CA: Maldonado files paperwork for Gubernatorial bid

[MilesC56]

Article.

Former lieutenant governor and state lawmaker Abel Maldonado filed papers Thursday to explore a run for governor.

The move allows Maldonado, a Santa Maria Republican, to begin raising money as he decides whether to challenge Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, who is up for reelection in 2014.

"It's time for a new direction. We need a new way," said Maldonado, 45. "Some will resist the change, and to those, I say you will like irrelevance even less. I think it's time that we move forward with some bold ideas, bold solutions and I believe we can do better as Californians."

Maldonado, a moderate who lost a congressional race in Central California last year, had been widely believed to be planning a gubernatorial run and had said he would make a decision soon.

[Solopop]

I was under the impression Brown had been an excellent Governor... am I right in thinking so?

[MilesC56]

I was under the impression Brown had been an excellent Governor... am I right in thinking so?

At this point, I think Maldonado is just a glutton for punishment.

[Vosem]

Isn't there some Indian-American former Bush Administration official we'd agreed would be the sacrificial lamb here? Maldonado really needs to, like, win an election or hold appointed office again somewhere before this happens.

[nolesfan2011]

I was under the impression Brown had been an excellent Governor... am I right in thinking so?

At this point, I think Maldonado is just a glutton for punishment.

Yea, he has no chance,  Maldonado would probably lose to almost any candidate the Dems would feasibly put up, his reputation is in tatters and he now has the "frequent candidate" label.

[dingojoe]

I know all politicians do this to some degree, but that's a ridiculous number of empty platitudes packed into a couple of sentences.

[Zioneer]

Is he trying to test how bland he can make his opening statement before anyone notices?

[Former Moderate]

I'm already starting to get Facebook ads for him. :/

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

It will be good to see him repeatedly lose elections. Karma for the stupid top two voting system he got on the ballot because the Republicans were holding budget hostage. Voters did stupidly vote for that, but they also voted to get rid of the 2/3rds requirement to pass a simple budget (raising taxes still requires 2/3rds), and they also gave the Democrats a 2/3rds majority anyways.

Seriously, we have our whole sh**tty top two system because it would help this loser win elections, and he still can't win.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

BTW, Jerry Brown hasn't filed yet for re-election. He most likely will, but if he doesn't the Democrats will have have someone notable, almost certainly one of Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa, or Hilda Solis.

[GPORTER]

I hope that he can present those bold ideas and solutions well; go out there and speak from your heart, Maldonado might have a chance (and I'd be awful happy if he won the state house).

[Χahar]

The thing about Abel Maldonado is that nobody actually likes him.

[Holmes]

I'm already starting to get Facebook ads for him. :/

My condolences.