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Representing His District: Abel Maldonado—The Only Republican Senator So Far to Vote for the California State Budget

By Randy Bayne
THE BAYNE OF BLOG'S CALIFORNIA NOTES

State Senator Abel Maldonado understands his roots. He has a grasp on who put him in office and who can take him out. He may not curry favor with the party bosses, but he will with his bosses. His is the lone Republican vote in the Senate for passage of the state budget. It has not curried favor with the party bosses, but will with his bosses.

Having lived in San Luis Obispo County several years ago and being active in local politics, I think I can say from experience that legislators who represent this area have more to fear from their constituents than they do from their party. The people of the central coast, whether they be Republicans or Democrats are very independent, and they respect the independence their representatives show. Maldonado is their kind of politician.

Fiercely independent, Maldonado's future is secure, as far as voters in his district are concerned. That is what has allowed him to do the right thing and vote for a budget that everyone can find something wrong with. His party bosses may punish him, but Maldonado is confident in being rewarded by voters.

This is the same area where State Schools Superintendent Jack O'Connell rose to political prominence by garnering the support of both Republicans and Democrats. Though a Democrat, O'Connell serves in an officially non-partisan office. During his time representing Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties in the legislature, he was immensely popular, and continues to enjoy that popularity today. Only now, the scope of his popularity has broadened.

The same can be true of Maldonado. If he continues to respect the wishes and values of those who put him in office, as opposed to the party bosses, Maldonado can seal a bright political future for himself. His stumble — he lost by less than 4% (40.7% - 37%) in a 5-way primary — in the race for State Controller notwithstanding.

Joshua Green writing at California Majority Report puts it this way:

Maldonado's vote will make him palatable to independent voters and Democrats for a future statewide run. Education and labor have elephant-like memories and would be hard-pressed to find reasons to throw millions of dollars in a campaign against Maldonado, given his moderate leanings reflected in the budget vote. As Schwarzenegger and Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner have proven, a moderate record can get you places among mainstream Republicans.

The rabid left and right won't like it, but Maldonado is pushing in a direction where most Californians seem to be headed — bucking his party for the higher good.

This article originally appeared in The Bayne of Blogs and is published with the permission of the author.

Posted on August 09, 2007

Comments

I passionately disagreed with Greene's post, and I do with this one as well, for reasons I explained in a post on Calitics' front page last night. The quick version: Maldonado's budget vote was nice, but it came only after the governor agreed to line-item $700 million in further cuts. More importantly, his budget vote does not suddenly mean he is truly in step with his district - his Capitol Weekly scorecard rating is an abysmal 20, lower even than Tom McClintock. Maldonado voted against AB 32, a bill that most Central Coasters, well aware of their responsibility to the natural beauty we live amongst, strongly supported.

I understand the desire to hold up Maldonado as an example of how we want Republicans to behave so that the Gang of 14 might recognize the error of their ways. But the GOP isn't going to fold that easily - and more importantly, the 15th Senate District is a district we need to win if we are to achieve the all-important 2/3 majority in the Senate, a majority we're only two seats away from having.

As we learned on the national scene, we cannot rely on any Republicans - even ones we sometimes think do the right thing - to help advance our dreams and our vision. Maldonado's vote for the budget was politically smart - but that merely means we Democrats have to remind voters that it is an anomaly in a much larger pattern of his voting with the right-wing minority, against the interest of residents on the Central Coast. Maldonado may be occasionally good, but a Democrat will always be far better than him. That's the work we should be doing, instead of talking up a Republican who has a long record of voting against Central Coast residents' needs.

Posted by: Robert in Monterey at August 9, 2007 08:41 AM

State Senator Abel Maldonado has clearly distanced himself from the "State Senate Floor Bullies". Based on this article, it sure seems that those in the State Senate can either choose to be bullied by their peers, or be responsive to those they are elected to represent.

When the serial bullies are identified and forced out of government, whether Governor, Senator, Assemblyman, or down through the ranks of State and local civil service, that is when government will funciton effectively. Get rid of the serial bullies.

Posted by: SprainedBrain at August 9, 2007 10:57 AM

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