 66th Assembly District.

So far, Muratsuchi has formed an exploratory committee, he told Patch in an email Wednesday night.

"A formal announcement will be made in the near future," wrote Maratsuchi, who is a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice.

There is no incumbent for the new 66th Assembly District. The drawn by the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission split the South Bay's 53rd Assembly District into three. Assemblywoman Betsy Butler, who currently represents the 53rd District, recently announced that .

The new 66th District contains most of the South Bay, including the Beach Cities, Torrance and the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

If he throws his hat into the ring, Muratsuchi would not be the first declared candidate for the 66th District. Republican Nathan Mintz, who ran against Butler for the 53rd District seat last year, declared his candidacy over the summer.

It's unknown if Muratsuchi would run as a Republican, Democrat or third-party candidate.