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Bonner announces resignation

By Sarah Rosier

WASHINGTON, D.C.: On May 23, Alabama's 1st congressional district representative, Jo Bonner (R), announced that he will be resigning from Congress in August 2013. He has accepted a position as vice chancellor of government and economic development at the University of Alabama. ^[1]^[2]

Bonner was first elected to the seat in 2002. Formerly the chairman of the House Ethics Committee, Bonner oversaw the ethics hearing of Rep. Charlie Rangel. He is currently a member of the House Appropriations Committee for the 113th Congress.^[3]

Bonner is the first member of the United States House of Representatives to resign in 2013. A special election date to fill his seat has not yet been determined. Alabama's 1st district gave Romney over 60% of the vote in the 2012 election, with Bonner running unopposed for reelection.^[1]

Massachusetts Lt. Governor Murray announces resignation

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray

By Greg Janetka

BOSTON, Massachusetts: Tim Murray (D), who has served as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts since 2007, announced today that he will resign his position effective June 2 in order to lead the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce. While Murray has been the subject of controversies, he said his decision had nothing to do with them, calling the move "a right fit and a right decision."^[4]

Murray's departure makes him the first Massachusetts lieutenant governor to resign mid-term since John Kerry in 1985 and the third lieutenant governor across the nation to resign this year. Rick Sheehy (R) left his post in Nebraska in February^[5] and Jennifer Carroll (R) resigned her position in Florida the following month.^[6] Both cases involved scandals.

Murray had been expected by many to seek the governor's seat after Deval Patrick (D) leaves office in 2015. However, Murray put those rumors to rest earlier this year. His political troubles began in November 2011 with an automobile accident involving a state vehicle and questions surrounding his ties to an ex-housing director.

Murray was involved in an automobile accident where he initially stated that he lost control of his state owned vehicle on black ice. Authorities later concluded that, based on the car's black box crash data, Murray was driving at 108 miles per hour before driving off the road and crashing. State police ruled that Murray had fallen asleep at the wheel, discounting black ice. He also took a breathalyzer test at the crash site and the test did not show any signs of alcohol. Murray accepted responsibility and was cited $555 for speeding, lane, and seat belt violations.^[7]

Around the same time, former Chelsea Housing Authority chief Michael McLaughlin came under fire and resigned after it became known that he was making $360,000 - well over the $160,000 salary he had reported on state filings.^[8] It soon came out that Murray and McLaughlin had exchanged over 80 phone calls during the seven months prior and that McLaughlin had been a key supporter of Murray's 2006 campaign and a financial supporter throughout Murray's political career which, while he was an employee of an agency that receives federal funding, could be in violation of federal law. This also brought to light accusations of apparent cronyism where Murray helped McLaughlin's son, Matthew McLaughlin, get a job as a member of a board of appeals within the state's Registry of Motor Vehicles.^[9]

As the Massachusetts Constitution does not provide a way to fill a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor, the post will remain vacant until a new officeholder is elected on November 4, 2014. The situation previously occurred in 2001 when then-Gov. Paul Cellucci resigned and Lt. Gov. Jane Swift took over as governor, leaving the position empty. In the event that Deval Patrick (D) leaves office, Secretary of State William Galvin would serve as acting governor.^[10]

As lieutenant governor, Murray served as a liaison to local officials, as well as focusing on veterans affairs, transportation, and economic development issues. In his new role at the chamber of commerce he will be making over $200,000, a jump from his current salary of $124,920.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no content must have a name


Propositions •	Recall	• Law

Press Release: Red state or blue state–it's not all about presidential elections

The Tuesday Count: Ballot certifications for 2013 and beyond

Edited by Brittany Clingen

Tuesday Count Lineup:

5 certifications
5 measures for 2013

Topics featured in this report

Certifications(News)
Abortion(2014 watch)
Petition Requirements(Ballot law)

This week, there are five new certifications to report: two for 2013, two for 2014 and one for 2016. In Colorado, the legislature approved HB 1318. As a result of this bill's passage, two legislatively-referred state statutes will appear on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2013. One, the Colorado Marijuana Excise Tax, would implement a 15% excise tax on all marijuana sales within the state, if voters choose to approve the measure in November. The revenue from this excise tax would be put toward school construction projects. The other, the Colorado Marijuana Sales Tax, if approved, would enact a 10% sales tax on marijuana. This would be in addition to the existing 2.9% state sales tax and any additional local taxes. The revenue from the sales tax would be used to oversee and regulate the retail marijuana business in the state.^[11]

The legislature in Missouri has passed HJR 11, and, as a result, voters will decide whether or not the Missouri Right-to-Farm Amendment, which would explicitly detail the rights of farmers and ranchers to partake in their livelihoods and provide food for others, should be included in the state constitution. This legislatively-referred constitutional amendment will appear on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2014. The Missouri Cattlemen's Association and other agricultural groups have expressed support for the amendment. However, Sen. Rob Schaaf has expressed concerns over the public's safety if the amendment is adopted, saying that this could lead to a situation in which it is more difficult for state regulators to control super-food poisoning bugs created as a result of feeding antibiotics to livestock.^[12]^[13]

Another 2014 certification has been confirmed in Arizona. The legislature approved SCR1016, thereby landing a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment on the ballot for the general election on November 4, 2014. If passed by voters, this amendment would create a direct mechanism by which the use of state personnel and financial resources are guaranteed to be employed only for purposes that are congruent with the Constitution.^[14] This state sovereignty measure comes on the heels of a defeated amendment that would have granted sovereignty over Arizona's natural resources based on "equal footing." This measure was rejected by 67.7% of the voters.^[15]

Finally, Minnesota is the first state to certify a ballot measure for the general election on November 8, 2016. The Minnesota Legislative Pay Council Amendment will give voters the opportunity to decide whether or not members of the state legislature should have their pay determined by an outside board. If this measure is approved, a special council will be created and tasked specifically with determining the pay of lawmakers. The council would determine new salary rates every two years. Presently, Minnesota legislators haven't received a raise since 1999.^[16]

Updated: Los Angeles voters decide on ballot measures, mayors and school boards

By Ballotpedia staff

Update 12:30 PT, May 22: Antonio Sanchez concedes L.A. school board race to Monica Ratliff.^[17]

Update 6am PT, May 22: "Monica Ratliff defeated Antonio Sanchez for the 6th District seat on the Los Angeles school board, preliminary results show," said the Los Angeles Times.^[18]

Update 3am PT, May 22: LAUSD District 6 - currently, Monica Ratliff holds a slim lead.^[19]^[20]

Update 9pm PT: Polls are closed and results are rolling in. Los Angeles Unified School District results below.

SACRAMENTO, California: Election day is here for City of Los Angeles voters. May 21st marks the sixth date in 2013 when local ballot measure elections are scheduled to take place in California. Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm PT. Today voters will decide on ballot measures, mayors and school boards. Below are quick links to each of those issues.

Three seats on the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District are up for election in 2013, covering Districts 2, 4 and 6. Incumbents Mónica García and Steve Zimmer won Districts 2 and 4. District 6, however, remained pending following the March 5 elections.

Incumbent Nury Martinez did not run for re-election in District 6, campaigning instead for the District 6 seat on the Los Angeles City Council. Antonio Sanchez and Monica Ratliff emerged as the top two candidates in the March 5 elections. Both will face-off in today's elections. In the March primary, 44% of voters voted for Sanchez, while 34% selected Ratliff. Through May 15, 2013, a total of $244,298.17 has been contributed to all direct candidate campaign committees in 2013 school board elections. An additional $2 million had been spent via independent expenditure; all independent expenditures were spent on behalf of just one District 6 candidate, Antonio Sanchez. Click here for more campaign finance details.

Check here for election results as they emerge.