"Krekorian’s seat will be vacated for minimum of 4 months, leaving Liu on her own.
By Zain Shauk"
By Zain Shauk"
As California lawmakers begin forming a plan to address an estimated $21-billion budget shortfall by mid-2011, city and school officials in Glendale and Burbank will have less of a voice.
The cities, which lie largely within the 43rd Assembly District, will be without Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles), who is set to step down from his post and take his oath of office at the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday. That will leave the district’s Assembly seat vacant for at least four months, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must declare a special election within 14 days of Krekorian vacating his seat. The election could be called as early as April, but may also be proclaimed June 8, to coincide with a statewide election.
Four months without a representative will leave city and school district officials with one voice in the Legislature — Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge).
“It’s certainly a difficult time when we’re in such a period of transition,” Mary Boger, president of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, said of the challenge of being without an Assembly representative as discussions about the expected budget shortfall unfold.
Assembly members can directly voice their perspectives on specific budget cuts or spending proposals and have a say in drafting or amending plans to address the shortfall.
Krekorian proved to be a key player in similar discussions in 2009, when he helped lead opposition to a proposal to take $1 billion in Highway User Tax Account revenues from cities and local governments.
Officials in Burbank and Glendale had lobbied heavily against the proposal, which had come out of budget negotiations between Schwarzenegger, and Democratic and Republican Legislative leaders.
Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird was especially pleased with representatives like Krekorian, whom he credited with heeding a call
The cities, which lie largely within the 43rd Assembly District, will be without Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Los Angeles), who is set to step down from his post and take his oath of office at the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday. That will leave the district’s Assembly seat vacant for at least four months, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger must declare a special election within 14 days of Krekorian vacating his seat. The election could be called as early as April, but may also be proclaimed June 8, to coincide with a statewide election.
Four months without a representative will leave city and school district officials with one voice in the Legislature — Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge).
“It’s certainly a difficult time when we’re in such a period of transition,” Mary Boger, president of the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, said of the challenge of being without an Assembly representative as discussions about the expected budget shortfall unfold.
Assembly members can directly voice their perspectives on specific budget cuts or spending proposals and have a say in drafting or amending plans to address the shortfall.
Krekorian proved to be a key player in similar discussions in 2009, when he helped lead opposition to a proposal to take $1 billion in Highway User Tax Account revenues from cities and local governments.
Officials in Burbank and Glendale had lobbied heavily against the proposal, which had come out of budget negotiations between Schwarzenegger, and Democratic and Republican Legislative leaders.
Glendale City Manager Jim Starbird was especially pleased with representatives like Krekorian, whom he credited with heeding a call