What's next for Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado?

Posted: Nov 3, 2010 10:07 PM by Monica Quintero
Updated: Nov 4, 2010 8:23 AM

Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado talks about election loss

What's next for Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado? California voters chose San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to be the state's next lieutenant governor. The Santa Maria native joined KSBY News live in studio on Wednesday. We asked Maldonado just that, if he has any plans. We also asked him some tough questions about what possibly could have hurt him in the race.

It's hard for many to imagine Maldonado not in politics. At the age of 26, he first ran for office and was elected to the Santa Maria City Council. Two years later, he was elected mayor. He's also been a state assemblyman, state senator and currently, is the state's lieutentant governor.

We asked him what's next. Maldonado said, "I really don't know. I didn't know eight months ago I was going to be lieutenant governor. I was nominated, I didn't know I was going to be confirmed."

So what cost Maldonado the race? We asked him if he had lost party support. Back in 2007, Maldonado was the first Republican in the state senate to vote for the budget during the budget deadlock. He said, "I didn't want to vote for the budget but I felt it was something that needed to be done. I don't think that's what hurt in this campaign."

During his campaign, it was revealed his family farm had racked up dozens of safety violations including exposing workers to toxic pesticides. His reaction, that was just politics. Maldonado says what played a role in his loss, Jerry Brown beating Meg Whitman. Maldonado said, "At the end of the day, we have the top of the ticket that didn't go as we thought. When you are running in a statewide race it's like when you have Nascar, you follow the leader and if the leader does well, you're going to be right behind it."

Despite his loss, the Santa Maria native seemed very upbeat in studio. He says he even called Newsom and left him a message. Maldonado says he wants a smooth transition and told Newsom whatever you need the answer is yes.