Since State Senate Pro Tem (and reported womanizer) Kevin De Leon is termed out, he had to pass the CA State Senate gavel onto someone else.
Reports indicated that Bob Hertzberg of the West Valley section of Los Angeles was angling for the job. He would have been the worst nightmare for the Republicans in Sacramento and for the state as a whole. "An evil genius", in the words of one source, he would have assured a nuclear winter for whatever was left of the state GOP caucus.
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Connie Leyva of Ontario announced her interest in the position, too. She tries to play a more qualified role in Sacramento politics. She has even found herself on the wrong side of the Establishment. In one heated exchange over a green energy bill, her co-sponsorship was stripped for endorsing another candidate in a bitter assembly race.
Leyva is not well-connected enough, and she is to quiet and compliant for the Pro Tem position. De Leon has tapped former State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins to take his place.
Not sure what to think of this. She is an open lesbian whose partner has had corrupt dealings with housing and construction, especially when it comes to low-income housing. She loves illegal aliens and wanted to spearhead the creation of "The Department of New Americans", aka illegal aliens living in California, shielded from deportation. This is criminal behavior, seditious nonsense, treason of the worst kind.
But at least she's not Bob Hertzberg, right? It's too bad that California's law-abiding citizenry has to settle for Democrat vs. Progressive Leftists in key contests for power, but that's they way the chips have fallen at this time.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports:
Thursday that the chamber is set to pick San Diego Sen. Toni Atkins as his
successor, making her the first woman and first openly gay legislator to hold
the leadership position, a move that is bringing praise from Democrats and Republicans
alike.
D-San Diego, “will make history and be our Senate's next president pro tempore.
I have every confidence she will lead America's most accomplished legislative
chamber to even greater heights and build on our extraordinary progress.”
support for Atkins and there will be a formal vote in early January before a
transition next year. De León leaving stepping down as president to run for the
U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
time that Atkins, 55, of South Park, has been the leader of one of the chambers
in Sacramento. Elected to the State Assembly in 2010, she served as speaker
from May 2014 until March 2016.
2008. She served as acting mayor for several months during the pension crisis
that erupted in 2005.
in me, and I intend to earn that trust every day by working tirelessly and
inclusively to keep California a place of opportunity for everyone,” Atkins
said in a statement.
important than ever – and I look forward to working with our president pro tem
and all of our colleagues to ensure that the Senate continues to rise together
to meet the challenges faced by the great people we represent,” Atkins’
statement said.
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Niguel, issued a laudatory statement about the announcement and described a
cooperative working relationship with her Senate colleague.
career, I know this one is particularly special. Congratulations to Senator
Toni Atkins on becoming the first female Senate President pro
Tempore-designate,” Bates said in the statement. “She is a formidable political
force who will usher in an era where the leaders of both Senate party caucuses
are women.”
substantially address the issues raised by reports concerning inappropriate
behavior. There is no place for harassment in the workplace, including the
legislature,” Bates said.
understand and connect with constituents who feel ignored, and work to advance
California’s objectives beyond the state, supporters said.
is the White House from the Senate,” Jessica Hayes, chairwoman of the county’s
Democratic party, said by telephone.
it’s important for children to see Atkins in a leadership position.
the LGBTQ community because it sends a clear message to our community across
the country, particularly LGBTQ youth, that LGBTQ people can achieve
anything," said Rick Zbur, Equality California’s executive director.