The decision to purchase luxury vehicles at taxpayer expense hit a nerve, especially at a time when thousands of state workers could lose their jobs, and services will be cut.
Newly elected official Bill Leonard got a warm welcome at Wednesday's Board of Equalization meeting. When it was over, the San Bernadino Republican answered questions about his request for a new state vehicle -- a 2003 Ford Expedition with an estimated value of more than $47,000.
"What I have done is to try to find out how bad the state situation is... because the governor has misled us on the state of the fiscal crisis," Leonard said.
Leonard was eager to show his personal vehicle -- an older model truck. He says he needs four-wheel drive and top notch brakes in a new vehicle.
"I've had to be at meetings where snow chains and other things are required. I just hate to be a no-show at events now that my district includes the entire Sierra Nevadas," Leonard said.
Leonard says he never saw the $47,000 estimate when he put in his order. The numbers he checked were in the high $30,000 range he says.
"It wasn't until after your story and other stories that I found out that there was a dollar figure put on the purchase estimates that hadn't been run by me," Leonard said.
Now, Leonard says state taxpayers will not be buying him a $47,000 SUV. But the ultimate amount of his new vehicle is still up in the air.
"I'm not sure what I'll be driving. I'm driving my car now," Leonard said.
The other newly elected member of the Board of Equalization is San Francisco Democrat Carole Migden. She ordered a 2003 Cadillac CTS with an estimated value of $41,000. She has refused to return calls from KCRA.
But on Wednesday afternoon, her transition manager said that Migden will pay for her new car out of her own pocket.
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- December 12, 2002: State Officials Order Expensive New Vehicles
Bully for you, Mr. Leonard.