Editorials : Our Opinion: Congressman Abel Maldonado?

: Our
Opinion: Congressman Abel Maldonado?
March 2, 2011 2:44 PM

Former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado's announcement

that he definitely will be a candidate for the 23rd Congressional
District in 2012 makes him the odds-on favorite to be elected
to this seat, defeating incumbent Rep. Lois Capps.

Mr. Maldonado is the embodiment of the American dream. His

family were immigrant farmworkers.

After graduating from Santa Maria High School, he attended

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Mr. Maldonado then took over
Abel Maldonado
management of family farming operations, turning a half-acre
farm into a 6,000-acre business employing 250 individuals.

In 1994 and 1996, he was elected to the Santa Maria City Council and then as mayor. In 1998, he was
elected to the California 33rd Assembly District, representing northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo
counties. He was reelected in 2000 and 2002.

Mr. Maldonado's meteoric rise continued when he was elected to the California state Senate in 2004, to
which he was reelected in 2008.

In 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Mr. Maldonado to the vacant office of lieutenant governor
after John Garamendi was elected to Congress. At first, Mr. Maldonado was not confirmed, but then he was
with bipartisan support. Many Democrats in the state Legislature voted for Mr. Maldonado's confirmation.

By way of contrast to Mr. Maldonado, Mrs. Capps has very limited private sector experience. She is an
emphatic supporter of Obama-care, which would throttle small businesses and increase unemployment.

Mrs. Capps performed weakly in her most recent reelection bid to Congress, receiving merely 57 percent of
the vote against challenger Tom Watson.

However, the 23rd District currently is among the most gerrymandered in the nation. This will change in
2012, when new district lines are drawn by an impartial commission.

For this reason, notwithstanding her incumbency, Mrs. Capps should be considered the underdog in the
race, should she continue to seek reelection.

A new 23rd Congressional District encompassing Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties would likely
elect Mr. Maldonado or another challenger to Mrs. Capps to Congress.

A week is a long time in politics. A year is an eternity. Much will change between now and November 2012
that will affect this election. At the same time, it appears possible that the political wave that struck the rest
of the nation in 2010 may reach California in 2012. Unemployment in the state exceeds 12 percent. The cost
of energy is increasing. Businesses are leaving the state.

Mrs. Capps represents more of the same — the tired old policies of the past. Mr. Maldonado or another
challenger, including Mr. Watson, would bring a fresh approach to Congress.

It is time for new representation in the 23rd District. It is time for a replacement to Mrs. Capps. This
candidate could well be former Santa Maria City Council member and mayor, and former California state
assemblyman, senator and lieutenant governor, Abel Maldonado.