Calderon’s decision came in the face of a threatened suspension by his fellow Democrats.
Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg had given Calderon a week – from last Monday – to either resign, to take a leave of absence, or face a suspension vote on the Senate floor.
Sunday evening, Calderon issued a statement saying that this is not a resignation, because he still will have his day in court. But because of all the materials he has to review, he expects to be absent until the end of the session in August.
And because he’s termed out, that in effect means that Ron Calderon has cast his final vote in the state Senate.
Calderon is the second Senate Democrat in the last week to take a leave of absence. Democrats have now lost their two-thirds supermajority, meaning they now need at least one Republican to raise taxes and fees, pass urgency legislation or send ballot measures to voters.
Last week, Sen. Rod Wright (D-Los Angeles) turned in his request for a leave of absence after being convicted of perjury and voter fraud. Some Republicans are expected to again push for Wright's suspension or expulsion.
May 30, 2018Fair Political Practices Commission chairperson Jodi Remke announced Tuesday that she will step down on Friday. It follows months of acrimony with other commissioners.
February 22, 2018His resignation followed an outside investigation, which found that Mendoza likely engaged in "flirtatious or sexually suggestive" behavior with six different women, including former staffers and fellows. The allegations date back to 2007.
February 20, 2018A summary of the Senate’s outside investigation comes after the chamber’s Rules Committee met in closed session to discuss Mendoza’s fate for the second weekday in a row.
January 18, 2018New legislative efforts supporting the “Me Too” anti-harassment movement could change the reporting process for victims filing complaints.
October 26, 2017Women in California politics, protesting sexual harassment and abuse at the Capitol, distrust the response from legislative leaders.
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