State News Shot

Redistricting Fight in Arizona

Last Updated on Monday, 3 January 2011 03:03 Written by rslcpol Monday, 3 January 2011 03:03

From the ArizonaRepublic:

Republican lawmakers Thursday sued the state panel that is charged with nominating candidates to redraw Arizona’s political boundaries, charging the group failed to produce a list of candidates who are qualified and willing to serve.

The suit, filed with the state Supreme Court just before the holiday weekend began, comes a day after the panel rebuffed requests by House Speaker Kirk Adams and Senate President-elect Russell Pearce to reconsider the list of redistricting candidates.

The lawmakers are asking the court for quick action, noting that Adams is bound by the state Constitution to make the first appointment to the Independent Redistricting Commission by Jan. 31.

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Former Governor Gives Gift to Lt. Governor

Last Updated on Monday, 3 January 2011 03:10 Written by rslcpol Monday, 3 January 2011 03:00

From NewsTribune.com:

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has received a $300,000 gift from former Gov. Matt Blunt — just in time for the new political year.

Blunt has forgiven a large loan he made to Kinder’s 2008 lieutenant governor’s campaign. The decision frees Kinder to focus on fundraising for his likely challenge of Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2012 instead of on paying off his past political debt.

Jefferson City attorney Jared Craighead, who handles campaign finance issues for Kinder, confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the debt had been canceled. He provided a letter dated Wednesday from Blunt’s brother and campaign treasurer — Andy Blunt — informing Kinder’s committee of the loan forgiveness.

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Florida: AG Pam Bondi Sets Stage for her Tenure

Last Updated on Monday, 3 January 2011 02:58 Written by rslcpol Monday, 3 January 2011 02:58

From MiamiHerald.com:

New hires and changes in the structure of the attorney general’s office have set the stage for Pam Bondi’s tenure as the first woman to serve as Florida’s chief legal officer.

Bondi said she will likely push for legislation to tighten Florida’s regulation of pain clinics. BP oil spill claims, Medicaid fraud and gangs will also be areas of emphasis, she said.

Most significant: On Friday, Bondi named former state Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, to a new post focusing on prescription pill abuse.

“He’s very familiar with this issue. He cares very deeply about this issue,” Bondi, a Republican, said of Aronberg, who lost the Democratic primary for attorney general.

The fact that he’s a Democrat, she said, doesn’t matter.

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MS: Lt. Governor makes Governor Bid Official

Last Updated on Monday, 3 January 2011 02:54 Written by rslcpol Monday, 3 January 2011 02:54

From ClarionLedger.com:

Considered the front-runner for Mississippi’s top state-wide office, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is expected today to make official his bid to become the next governor.

Today is the first day for candidates to qualify for state office, and that’s likely to set off a political chain reaction as the Legislature heads back to the Capitol for the 2011 session this week.

“I’ve made no secret of my interest in running for governor,” Bryant recently told The Clarion-Ledger. “I think it is a natural progression as the lieutenant governor and someone who has worked so closely with Gov. (Haley) Barbour.”

Still Bryant’s announcement will pave the way for others to line up their bids for the statewide ballot.

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Special Election in California

Last Updated on Monday, 3 January 2011 02:52 Written by rslcpol Monday, 3 January 2011 02:52

The RSLC will continue tracking special elections across the country in 2011. Check out RSLC.com see if there are any in your area!

After the November primary thinned the Republican contenders from three to one, Democratic Mayor Ken Cooley of Rancho Cordova and Republican Assemblyman Ted Gaines of Roseville will face each other Jan. 4 in the final vote to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Dave Cox.

Gaines led the pack in the primary in spite of the split Republican vote, but only led Cooley by 5,000 votes. Republicans Barbara Alby and Roger Niello had 140,000 votes between them that are now up for grabs.

Cooley said he doesn’t expect the votes to simply go to Gaines as the remaining Republican – while Niello endorsed Gaines after his primary loss, Cooley isn’t convinced Niello’s supporters will follow his lead.

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WV: Former Secretary of State Wants to be Governor

Last Updated on Monday, 3 January 2011 02:53 Written by rslcpol Monday, 3 January 2011 02:49

From theintelligencer.net

Former West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland believes state residents should get the right to elect a governor in 2011 – and she intends to be among the candidates when a special election for governor is set.

Ireland – a Republican who served as the state’s chief election officer from 2005 to 2009 – expects the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to rule sometime in January on filings requesting a special election for governor this year in the state.

“I don’t know how the court is going to rule, but this is what I think should happen,” Ireland said. “People need to have a say when as to when we should have an election, and I think people would like to have a chance to vote for governor sooner rather than later.”

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CA: Second Senate Special Election Set

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 02:26 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 22 December 2010 02:26

From SignOnSanDiego.com:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has set a special election to fill the vacancy created in the state Senate when George Runner won election to the Board of Equalization.

Under California’s new open primary law, the top two vote-getters in a Feb. 15 primary will advance to an April 19 runoff election, regardless of party affiliation.

There will be no runoff if a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote in February.

Runner, a Republican from Lancaster, resigned his 17th Senate District seat Tuesday. The district covers parts of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Bernardino counties.

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UT AG will Continue Working Throughout Cancer Treatment

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 01:16 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 22 December 2010 01:16

From heraldextra.com:

Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff plans to stay in office and intends to work during treatments for cancer over six months.

He said Tuesday he will begin chemotherapy for colon cancer by the end of January. Treatments will be done every two weeks.

Shurtleff, 53, was diagnosed with cancer after a tumor was discovered earlier this month in his appendix during a routine medical exam. The tumor was removed, but cancer was found in three lymph nodes.

Flanked by his doctor, his wife and his youngest daughter, Shurtleff spoke to the media at the Salt Lake City medical clinic where he will be treated.

He was mostly optimistic, especially when vowing to overcome the cancer and have the strength to remain in office.

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Bad News Continues for Louisiana Democrats

Last Updated on Wednesday, 22 December 2010 11:14 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 22 December 2010 11:14

From VermillionToday.com:

Sen. Nick Gautreaux will resign as a Louisiana senator, according to a Christmas greeting parish residents received Tuesday night.

The message does not say when is his last day, but sources close to Gautreaux say it could be W.

Residents began getting the greeting after 5:30 p.m. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and then informed the person on the other end of the phone that he will resign as the state senator for the district to accept a new job with the Department of Motor Vehicles with the Jindal administration.

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Redistricting: Republicans Gain the edge

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 03:08 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 21 December 2010 03:08

The LA Times points out how the census has awarded traditionally Republican states seats in Congress while Democrat states have lost some. Thanks to massive gains in the election, Republicans are in good position for the Redistricting process.

The Democrats’ legal effort appears to be stronger and better organized now than the Republicans. History shows there is reason for Democrats to worry. Following the 1990 census, the GOP gained more than two dozen seats in the U.S. House attributed to the redrawing of district lines, a shift that paved the way for Republicans to take control of the House in 1994.

“We are in a position to exceed those gains,” said Christopher Jankowski, who directs redistricting for the Republican State Leadership Committee. He noted in an interview Tuesday that the GOP now controls 25 legislatures, up from just 14 before the November elections. “That’s more success than either party has seen in modern history,” Jankowski said.

The redrawn boundaries also could determine future control of the White House, as each state receives one electoral college vote for every seat it holds in the House of Representatives.

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