Posted on 06/09/2005 6:38:45 AM PDT by calcowgirl
State Sen. Abel Maldonado plans to run for state controller in a Republican primary next year against former Ventura County Assemblyman Tony Strickland.
Maldonado, R-San Luis Obispo, a farmer who served three terms in the assembly, was elected to the Senate last fall in a competitive district that stretches from San Jose to his Santa Maria hometown.
He is a close ally of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and co-chaired Schwarzenegger's election campaign during the recall of then-Gov. Gray Davis. "I'm a businessman -- that's a good first qualification," Maldonado said in a telephone interview Wednesday night.
"I want to really focus on auditing and making sure that the books are balanced. When I was a farmer, we kept our eye on one thing and that was our bottom line. There's too much wasteful spending in Sacramento."
The senator risks little by running. Even if he loses, he can run for re-election to the Senate in 2008. Controller Steve Westly, a Democrat, recently formed an exploratory committee to run for governor and is expected to soon declare his candidacy.
The controller essentially acts as the state's chief financial officer, administering the payroll system, conducting audits and collecting certain taxes. It's one of eight statewide elected offices. With the exception of Gov. Schwarzenegger and Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, all the offices are currently held by Democrats.
"Abel has a shot at this because he's more of a moderate, which is more appealing to Californians in such a left-leaning state," said Nik Bonovich, a former associate editor at California Target Book, which tracks legislative races.
Both Maldonado and Strickland filed papers Monday stating their intention to run. Strickland could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.
Maldonado has long been a key supporter of Schwarzenegger and has helped the governor boost relations with Latinos in the state. The governor starred in Maldonado's Senate campaign commercials last fall and appeared at his campaign rallies.
Schwarzenegger's chief political strategist, Mike Murphy, recently met with the senator and encouraged him to run for controller, Maldonado said.
The governor's press office could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.
"How could the governor not support the son of an immigrant family who had nothing in their pockets, who worked hard, saved money and paid taxes?" Maldonado said. "That story sounds a lot like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He needs an ally in state government."
Maldonado estimated he will need at least $3 million to win the primary and general election. He raised roughly $2.5 million last fall to win the 15th District senate election -- one of the most competitive in the state because there are nearly equal numbers of Democratic and Republican voters.
The district includes all of San Luis Obispo County and portions of Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
"I've never lost a race and I don't intend to start now," Maldonado said.
Two Los Angeles Democrats have filed intentions to run for controller -- Dario Frommer, Assembly majority leader and John Chiang, who chairs the state Board of Equalization.
Interesting. Strickland spent a couple months dipping his toe in the Senate race last cycle. I had Freepers swearing to me 8 months before the primary and before he'd decided whether to run that they would vote Strickland and no one else. Good way to get your name in the papers I guess.
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