On April 22, the California Senate Elections Committee will hear SCA 16. This is the proposed state constitutional amendment to eliminate special elections when a vacancy occurs in the legislature. The proposal would let the Governor appoint someone of the same political “preference” as the original legislator. If the legislature passes this bill, then the voters would vote on the idea. The bill needs a two-thirds vote in the legislature.
One more increase MONARCHY power scheme.
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Candidate/incumbent rank order lists of replacements.
Legislative body to fill vacancy if no list candidate qualifies.
If one understands voters as mere ratifies and less choosers it’s natural ask why there were ever special election. Special election: the phrase sounds wildcard. Slightly more unpredictability, less stability.
This is a bad bill sure but the degraded idea of the voter if this prevails. A close-up on what’s normally a down-ballot race. That’s something too wasteful?
Special elections showcase vacancy and advantages incumbency keep are at odds.
In 2005 I worked in a special election in Orange County,
CA. On election day my candidate received the highest
vote count. How ever he was not elected. If he had been
he would of been “American Independent Party”.
So if this SCA gets approved by the voters, to hold a senate
or assembly seat to replace an outgoing member of those bodies, the governor can appoint with the approval of that body.
Therefore, the make up of those bodies could not change, and
no one would register as a party preference other that the
party preference ob the current member in office.
Questions how many RINOS would Governor Brown as a replacement
pick or in a district that elected a AIP legislator, why would
Governor Brown pick someone with the political views of the
AIP, unless he found an “in name only” elector that picked
a party preference of the American Independent Party?
This is a very bad legislation.
Sincerely, Mark Seidenberg, Vice Chairman,
American Independent Party of CAlifornia