Much to the chagrin of many state legislators, the politically divisive battle over the nomination of Sen. Abel Maldonado to the state’s lieutenant governorship could be waged in Sacramento for the next three months.
Backing off threats to seek a court decision supporting his choice, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Feb. 12 he would resubmit Maldonado’s name for the post, resetting a 90-day timetable for approval by the state Assembly.
“I believe the public good is not served by continued paralysis and protracted litigation because the Assembly Democrats cannot produce a simple majority to make a decision,” Schwarzenegger said in a press release. “Therefore, in an effort to avoid wasting time and energy on litigation that should be spent passing a jobs package that will get Californians back to work, I intend to withdraw and resubmit the nomination of Abel Maldonado for lieutenant governor back to the legislature and ask the Assembly to take the vote again until a majority decision is reached one way or another.”
The governor’s action came despite Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) failing to garner the 41 votes necessary for confirmation from Assembly members on Feb. 9.
In his own statement, Maldonado supported Schwarzenegger’s decision, saying, “I agree with the governor’s interpretation of the constitution, and furthermore, I agree that we cannot waste time and resources on a lawsuit sure to be brought by politicians trying to protect a seat they believe belongs to them. Our focus should be acting on the budget deficit and improving our economy.”
Before relenting, Schwarzenegger had vowed to swear the former Santa Maria mayor in as lieutenant governor following the Assembly’s 37-35 vote, saying the tally indicated Assembly members had taken no action to disqualify the candidate. The state Senate confirmed Maldonado’s appointment by a 26-7 vote earlier that day.
Reaction to news of Maldonado’s renomination was divided along party lines. Republican Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), who succeeded Maldonado as 33rd District Assemblyman, supported the governor’s move.
“The decision to avoid a costly legal battle and partisan political infighting is good for California,” Blakeslee said in a press release. “Just as Jerome Horton and Bruce McPherson, without regard to their party affiliation, received bipartisan confirmation support, so too should Abel Maldonado. I urge a speedy confirmation in the Assembly.”
State Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) voted against Maldonado’s appointment, and instead supports leaving the post unfilled until November, after the office’s current term expires and a public vote is held.
“At a time when California is facing a fiscal crisis and the governor is threatening to take away peoples’ wheelchairs and close adult daycare centers, he is choosing to put his personal political agenda ahead of solving the state’s real problems,” Nava said in a press release. “Gov. Schwarzenegger often says that ‘we should let the people of California decide,’ and that is what I am asking him to do.”
The state’s lieutenant governor position has been vacant since November, when Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
This article appears in Feb 18-25, 2010.