Portantino proceeds as post-Prop 93 pieces fall in place

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, formally let the world know today that come March 11, he'd like the job being vacated by House Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Assemblymember Anthony Portantino Announces Candidacy for Assembly Speaker

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) announced his intention to run for the position of Assembly Speaker.

“With the date now set by the Caucus, I would like formally announce my candidacy for Speaker of the Assembly. I intend to meet with my Assembly Democratic colleagues to make my case on how to move California forward. I believe my performance to date and my positive, consensus-building approach to tackling California’s challenges shows I have something to offer,” Portantino said in announcing his bid.

The Assembly Democratic Caucus today agreed to hold a vote for Speaker on March 11th.

Despite being a freshman legislator, Anthony arrived in Sacramento with heavy-weight status, drawing attention from the party apparatus for the enormous sum of cash he raised.

Anthony really had no chance of losing to his opponents in late 2006, but raised the money just to show that he could. Trying to find my story from the time but it seems to have escaped the grasp of our internal archive.

Not a lot of attention was paid to Proposition 93, but now that the term limit "tweak" has been defeated, all the uncertain political futures -- from lines of succession to chamber migration -- can be cast.

Voters kept pols like state Sen. Jack Scott, D-Pasadena, from having to make a decision on whether to seek another term -- he's out. Sighs of relief from the likes of former Assemblywoman Carol Liu who can move forward with seeking his seat as planned.