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Maldonado considering run for governor

March 4, 2013
Abel Maldonado

Abel Maldonado

Former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado said Sunday he is seriously considering a 2014 run for governor against Democratic incumbent Jerry Brown. [SanFranciscoChronicle]

Maldonado told the Chronicle he could “bring a different face” and a new Republican message to California and that he is strongly mulling the run against the three term Democrat not only to strengthen the party, but also to encourage the kind of vibrant two-party political debate that makes for “a better state.”

“I’ve been encouraged publicly, and privately to offer a challenge to Brown as the California Republican Party is in such dire straits that it appears the Democrat could easily sail to a fourth term without serious opposition,” Maldonado said to the Chronicle. “At this point in time, I’m seriously thinking about it. I think I need to decide sooner rather than later.”

During a three-day GOP statewide confab in Sacramento, Republicans discussed Maldonado’s possible candidacy as a path to help the GOP rebound from historically low voter registration and a minority status in the state legislature.

Critics note that Maldonado has lost his last three races. In 2010 he lost his bid for Lt. Governor to Democrat Gavin Newsom. Then in 2012, he made an unsuccessful House bid against Democrat Lois Capps

During the election, Capps attacked Maldonado repeatedly over his personal and family tax disputes with the Internal Revenue Service.

Maldonado told the Chronicle his party must aggressively offer “a new message” in California and he rejects the idea that a battle against the popular Democratic governor would be a “suicide mission.”

“When I was picking strawberries, and I had strawberry stains on my pants and no (water) cooler in the fields, people said, “that guy’s on suicide mission,” Maldonado said to the Chronicle. “Those are the prices you have to pay to achieve what you want to achieve.

“Hard work? I’m not afraid of that.”

 


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What do you want from the poor guy, he’s had a couple of government jobs and does not ever want to have to do an honest days work again. I don’t blame him its a great job and you don’t need any qualifications or character to hold any government job these days


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Please Abel, just ride off into the sunset.


And I hate the idea of term limits in general. It takes choices AWAY from me. The electorate needs to be more informed. They get what they deserve, right?


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Clearly Abel, you’re not able to win. For God’s sake, you even lost to Newsome!

Try running for Mayor of Santa Maria…that would be a better fit.


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Wow, no one gets it, there are now just too many takers in California for even a fake conservative to win. As long as the majority thinks they can vote themselves a free ride on the few people left who work real (private sector) jobs, California is doomed. Come on folks really? Stuff like breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided by schools because parents can’t or won’t feed their own children. A 100+ billion dollar high speed rail system in the middle of nowhere built by lowest bid contractors? Right here in Los Osos a 200+ million dollar sewer system for 15,000 people? Telling Morro Bay and Cayucos don’t bother fixing your sewer system that’s been there for 50 years, just build a complete new facility 5 miles inland OK? No big deal right? It’s only tax money, it’s not like it was real money. And no one sees any problem with this stuff.


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Well, I thought I had heard it all – but this beats everything. About the only thing I can think of that would be more surprising is that Mitt Romney is being considered for the next Pope!


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Some may hold their nose and vote for Abel but most will hold their nose, close their eyes and never find the ballot box. California is overdue for someone that is not a politician, a secular mind that will force the painful fix.


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Abel, Abel, Abel…don’t do it bro, you can’t win.


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More like “Don’t do it, bro, you suck” is how I would phrase it. This guy is as phony as they come.


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Along with term limits we need to insist that all unspent campaign dollars be returned or donated after the election is over. All that money just sitting in a bank waiting for the next public office to open up is giving these people illusions of grandeur. C’mon Able don’t they need you back on the farm?


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Love the idea!


put all the money in one bucket and give it to the disadvantaged? like the idea, but that surplus might enexclipably disappear. isn’t that happening now? i sound like eeyore


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