News briefs

McClintock gets an early start in
campaigning

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. “”mdash; State Sen. Tom McClintock, the
rock-ribbed conservative who made headlines two years ago when he
ignored his fellow Republicans’ pleas to drop out of the race
to replace Gov. Gray Davis, is getting an early start in the 2006
race for lieutenant governor.

Campaigning in Orange County on Saturday, McClintock told
members of the group Principles Over Politics that the job appeals
to him because the lieutenant governor presides over the state
Senate and is California’s chief executive whenever the
governor is out of state.

“˜”˜It places the office in the position of being a
great generator of reforms,” McClintock said.

He also defended Schwarzenegger against complaints that in
recent weeks he has backed off efforts to overhaul the
state’s pension system and institute tighter budget controls
after his proposals came under sharp criticism.

McClintock and Schwarzenegger were at odds for a time in 2003
when the legislator became the only major Republican to refuse to
drop out of the race to replace Davis if he was recalled after
Schwarzenegger became the front-runner to replace him.

The two put those differences aside last year when
Schwarzenegger campaigned for McClintock’s re-election to the
state Senate.

He is the first Republican to announce his candidacy for
lieutenant governor in 2006.

Shooting victim drives self to hospital

SANTA ANA, Calif. “”mdash; A motorist was shot in the neck Sunday
while he drove on an Orange County freeway, but managed to drive
himself to a hospital and will likely survive, authorities
said.

The 33-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was shot
around 1:45 a.m. Sunday on the 55 Freeway in Tustin. Police said
the victim was followed as he drove northbound on Interstate 5 and
exited onto the 55 Freeway before being shot in the neck.

The victim drove himself to a local hospital and was transferred
to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, according to a police
statement.

The shooting was the fourth along Southern California freeways
in recent weeks. Two men were killed in separate incidents while
traveling on the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles in the last month.

On Friday, a 32-year-old man was shot in the head while driving
on the 60 Freeway in Riverside when his car was riddled with
several bullets. He was listed in serious condition at a local
hospital.

None of the shootings were believed to be connected.

Compiled from Bruin wire services.