On Friday we learned that 50,000 signatures to put a recall of Jeff Denham on the ballot were turned in to registrars in SD-12. Today the Salinas Californian reports that Simón Salinas is willing to put his name to voters as a replacement should the recall pass:

If (the recall) happens,” said Salinas, a former assemblyman, “I am willing to say, look at my credentials, and certainly ask for (voters’) support.”…

He said he’s played no role in the signature gathering to qualify the recall for the ballot. But if it qualifies, Salinas said, the Democratic Party needs to be ready to offer an experienced candidate.

“My concern is, if it happens, we need effective representation,” he said.

The county supervisor added that he is now ready to return to Sacramento state government.

“I have taken my break,” he said. “My son is going to be going to college, so I figure I have the time.”

Salinas used to represent AD-28, which includes the Salinas Valley (also in Denham’s SD-12) until he was termed out in 2006, and is now a member of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. He supports closing Prop 13 tax loopholes, universal health care (though undefined as to how to achieve it), and clean money. By all accounts he’s popular in the city of Salinas, which he represents on the board of supervisors, and would presumably make a strong candidate to replace Denham.

And as we saw in 2003, the chances of a successful recall increase if you can get voters excited about someone waiting in the wings to replace the recall target. Salinas is, of course, a much better politician than Arnold, but if he can rally voters to his cause, then Denham is in even more trouble than it had appeared on Friday.