(October 8, 2003) -- An ELB satellite project manager, who invested his own money to appear as a candidate on the gubernatorial recall ballot, has announced he is seeking the CA state Senate seat now held by term-limited incumbent Democrat Betty Karnette.

Michael Jackson, who'll be running as a Republican, earned a degree in electrical engineering summa cum laude from UCLA after serving in the U.S. Navy for ten years.

If Mr. Jackson wins the Republican primary election in March '04, he expects to face Democrat Assemblyman Alan Lowenthal, who is term limited in the Assembly (first elected in 1998) and expected to seek Karnette's Senate seat. Meanwhile, Karnette is expected to seek Lowenthal's Assembly seat...a move that would leave the two LB Democrats in Sacramento. From 1992 to 1998, now-Assemblyman Lowenthal served on the LB City Council (2d district).

Noting that the recall vote shows the public wants change in Sacramento, Mr. Jackson said, "Assemblyman Lowenthal has been up there since 1998 and was one of those who voted for those budgets and tax increases and bad legislation for business."

Mr. Jackson has established a web site -- www.michaeljacksonforstatesenate.com -- which includes an "8 Point Mission." consisting of:

Mr. Jackson's initial foray into politics as a gubernatorial recall candidate drew 654 votes statewide...over 85% of which came from outside L.A. County according to preliminary figures from state and County agencies.

Mr. Jackson said his candidate statement brought him numerous positive responses on the internet...several of which said he had the best candidate statement of anyone. Mr. Jackson was also interviewed on KTTV Fox 11 TV.