Assembly Crime and Punishment

Katy Grimes: It’s never surprising when the wrath of the Speaker of the Assembly comes down on a member for failing to support the party in power on a crucial vote. That’s the way of Capitol politics.

What is surprising, is the forms the wrath takes.

In 2008, Assemblywoman Nichole Para, a Democrat, was kicked out of her Capitol office and moved across the street for not supporting the party’s state budget proposal.

In 2007, Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, was relegated to the “Doghouse,” the Capitol’s smallest and least desirable office, for challenging Democratic leaders on prison and public safety issues.

Assemblyman Juan Arambula, D-Fresno, was also relegated to the tiny “doghouse” office – all 391-square-feet – after he failed to vote for any of the 2006 infrastructure bonds.

Ouch. Punishment hurts.

And now, the latest guilty party is Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, (D-La Canada) currently in the crosshairs of his party, and Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles.

“The lone Assembly Democrat who voted against the state budget last month says his party’s leaders are now punishing him for his opposition,” the Los Angeles Times  reported.

Portantino said the chamber’s Rules Committee informed him Friday that his office budget had been slashed and his Capitol and district staff could be placed on unpaid leave for more than a month in the fall.

Does anyone really believe that Democrats will place other Democrat staff members on unpaid leave? However, if Portantino were to defect and become a Republican, then I would expect to see such punishment (only when monkeys fly).

Portantino has a staff of 11, divided up between the Capitol and his district office in Pasadena.

The Assembly Rules Committee is led by Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) who has a very large staff of 13, and is divided between three offices located in Berkeley, Oakland and the Capitol. Here’s a look at some of the Capitol staff for Democrat and Republican Assembly members – notice the stark contrast in size of Democrat staff to Republican… it looks as if some trimming could be done throughout the Democrat offices:

 

 

Anthony Portantino – Capitol Office

 

Hager, Trent	Chief of Staff	Email:
Shelton, Diane	Legislative Director	Email:
Tamariz, Michael	Legislative Aide	Email:
Horner, Philip	Legislative Assistant	Email:
Morris-Battle, Michelle	Executive Assistant, Scheduler	Email:

 

Phone: 626-577-9944 Pasadena Office

 

Hines, Julianne	District Director	Email:
Gordon, Wendy	Communications Deputy	Email:
Gasparian, Hovanes	Field Representative	Email:
Hacket, Sr., Bill	Field Representative	Email:
Lopez, Kristi	Field Representative	Email:
Turner, Tanganica	Field Representative	Email:

 

 

 

Charles Calderon – D-Whittier  (Majority Leader) Capitol Office

 

White, Thomas	Chief of Staff	Email:
Paraskevas, Helen	Scheduler	Email:
Anguiano, Carlos	Legislative Aide	Email:
Condit, Chad	Legislative Aide	Email:
Lugo, Vanessa	Legislative Aide	Email:
Ramirez, Ariana	Legislative Aide	Email:
Klein, Leticia	Secretary	Email:

 

Phone: 562-692-5858 City Of Industry Office

 

Villar, Marisela	District Director	Email:
Maes, Alicia	Scheduler	Email:
Hollon, Mike	Senior Field Representative	Email:
Estrada, Humberto	Field Representative	Email:
Rodriguez, Luis	Field Representative	Email:
Shirinian, Lerna	Field Representative	Email:
Aparicio, Vanessa	Secretary	Email:

 

 

 

Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley Phone: 916-319-2014 Capitol Office

 

Griffiths, Diane	Chief of Staff	Email:
Mooney, Liz	Legislative Director	Email:
Kurpies, Joshua	Scheduler	Email:
Trevino, Sandra	Legislative Aide	Email:
Bui, Tony	Legislative Assistant	Email:
Bedard, Michael	Fellow	Email:
Tsiagbe, Akofa	Fellow	Email:

 

Phone: 510-286-1400 Oakland Office

 

Chekal-Bain, Mark	District Director	Email:
Ibrahim, Maha	Senior Field Representative	Email:
Fortini, Frances	Director of Constituent Services	Email:
Grodin, Anne	Field Representative	Email:
Myrick, Jael	Field Representative	Email:
Perez, Dorie	Office Assistant	Email:

 

 

 

And in stark contrast…

 

Chris Norby, R-Fullerton

 

Lanza, Bryan	Chief of Staff	Email:
Martinez, Danny	Legislative Aide, Scheduler	Email:

 

Phone: 714-526-7272 Fulerton Office

 

Whitaker, Bruce	District Director	Email:
Green, Craig	Senior Field Representative	Email:
Kaiser, Carolyn	Field Representative	Email:

 

 

 

Dan Logue, R-Linda

 

Wagner, Cliff	Capitol Director, Communications Director	Email:
Kruckenberg, David	Legislative Director	Email:
Steele, Stephanie	Scheduler	Email:

 

Phone: 530-895-4217 Chico Office

 

Scolaro, Jan	District Director	Email:
Marks, Greg	Field Representative	Email:
Thompson, Steve	Field Representative	Email:

 

 

 

Linda Halderman, R-Clovis/Fresno  

 

Stein, Eric	Chief of Staff	Email:
Winn, Maggie	Legislative Director	Email:
Grooms, Robert	Scheduler	Email:

 

Phone: 559-446-2029 Fresno Office

 

Ayers, Tyler	District Director, Communications Director	Email:
Flad, Janene	Case Worker	Email:

 

 

 

JULY 12, 2011