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 SpeakerSACRAMENTO, 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.
How about a Pasadena people in these seats? We've been represented by wealthy La Canada people and an Altadena educrat for way too long.
Can we get the anti Measure D people to run the campaigns for Liu, Portantino and Scott? Lusvardi, Amy and Truitt are great at turning a victory into defeat. Who can't win a campaign against a tax for Chrissakes? Especially with conserva-PAC $$$ from D.C. behind you?
Mike
Mike my dear, when you're done getting all of your personal attacks out of your system, I do hope you'll roll up your sleeves and start addressing actual points. With all of your energy, you could do great things! I do agree, the wealthy with time on their hands are usually the ones who w$n elections and represent us. But is economic status or even neighborhood location alone an adequate vetting? Personally, I am frustrated by edu-snobbery. (Those that exclude candidates based on traditional institutional education and not on the merits of individual intellect, understanding, integrity, creativity, and compassion-all just as valid and measurable).
We need money bags that, although may be corporate, are not in it for their own gain but for the greater good.
I suppose I am equally to blame for allowing the Troika of Tripe to appoint themselves leaders of the Anti-D movement. I should have known it was all over when they hired Rene Amy to represent them in court. Mea culpa folks. You-a culpa, too, I guess.
Honestly, Carol Liu did f*ck-all nothing for anybody but herself when she was in the Assembly. Completely out of touch. Jack Scott's one of the best of the glad-handing empty smilers in Sacramento, but he's done nothing to make any of our lives any better. What have any of them done except go along with the Sacto-herd?
Mike
Then there's the super delegate thing. meh
What exactly do you want people in Sacto to do for you Mike?
I have to agree with Sharkey on this one. Carol Liu has not done a damn thing while in the Assembly and thinks by that position she should be anointed to the State Senate. Jack Scott could sell snow at the North Pole with his syrupy Southern drawl and salemans smile. Portantino is a multi-millionaire movie producer who travels under the guise of a blue collar guy from New Jersey. He chums around with Joe Hopkins to get good press in his paper. He's an extraordinarily prolific status climber always in the right place at the right time. If all we get are rich people running for statewide seats we might as well support Steve Madison. His eye has been on that assembly seat for years.
How about balance a budget on time so I don't end up paying more for my kids' college education than I paid for my house? How about putting a little money into making my commute easier, like Gold Line extensions and HOV lanes? How about doing something to get rid of the liquor stores that cause so many problems around my neighborhood? How about clean water and clean air? Solar power shouldn't cost a fortune to put it in!
Oh, yeah, Carol and Jack, thanks for that Enron thing a few years back.
Mike
Ok - then what are you doing to get someone else to run? How will support them? Do you already have someone in mind to compete against these people?
WHo is your guy/gal to make all these things happen? If it isn't you - who?