England for Lt. Gov.?

Steven Greenhut: It’s more than a rumor — California conservatives are actively recruiting a write-in candidate for lieutenant governor in response to Abel Maldonado’s refusal yesterday to sign onto the state’s appeal of the ruling overturning anti-gay-marriage Prop. 8. No one expects this conservative to have a shot at winning, but this possible candidacy is viewed as a means to bring up conservative ideas in a campaign between a liberal Republican and a liberal Democrat. For many activists we talked to, Maldonado’s refusal to file an appeal while he was acting governor (and was busy signing other laws as Schwarzenegger was out of the country) was the last straw in a career of tax hikes and government expansions. If the candidacy costs Lt. Gov. Maldonado the election, well there aren’t many conservatives who will be upset about that. One possible candidate is Karen England, executive director of the conservative Capitol Resource Institute and a long-time activist. Stay tuned.