Abel Maldonado
Republican
| Date | Party | Office | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-03-1998 | Republican | AD-33 | 76062 | Win |
| 11-07-2000 | Republican | AD-33 | 95644 | Win |
| 11-05-2002 | Republican | AD-33 | 76590 | Win |
| 11-02-2004 | Republican | SD-15 | 194674 | Win |
| 11-04-2008 | Republican | SD-15 | 222617 | Win |
| 02-11-2010 | Republican | Lieutenant Governor | 0 | Lose |
| 05-17-2010 | Republican | Lieutenant Governor | 0 |
| Website: | republican.sen.ca.gov/web/15 |
| Email address: | senator.maldonado@sen.ca.gov |
Candidate Biography:
Abel Maldonado, Jr.
Born: August 21, 1967 in Santa Maria, CA
Occupation: Farmer/Business Owner
Married: Laurie.
Children: Erika, Nicolas, Marcus, and Galdino
University: CalPoly San Luis Obispo (BS; Crop Science, [Did not graduate])
1994-1996: Member, Santa Maria City Council
1996-1998: Mayor, Santa Maria
2006: Primary Candidate for Controller (Lost; 37%)
2008: Write-in [Democratic] Primary Candidate for SD-15 (Lost; 20.2%)
2009: Proponent, Proposition 1F [Elected Officials' Salaries] (Passed; 74.0%)
2010: Proponent, "Top Two Primaries Act" Initiative (PENDING)
- Has filed to run for Lieutenant Governor in 2010.
- LEGISLATION: Author of Proposition 14 (2010) [Top Two Primaries Act]. The language for SCA 4 (2009) which became Proposition 14 came from California Independent Voter Project, a nonprofit created by Steve Peace and Jeff Marston.
- LEGISLATION: With Marco Antonio Firebaugh, Maldonado was the author of AB 540 (2001) which granted in-state college tuition rates to illegal immigrants who had graduated from a California high schools.
- In 2009, Ernie Konnyu attempted to organize a recall against Maldonado in retaliation for his vote in favor of tax increases in the 2009-10 State Budget which were estimated to raise $12-15 billion. The recall attempt failed to materialize and Konnyo never filed the "Notice of Intention to Recall an Official" with the Secretary of State's office.
- CURRENT EVENTS: Maldonado is one of three individuals to be refused confirmation by the Legislature following appointment by a Governor to fill a vacant statewide office. His appointment as Lieutenant Governor (following the resignation of John Garamendi) was approved by the Senate but rejected by the Assembly.
- The Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center is located in Santa Maria.