Local attorney eyeing U.S. Senate race

Los Altos Hills resident George “Duf” Sundheim is floating a trial balloon for a possible run for Barbara Boxer’s United States Senate seat, which she plans to vacate at the end of this year.

The 62-year-old Sundheim, who formerly served as chairman of the state Republican Party from 2004 to 2007, announced over the weekend he would form an exploratory committee to consider a Senate run.

Sundheim is known as a prolific fundraiser and a moderate voice in the state Republican party. He studied economics and played varsity football at Stanford University and earned a law degree from Northwestern University Law School. He later helped set up the Palo Alto law practice Doty, Sundheim & Gilmore.

His first attempt at politics was an unsuccessful run for a Palo Alto City Council seat in 1997. He later found more success by supporting other conservative candidates and causes, including the 2003 recall of then-Gov. Gray Davis. The election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor proved that Republicans can be elected to statewide office in California, Sundheim said.

“We did it then and we can do it again in 2016,” he said. “We just need the right candidate.”

The South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition will be hosting a talk by Sundheim at a dinner reception that is open to the public. The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 15, at the Fremont Hills Country Club at 12889 Viscaino Pl., Los Altos. Tickets are $35 for members and $45 for non-members. More information is at www.sparcgop.org.