State Senate leader wants governor to fill legislative vacancies

SACRAMENTO -- Concerned about the high cost of holding several special elections each year, state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) has proposed a ballot measure that would allow the governor to fill legislative vacancies.

Senate Constitutional Amendment 16, if approved by the voters, would require the governor to fill legislative vacancies within 21 days of a seat becoming vacant and to name an appointee from the same political party as the vacating member.

The house with the vacancy would then have 21 days to decide, by a majority vote, whether to reject the appointment.

If that happens, the governor would be able to make another appointment within 21 days.

In Los Angeles County, the cost of special elections has exceeded $14 million between 2008 and 2014, according to Mark Hedlund, a spokesman for Steinberg.

“The fact that special elections have notoriously low voter turnout compounds the problem,” Hedlund said.

The proposal drew opposition from Peter DeMarco, communications director for the Senate Republican Caucus.

“While vacancies are unfortunate, the voters should be able to elect their representatives at the local level,” DeMarco said. “People should be concerned any time Sacramento politicians propose an idea that gives them more power. ”

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