THE SPEAKERSHIP BATTLE : Mountjoy Must Choose Between 2 Masters: Assembly or Senate
Republican Richard Mountjoy of Arcadia finds himself in the vortex of a political firestorm.
He has been elected to both the Assembly and the Senate, has taken the oath of office in the lower house, while apparently participating in the election of Republican leaders in the Senate, though he has yet to take the oath of office there.
If Mountjoy leaves the Assembly, his departure may tilt the 40-40 tie for Speaker in favor of veteran Democrat Willie Brown.
In the June primary, Mountjoy was elected the Republican nominee in the 59th Assembly District. Later, he won a special primary election to fill the 29th Senate District seat vacated by Frank Hill (R-Whittier), who was sent to prison on corruption charges.
To save costs, the special Senate runoff and Assembly elections were held simultaneously Nov. 8. Mountjoy won both.
The state Constitution prohibits officials from holding two offices at once. It also gives each house of the Legislature the ultimate authority to decide who is seated and who is not.
Now there is discussion that Mountjoy may choose to remain in the Assembly indefinitely, vote for Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga) as Speaker and “renounce” his Senate seat.
A special election then would be called in the early spring to fill the vacant seat. And Mountjoy could run again.
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