Contestants for Assembly seat trade accolades.

The race for Central Coast Assemblyman John Laird’s 27th District seat may not lead anywhere. But it is generating a lot of activity.

Monterey-based chiropractor Stephen Barkalow says he plans to challenge frontrunner Bill Monning. So does Pacific Grove real estate loan officer Gary Smith. Meanwhile, one of the three Santa Cruz County Dems vying for the post withdrew in April. Last month, Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Ryan Coonerty told Good Times that he was out of the running. Recently recovered from pneumonia, Coonerty told the weekly rag he was exhausted and didn’t see himself spending another 15 months on the campaign trail. This narrows the Santa Cruz County candidates to Mayor Emily Reilly and Felton water activist Barbara Sprenger.

Of course, all of this may be moot. All five would-be legislators say that if voters decide to extend term limits in an election on Feb. 5, 2008, then they will all bow out and throw their support behind three-term Assemblyman Laird.

In fact it’s hard to tell if the contest for the 27th Assembly District is a race or a frantic love fest.