Abel Maldonado confirmed as lieutenant governor
Patrick McGreevy
Los Angeles Times
04/26/2010
State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) was confirmed by the California Senate on Monday as lieutenant governor, filling a vacancy created when John Garamendi was elected to Congress.
"We know he will bring the spirit of hard work and problem-solving to the lieutenant governor's office," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) after the 25-7 vote.
"I'll never forget whose money the government spends," Maldonado said.
Those who voted against confirmation included Sen. Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), who is running for the job in the June election. "Don't be in a hurry to change the drapes too soon" Aanestad quipped.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appointed Maldonado to the No. 2 job, now must call a special election to fill Maldonado's 15th District seat.The governor has the option of consolidating the special run-off with the state's general election scheduled for Nov. 2, which Democrats say would save more than $2.5 million in election costs.
Democrats believe a consolidated election would produce a larger turnout that would give them an advantage in their effort to take a senate district where they enjoy a slight edge in voter registration.The district's voters are 46.7% Democrat, 34.5% Republican and 19.6% decline to state.
