Ex-Consumer Agency Head to Run for Insurance Post
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SACRAMENTO — Jim Conran, who until this week was the director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, announced Thursday that he is running for the Republican nomination for state insurance commissioner.
Conran served as director of the department for three years before stepping down. As director, he supervised an undercover investigation into fraudulent automobile repair work by Sears. The investigation resulted in Sears paying an $8-million settlement.
Conran, 41, who lives in Orinda, will face Assemblyman Chuck Quackenbush (R-Cupertino) and Wes Bannister, the owner of a Huntington Beach insurance firm, in the GOP primary election.
He said his major priorities include continuing workers’ compensation insurance reform--including looking at rates and competitiveness--and cracking down on medical and workers’ compensation insurance fraud that he said costs consumers and businesses millions of dollars every year.
Conran also pledged to fight to keep insurance rates low by promoting consumer choice in a more competitive marketplace.
Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) are seeking the Democratic nomination for state insurance commissioner.
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