Clare Berryhill

Clare Berryhill, a former state legislator who also served as California's top agriculture official, announced that he will run for the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Tony Coelho. His announcement came shortly after Modesto Mayor Carol Whiteside said she was withdrawing. The Republican mayor had been among the first to announce her intention of seeking the 15th District seat held by Democrat Coelho, 47, who resigned June 15 after ethical questions were raised in Congress about his financial dealings.

Clare Berryhill, 70, former secretary of the California Department of Agriculture and a former state legislator. Born in Fresno County, Berryhill was a grape grower in Ceres, Calif., when then-Gov. George Deukmejian tapped him in 1983 as the first Cabinet-level head of food and agriculture. During his tenure, the state was involved in combating Africanized killer bees, Japanese beetles, apple maggots, gypsy moths, Mexican fruit flies, poisoned cheeses and tainted watermelons.

For Democrats on Wednesday, it was a victory to savor twice over. Democratic Assemblyman Gary Condit, fighting off a challenge from Republicans who sought to make ethics a campaign issue, won election to Congress on Tuesday to take the San Joaquin Valley seat of former Rep. Tony Coelho. At the same time, Condit's victory will mean his departure from the Assembly, where as a member of the dissident "Gang of Five" he had been a thorn in the side of Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

For Democrats on Wednesday, it was a victory to savor twice over. Democratic Assemblyman Gary Condit, fighting off a challenge from Republicans who sought to make ethics a campaign issue, won election to Congress on Tuesday to take the San Joaquin Valley seat of former Rep. Tony Coelho. At the same time, Condit's victory will mean his departure from the Assembly, where as a member of the dissident "Gang of Five" he had been a thorn in the side of Democratic Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.

California's faltering agricultural exports, which dropped by nearly $1.4 billion after peaking in 1981, appear to be rising again, the state's farm chief said Monday. In one of his last appearances before stepping down this Friday after four years as director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Clare Berryhill brought an upbeat message to a Los Angeles Town Hall meeting at the California Museum of Science and Industry.

State Food and Agriculture Director Clare Berryhill, a charter member of Gov. George Deukmejian's Cabinet and an aggressive promoter of California farm exports, resigned Tuesday, effective May 22. Deukmejian, who made the announcement in a prepared statement released by his office, did not name a successor to the 61-year-old Berryhill, a rough-hewn grower and former state legislator known for his candor.

In a special election that drew national attention, Democratic Assemblyman Gary Condit won election to Congress on Tuesday as voters in the San Joaquin Valley chose a successor to former Rep. Tony Coelho. With 90.6% of the precincts reporting, Condit had 57.1% of the vote, while Republican Clare Berryhill, a farmer who has served as a legislator and as state director of food and agriculture, had 34.8%.

Clare Berryhill, a former legislator and top Deukmejian Administration official, jumped into the race Wednesday to succeed Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Merced) in a Republican bid to wrest the seat from Democrats. The 63-year-old Berryhill, who served as Gov. George Deukmejian's first director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, hopes to ride into office on a tide of public dissatisfaction with the scandal-plagued Democratic leadership of Congress.

As Election Day nears, a special congressional race in the San Joaquin Valley has turned nasty, with Republican candidate Clare Berryhill charging that his Democratic opponent is "under the influence" of special interests. Democratic Assemblyman Gary A. Condit, the front-runner in the contest, is firing back with television ads labeling Berryhill--a former state legislator and top Deukmejian official--as a quitter who should not be returned to public office.

Clare Berryhill, 70, former secretary of the California Department of Agriculture and a former state legislator. Born in Fresno County, Berryhill was a grape grower in Ceres, Calif., when then-Gov. George Deukmejian tapped him in 1983 as the first Cabinet-level head of food and agriculture. During his tenure, the state was involved in combating Africanized killer bees, Japanese beetles, apple maggots, gypsy moths, Mexican fruit flies, poisoned cheeses and tainted watermelons.

In a special election that drew national attention, Democratic Assemblyman Gary Condit won election to Congress on Tuesday as voters in the San Joaquin Valley chose a successor to former Rep. Tony Coelho. With 90.6% of the precincts reporting, Condit had 57.1% of the vote, while Republican Clare Berryhill, a farmer who has served as a legislator and as state director of food and agriculture, had 34.8%.

As Election Day nears, a special congressional race in the San Joaquin Valley has turned nasty, with Republican candidate Clare Berryhill charging that his Democratic opponent is "under the influence" of special interests. Democratic Assemblyman Gary A. Condit, the front-runner in the contest, is firing back with television ads labeling Berryhill--a former state legislator and top Deukmejian official--as a quitter who should not be returned to public office.

Clare Berryhill, a former legislator and top Deukmejian Administration official, jumped into the race Wednesday to succeed Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Merced) in a Republican bid to wrest the seat from Democrats. The 63-year-old Berryhill, who served as Gov. George Deukmejian's first director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, hopes to ride into office on a tide of public dissatisfaction with the scandal-plagued Democratic leadership of Congress.

Clare Berryhill, a former state legislator who also served as California's top agriculture official, announced that he will run for the congressional seat vacated by former Rep. Tony Coelho. His announcement came shortly after Modesto Mayor Carol Whiteside said she was withdrawing. The Republican mayor had been among the first to announce her intention of seeking the 15th District seat held by Democrat Coelho, 47, who resigned June 15 after ethical questions were raised in Congress about his financial dealings.

California's faltering agricultural exports, which dropped by nearly $1.4 billion after peaking in 1981, appear to be rising again, the state's farm chief said Monday. In one of his last appearances before stepping down this Friday after four years as director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Clare Berryhill brought an upbeat message to a Los Angeles Town Hall meeting at the California Museum of Science and Industry.

State Food and Agriculture Director Clare Berryhill, a charter member of Gov. George Deukmejian's Cabinet and an aggressive promoter of California farm exports, resigned Tuesday, effective May 22. Deukmejian, who made the announcement in a prepared statement released by his office, did not name a successor to the 61-year-old Berryhill, a rough-hewn grower and former state legislator known for his candor.

State Fish and Game Department Director Jack C. Parnell was nominated by Gov. George Deukmejian as director of the Food and Agriculture Department. Parnell, 52, of Auburn will replace Clare Berryhill of Ceres, who retired. The nomination to the $87,552-a-year post requires Senate confirmation. Parnell is a former deputy director of the Food and Agriculture Department.