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Maldonado for LG Gains Momentum

by: Brian Leubitz

Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 10:07:31 AM PST


I'll admit I'm a little incredulous, but Media News has Sen. Abel Maldonado as the Governor's pick to replace John Garamendi as Lt. Governor.

The choices seem endless as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ponders his pick to fill the now-vacant lieutenant governor's job. But the path that many expect the governor to take invariably leads back to one person: Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria.

Several sources close to the administration said privately that Maldonado is the likely choice for two reasons: He has bailed out the governor with a number of critical votes - on budgets and taxes, for which the governor may feel some debt - and would sail through the Democratic-controlled Legislature for confirmation.

"Schwarzenegger has settled on Maldonado. I'm hearing it's him," one person close to the administration said, asking not to be identified. (CoCo Times 11/6/09)

The relationship between Maldonado and Arnold really is a complicated one.  Arnold didn't endorse Abel back in his statewide primary for Controller, which he eventually lost to Asm. Keith Richman. However, a day after the primary, Abel attacked Arnold for not doing enough for him, saying "When he needs Latinos, Latinos are always there for him ... when Latinos need him, the answer's been no.".  And then a day later he apologized.  It was all very dramatic.

But since that time, Maldo has done everything he can to get back in the Governor's good graces.  Going so far as to basically being his bad cop on negotiations to get the Top-2 primary system that will end up being a waste of Democratic resources.

And from a standpoint of getting this through, it seems to have less enemies throwing roadblocks.  In the senate you will have the 4 LG candidates opposed, but whether they can muster the votes to block confirmation is an open question. It seems the only way to get a Republican LG, and for the Dems it gives them a shot at Maldo's senate district. Can anybody say Sen. John Laird?

If Arnold is really serious about this, I think he just keeps Bob Hertzberg as Plan B or perhaps just leaves the office empty.
Brian Leubitz :: Maldonado for LG Gains Momentum
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Maldonado for LG Gains Momentum | 11 comments
Please. Please, please, please. (0.00 / 0)
Please pick Maldonado. Arnold will find no greater champion of Maldonado for the Lt Gov office than yours truly.

I am sick to death of being represented by that slimy bastard. Not only can I say "Senator John Laird" I salivate at the opportunity to put him in office.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

Senator John Laird sounds great, but... (0.00 / 0)
   John Laird is from the city of Santa Cruz, which is in the 11th district. I suppose he could move to Watsonville to be in the 15th district, but I think it is more likely that he will wait and run when Joe Simitian is termed out. I don't live in Santa Cruz anymore so others may have better information. Now if we had the old Henry Mello district there would be no problem, but the 2001 redistricting was not kind to the Monterey Bay area.

   I must say that the idea of getting rid of Maldonado sooner rather than later has a great appeal!

[ Parent ]
Won't have to move that far. (5.00 / 1)
The district goes all the way over to Scotts Valley and Aptos. He'd have to move, but it's likely that under the Prop 11 redistricting in 2011 we'll get a district that more closely resembles the Mello-era lines. Plus Laird could serve up to 10 years - get elected to 2 full terms in years matching up with presidential elections (2012 and 2016).

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave
[ Parent ]
Madlonado for LG (0.00 / 0)
I have to admit, I was not an immediate fan of Maldo becoming LG.  There are worse Republicans in California but why wouldn't the Gov try to get a strong policy person in there who could really help.  Tom Campbell would be constructive.  Cassandra Pye would be constructive.  Anthony Adams?  Well, that would be ironic.

But when you mentioned the possibility of moving John Laird into the Senate seat, now I'm a HUGE Maldo for LG fan.  To go from Maldo to Laird in the State Senate -- what a great improvement.

The other point (4.00 / 1)
Is that I don't see Maldonado surviving a GOP primary next year. But he'd certainly make that a more fratricidal battle, and help the Democratic nominee (likely to be Dean Florez).

It's a win-win as far as I'm concerned. It's a seat Laird can win.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave

[ Parent ]
LG 2010 (0.00 / 0)
A bit early to call that race for Dean Florez, who is completely unknown in SoCal.  Janice Hahn, the L.A. city councilmember, has significant advantages going into the primary, including high name recognition in her SoCal base, longstanding connections due to her father and brother, as well as her own track record on council.  
[ Parent ]
I'm with Robert (0.00 / 0)
Please, please, please.

The only seat I'd rather have vacant is Sam Blakeslee's. But I will work to put a Democrat in Maldonado's with great glee. If John Laird wants it, nothing would make me happier.

Didn't Arnold cut the LG's budget by 60%? (0.00 / 0)
I wonder if our Gov will try to restore some of that $ after he appoints a Republican replacement.
win-win-win (0.00 / 0)
Yeah, this seems clever. Maldonado had no future in his seat, so this works as a dignified exit, but he might work statewide and this is a good position to start lining up county party heads. Plus the legislature gets reminded that Arnold still does have some capacity to reward his allies, and the special election will give the Republican base an opportunity to direct their energies towards purifying a "RINO" seat, and learn what lessons they will from the attempt.

Disclosure: I'm awesome.
New Lt Gov Stan Statham (0.00 / 0)
I heard a newcomer to the pick today, Stan Statham, the current President of the California Broadcasters and a retired Assemblyman.  He'd be the perfect pick.  He knows the media and already has close ties to the Governor.
Interesting. Some would say (0.00 / 0)
that Arnold owes his entire governorship to Statham, who while "moderating" the recall debate in 2003, was transparently pro-Arnold in his comments and non-verbal cues.  He treated Arnold royally, and the Democrats as annoyances that were standing in his way.  The next day, there was a loud chorus of disapproval for Statham's handling of the debate, which many thought was unfair, as well as questions about how a corporate lobbyist and ex-Republican legislator wound up as the moderator in the first place.
[ Parent ]
Maldonado for LG Gains Momentum | 11 comments
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