The final battlefield in the fight between Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Ca ada Flintridge, and Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles may not play out in Sacramento – but in the East San Gabriel Valley.
That’s because there’s a better than 50-50 chance that Portantino will take on Perez acolyte Assemblyman Roger Hernandez, D-West Covina, in a race for an open congressional district that stretches from El Monte to West Covina and includes Azusa and La Puente.
Doubtless, Perez’s employees are already gearing up with quotes ready made for a Hernandez mailer.
For example, consider this beauty from Perez’s spokesman, John Vigna, about Portantino: “We had to take away his checkbook because he was writing checks he couldn’t cash.”
Or this: Portantino’s “budget wasn’t frozen (it) was overspent.”
On the other hand, Hernandez has some baggage of his own. For example, take that run-in with the law following an alleged domestic dispute just prior to a 2007 City Council election.
Clearly, Portantino’s planned introduction of a bill seeking greater transparency in the state Legislature, puts Hernandez on the spot. If Hernandez votes for it, he risks angering Perez – and putting a kink in the flow of money to his campaign coffers. If he votes against it, he’s given Portantino talking points that will play to centrist voters seeking accountability in Sacramento and Washington.
FACEBOOK THIS WEEK: Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte: “Health reform gives security to families & puts them in charge, not insurance companies. It’s constitutional. http://t.co/prz7add”
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena: “Today I hosted a roundtable discussion with local business leaders, entrepreneurs, & Caltech faculty & students at the Caltech Avery Library, focusing on our economic competitiveness, the environment for start-ups and the impact of visa policies in Southern California and across the nation.”
Assemblywoman Norma Torres, D-Pomona: “Today Taliban insurgents shot down a United States Chinook helicopter, killing 31 US Servicemen along with 7 Afghanis. My heart goes out to their families; please keep them in your prayers.”
Assemblyman Roger Hernandez, D-West Covina: “At the California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs Committee looking at ways to increase trade efficiency between California and Mexico.”
Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Ca ada Flintridge: “Let me and my staff do our jobs and let me vote my conscience!”
Assemblyman John Perez, D-Los Angeles: “I figured its time to join the 21st century and joined Facebook … I heard all the cool kids were doing it.”
Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Hesperia: “Today, the recklessness of the Washington politicians caught up with our country, and the lowering of our credit rating will drive up the costs of capital to businesses, leading to economic contraction rather than expansion and job creation. Thanks Washington!!”
Frank C. Girardot is the editor of the Pasadena Star-news. You can reach him via phone at 626-962-8811, ext. 4478 or via email at frank.girardot@sgvn.com.
