Maldonado confirmed as lieutenant governor 

A Santa Maria native will soon fill one of the top positions in California government. The Assembly and the Senate voted to confirm Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado as the state’s lieutenant governor on his second attempt.

“I thank my colleagues in the Assembly for confirming me to the office of the Lieutenant Governor today and respectfully encourage the Senate to waste no time following suit,” Maldonado said in a press release following the Assembly’s 51-17 vote on April 22.

The Senate followed suit on April 26 with a vote of 25-7.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nominated Maldonado late last year to fill the position vacated by Democrat John Garamendi, who left to serve in the U.S. Congress.

A swearing-in ceremony is planned for April 27. Maldonado was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Once sworn in, Maldonado will have endured the longest confirmation process in California’s history, according to information from Maldonado’s office. Besides taking over for the governor as needed, the lieutenant governor serves as the president of the state Senate and  holds seats on several key commissions and boards, such as the California State Lands Commission, the University of California Board of Regents, the California State University Board of Trustees, and the California Commission on Economic Development.