Police administrator Charlie Brown (D), hoping to win the open 4th district seat, continued his brisk fundraising pace in the fourth quarter of 2007, closing the year with $483,000 in cash on hand.

However, that was before scandal-plagued Rep. John Doolittle (R) announced that he would retiring upon the conclusion of his term.

With Doolittle out of the race, the solidly Republican Sacramento-area seat has a much better chance of remaining in the GOP column. Still, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was impressed enough with Brown’s effort thus far to include him on its “Red to Blue” fundraising program.

Former state Sen. Rico Oller (R), who finished second in the 3rd district GOP primary in 2004, announced his candidacy for the 4th district soon after Doolittle revealed earlier this month that he would retire. Former Rep. Doug Ose (R), who served in the 3rd district until he retired in 2004, has said he might join Oller in the 4th district race.
— David M. Drucker