Did Arnie pick a replacement for Lt. Gov. yet??

[ronnykmarshall]

[pinto]

1. Not that I know of. Buzz has it that Abel Maldonado (R - Santa Maria) is likely.

He was Arnie's ally on the budget negotiations and vote in Sacramento. If so, local word is that Blakeslee (R - San Luis Obispo) would run for Abel's Senate seat (Blakeslee's termed out of the Assembly next year). If so, it could be a plus. Blakeslee's Assembly seat is likely to go Democratic, so it'd be a net gain for us, even if Blakeslee won the open Senate seat. And it would put us one vote closer to a 2/3 majority in the Assembly (iirc, we only need 3 or 4 more Dems) - which would forestall any more budget shenanigans.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Interesting.

I've read something to that effect in the LA Times. This would put Abel as the front runner in 2010 for a full term as Lt. Gov.

[shanti]

3. whomever it is

will still have to be approved by the legislature. good luck with that!