Lockyer Elected to Succeed Roberti as Leader of Senate

Sen. Bill Lockyer (D-Hayward) was unanimously elected state Senate leader Monday, succeeding David A. Roberti (D-Van Nuys) who had served as Senate president pro tem for more than 13 years.

The Senate voted 39 to 0 to pick the moderate-to-liberal Lockyer after Democrats and the Senate’s two independents rejected a GOP effort to install Republican Ken Maddy in the post.

Lockyer promised to bring a “slightly different policy emphasis” to the Senate leader’s job and to “push a little harder . . . for creative solutions to the challenges facing our state.”

“That’s what our constituents all expect,” he said. “I hope I can respond to that.”

He announced that he will expand the Senate’s workweek by convening the chamber on Monday mornings instead of Monday afternoons and will urge senators to get to sessions on time. The Senate is well-known for routinely starting its meetings at least 20 minutes late.

Sen. Rob Hurtt, (R-Garden Grove), who has urged a more partisan stance by Republican lawmakers, was the only senator who refused to vote for Lockyer.

Roberti indicated several months ago that he planned to step down early this year to focus on his campaign for state treasurer. He is also trying to fend off a recall effort backed by several gun groups.