Price Resignation Letter

Current Price resigned from the State Senate this morning, concluding his service with the longest resignation letter in more than a decade. At 240 words, Price’s letter is the longest since Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas resigned the very same seat in 2009 (but used an extra 56 words to do it.

From a historian’s perspective, Price did it right. He used his letter (which will be printed in the Senate Journal) to define what he felt were the high points of his legislative career and his hopes for the future, in addition to the official “I hereby resign effective…” part.

Compared to his 2009 resignation from the Assembly (a 50-word letter that communicated only the minimum technical details of his departure), Price’s 2013 letter was a well and carefully reasoned farewell letter to the institution where he had served for five years.

Senator Price

June 30, 2013

Dear President Pro Tem Steinberg

I hereby resign effective June 30, 2013 from the California State Senate to be sworn in as Los Angeles City Councilman for City Council District 9.
Representing the 26th Senate District these past five years in the California State Senate has been the most gratifying experience of my decades-long career in public service.
Under your leadership, we were able to pass the kind of laws that not only protect the interests of all Californians but also improve the quality of life for generations to come.
As you know I have a keen interest in small business development and while serving in the Legislature I authored legislation that increased opportunities for small businesses to compete for state contracts and offered incentives for creating new jobs.
This type of legislation sparks economic growth, encourages innovation, opens the doors for diversity in public contracting and stimulates our state’s economy. I also successfully carried bills that expanded health care, increased educational opportunities, promoted civic engagement and supported the Arts. I am proud of these accomplishments.
While I am sad about leaving the Senate, I am excited about going home. I was born in the 9th District of Los Angeles and I have seen that community suffer a serious decline.
I know the skills I have learned in my years working with you and under your able leadership will help me build the consensus and momentum that is necessary to create a “New 9th District”.
Sincerely

Curren Price Jr.

Well done, Senator Price!

SD16: Down to the wire.

Two special elections today….

Andy Vidak

In the SD-16 Special Primary, candidate Andy Vidak is in a close race to avoid a run-off on July 23rd. With 45% of precincts reporting, Vidak leads Leticia Perez 52.1%  to 40.9% with three other candidates making up the balance of the total. The significance of this special election rolling on to July is that it assures that there will be at least one vacancy in the Legislature through September (due to at least one legislator resigning to take a seat on the Los Angeles City Council). July 10th will mark the sixth straight year in which there was never a legislative session day at which all 80 Assemblymembers and 40 Senators were present.

In AD-80, Lorena Gonzalez easily beat Steve Castaneda to fill the seat vacated by Ben Hueso when he was elected to the Senate. Gonzales will likely be sworn in as early as Friday’s Assembly floor session. Gonzalez will be the 3,713th person to serve in the California State Assembly.


UPDATED 5/22 @ 7:36 AM: With 100% of precincts reporting, it now appears safe to say that Vidak won the election with nearly 52%.

SD-16 and AD-80 candidates set

The Secretary of State will be releasing the official list of qualified candidates for the SD-16 and AD-80 Special Elections on April 2, but the Notice to Candidates (an early list of candidates that’s almost always identical to the qualified candidates list) came out late last week. The candidates are:

Senate District 16

  • Mohammad Arif     Peace and Freedom
  • Paulina Miranda     Democratic
  • Leticia Perez     Democratic
  • Francisco “Frank” Ramirez     Democratic
  • Andy Vidak     Republican

Assembly District 80

  • Steve Castaneda    Democrat
  • Lorena Gonzalez    Democrat

For more information, visit joincalifornia.com/election/2013-05-21