Florez says Lt. Gov seat belongs in Democrats' hands

Last Update: 2/12 9:10 pm    

(KGET 2007) Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is sticking with his choice for Lieutenant Governor.

Abel Maldonado got the thumbs up from the Senate and Assembly, but the vote in the Assembly did not reach a 41 vote majority, which is required for confirmation.

Today Schwarzenegger decided to re-submit Maldonado for another vote, meaning the Legislature has a 90 day period to vote again.

One of Maldonado's biggest critics is Shafter Democrat Dean Florez, who is the State Senate Majority Leader and is running for Lieutenant Governor this fall.

"I wouldn't vote for Abel Maldonado if he was on my ballot," says Florez, "And I certainly wouldn't vote for him on the Senate floor."

After debating whether to push Maldanado through, Schwarzenegger wants to give it another try in the legislature.

Senator Florez made it clear, he wants a Democrat in that seat, and it doesn't have to be him, at least not yet.

"This is a Democratic seat," says Florez. "The governor recognizes he was replacing a Democrat and the governor could have found any moderate to conservative Democrat anywhere in California, and I think it would have gone very well."

Senator Florez also said that should he win the Democratic nomination, running against Maldonado in the general election would be a "dream."

"We haven't had a Republican lieutenant governor since the '70s, even through a Reagan Administration, Wilson Administration and Schwarznegger Administration," said Florez. "The lieutenant governor position has always been held by a Democrat."

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Florez-says-Lt-Gov-seat-belongs-in-Democrats-hands/7aQdCyJd7kOkGIZcWmBI2w.cspx