Posted on 07/24/2012 10:15:54 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Monday a measure that would ban elected officials - from Sacramento down to the smallest city or school district - from running for public office once they are convicted of a felony.
The measure, AB 2410, was introduced by Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, D-Arleta.
It's unclear now how it will affect a number of local officials around Los Angeles County who are facing various felony charges, including City Councilman Richard Alarcon, because it applies to those who are convicted after Jan. 1, 2013.
Alarcon and his wife Flora are fighting voter fraud and perjury charges for allegedly living outside his council district and lying about it in government documents. ..
"Unfortunately, we've seen recently in the cities of Los Angeles, Hawthorne, Bell and Vernon, public officials accused or convicted of misusing their authority and violating the public's trust," Fuentes said in a statement.
"The majority of elected officials and candidates for office are honorable, upstanding individuals who have a genuine desire to serve."
Fuentes said the measure's intent is to serve as a deterrent to local officials, and it was partly prompted by the charges against Alarcon.
"It was something in my own backyard and we were aware of it," Fuentes said. "In working with the (Los Angeles) District Attorney's office, we were able to craft the language for this measure."
Alarcon said Monday that he supports the legislation.
Alarcon is termed out of his City Council seat in 2013 and is running for the 39th Assembly seat against Fuentes' staffer, Raul Bocanegra.
Fuentes has filed papers to allow him to raise money to run in 2013 for the council seat currently held by Alarcon.
Fuentes said he did not believe Alarcon will be affected because the law doesn't take effect until Jan. 1.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailynews.com ...
Democrats said to be hardest hit.
Does this law include people who forge certain identity documents?
Cause Obama may be affected...
Hmmmmmm.
too much time on their hands..
or too many scumbags in politics these days?
Well the felons can move to Washington DC and run the city.
Does that include incumbents?
This would never fly in Massachusetts. Doing a stretch at Club Fed is viewed as a career enhancer.
But, illegal aliens are good, right?
The West Virginia Rat primary ripple effect.
I wonder if this was really a big problem in California?
Yeah, you have to wait until you’re elected to commit the felonies.
Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) has introduced Resolution 152, which declares the month of October 2012 as Dwarfism Awareness Month
Gosh, ya think?
I say Bravo. Call it like it is. Get all felons out of office all the way to the top. It can only help.
This law just “diddles” the whole “musical chairs” bit where the RAT politicians change seats with each other or get appointed to some board or commission after their “public stealing” ( sorry public “service”). Just noted in the recent CA State Parks money scandal that they guy who is the “secretary” of the State Natural Resources Agency is a termed out RAT sate legislator from Santa Cruz.
My guess is that those convicted felons (or those that haven’t been caught yet) already holding office do no want the competition.
James Traficant ran from prison and got 15% of the vote.
Does the bill still allow convicted felons to vote and make campaign contributions?
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