Election Set to Replace Assembly's Best-Known Storyteller
California State Assembly
A special election will be conducted Jan. 12 to determine who will replace the California Assembly's best known inappropriate story teller.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced the date for the election to replace former Assemblyman Mike Duvall, R-Yorba Linda. Duvall resigned after a salacious conversation he was having with a fellow lawmaker about an alleged affair was recorded and broadcast.
An open primary -- voters can cross party lines -- will be Nov. 17.
If any candidate gets more than 50 percent the vote, he or she will win the seat outright. If no one gets a majority of the vote, the top Democratic vote-getter and the top Republican vote-getter will square off Jan. 12, according to Mike Naple, a spokesman for the governor and the Secretary of State's office.
The 72nd Assembly District covers Fullerton, Anaheim, Placentia, Orange, Brea, Yorba Linda and La Habra.
Some candidates who have declared an interest in the job include Linda Ackerman, wife of former 72nd District Assemblyman Dick Ackerman, and Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby.
Dick Ackerman served on the Fullerton City Council from 1980-1992 and represented the 72nd Assembly District from 1995-2000. He was a state senator from 2000-2008. Linda Ackerman is board member for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Republican National Committee.
Orange Councilman Jon Dumitru reportedly has said he plans to run for the seat.
Duvall resigned Sept. 9. One day after his resignation, he wanted to make it clear -- he told "inappropriate stories," but he did not have an affair.
"I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs," Duvall said in a statement on his website. "My offense was engaging in inappropriate story-telling and I regret my language and choice of words. The resulting media coverage was proving to be an unneeded distraction to my colleagues and I resigned in the hope that my decision would allow them to return to the business of the state."
Just before the start of a committee meeting earlier this summer, the married Orange County Republican and father of two was bragging to a Assemblyman Jeff Miller, who was seated to his left, about his sexual encounters with two lobbyists. Duvall apparently did not realize the audio was picked up by the Legislature's in-house channel on the mic positioned in front of him.
Here are a few details if you're in need of reminding.
