Schwarzenegger sets SD 15 election for Aug. 17

SacBee: Capitol Alert ^ | 4/27/10 | Torey Van Oot

[SmithL]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called an Aug. 17 special election to fill the 15th Senate District seat vacated by Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado's appointment to that post.

Schwarzenegger's move bucks both legislative Democrats and county election officials, who urged the governor to consolidate the contest with the November general election to save costs. Democrats, of course, also wanted a consolidation because they believe the higher turnout in a general election will boost their shots at picking up the seat.

[Chet 99]

What a friggin’ waste of money... The Lt. Governor office should have been left vacasnt.

[CounterCounterCulture]

An Aug. 17 runoff means the special primary election will be held June 22. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote in that election, the top vote-getter from each party moves on to the August runoff.

GOP Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo and former Democratic Assemblyman John Laird of Santa Cruz are both expected to run.

So up to two special elections then. June 22, two weeks after the regular primary election. The county officials will still be trying to certify the June 8 elections and have to deal with this. Ha! Thanks, Governor Doofus.