ASSEMBLY REPUBLICANS RE-ORGANIZE; VILLINES OF FRESNO IS NEW LEADER
It is traditional that within a couple of days of each General Election, the legislative caucuses in the State Assembly gather to formally elect their leadership for the coming session. The Democrats gathered and re-elected Speaker Fabian Nunez to lead the Assembly Democrats, and the institution as they are the majority Party. Assembly Republicans gathered yesterday afternoon for many hours, debating amongst themselves the future of California, and how to make Assembly Republicans most relevant in the process.
Based on my understanding here is my 30,000 foot summary. Discussion centered around the best strategies to deal with the new paradigm in Sacramento, the change in political direction taken by Governor Schwarzenegger, and the challenges that Assembly Republicans had last year in being relevant to the process. It was all to clear that the Governor and his staff were very comfortable brokering deals with the Democratic leaders, coming to Republicans only in the end to garner some votes on issues requiring a two-thirds vote.
In that context, Assembly Republicans decided that they would be best served by electing Fresno 
Assemblyman Mike Villines (pictured to the right) to be the Republican leader. As has been written about elsewhere in the ‘blogosphere’ Villines had been quietly (or not so quietly) collecting support for a bid for leader in recent days. After lengthy discussion a majority voted for Villines, then the entire Caucus voted by acclimation to make it unanimous for Villines.
I will share that it is my belief that when you put the various Plescia and Villines ‘loyalists’ in their respective corners, the primary issue that caused a shift in leadership was a stylistic one. Mike Villines has garnered widespread support within the caucus for his style — he is open, approachable, principled and firm. He understands how to read people, and a number of members to whom I spoke tonight told me that they believe that Villines will truly be a team leader.
Late this afternoon, I had an opportunity speak with the new Assembly Republican Leader, who was certainly very humble when I spoke with him. He seemed very mindful that a heavy responsibility has been placed upon him. I asked him what his top priorities were as leader. "My first," he said, "is to represent the caucus." He went on to say, "my second main priority is pursuing fiscal restraint in our state government."
Without dwelling too much on the obvious, especially since former Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia is a friend, it would appear that the deals he brokered with the administration to place the big bang bonds package on the ballot and on last year’s out-of-balance budget were injurious to his relationship with many of his colleagues.
For members with whom I have spoken about this, their biggest issues with the Leader were not policy issues, but the way that he negotiated and the way he handled negotiations between the Governor, Democrat Leadership, and the Caucus. Of course, to be fair to Plescia, he was literally thrown into the bond negotiations in the 11th hour, and had to learn the ropes on the job.
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