California Lawmaker Wants a Non-Partisan Secretary of State's Office Max Pringle Thursday, March 6, 2014 | Sacramento, CA Listen / Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Max Pringle / CPRN Republican Assemblymember Jeff Gorell authored the amendment. He says making the office that oversees the state’s elections non-partisan would enhance voter confidence. The amendment would also give the job of drafting ballot language to the non-partisan Secretary of State’s office, taking that duty away from the Attorney General. “The perception of that process would benefit, I think, by moving it over to an independent non-partisan elected Secretary of State’s office,” says Gorell St. Mary’s College Politics Professor Steve Woolpert says that part of the amendment is more about the likely party affiliation of the Attorney General. “The Democrats who are likely to gain election to the Attorney General’s office, are going to be in a position to make decisions about state-wide ballot initiatives,” Woolpert says. Two-thirds of the legislature would have to approve the amendment. It would then go to the voters in November. Related StoriesCalifornia Campaign Finance Regulator Resigns Before ElectionMay 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.California Senator Tony Mendoza Resigns After Sexual Harassment Investigation, But Says He'll Run For Re-ElectionFebruary 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. Report: California Senator Tony Mendoza ‘More Likely Than Not’ Made Sexual Advances Toward Six WomenFebruary 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. Window For Sexual Harassment Complaints Could Widen Under New BillsJanuary 18, 2018New legislative efforts supporting the “Me Too” anti-harassment movement could change the reporting process for victims filing complaints.Women In Calif. Politics Share What They'd Like To See ChangeOctober 26, 2017Women in California politics, protesting sexual harassment and abuse at the Capitol, distrust the response from legislative leaders. Follow us for more stories like this CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today. Donate Today
