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Ronald S. Calderon
Ronald S. Calderon is a former Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing District 30 from 2006 to 2014. Before leaving the chamber, he was suspended from the chamber pending a criminal investigation. He later pleaded guilty to a single count of mail fraud on June 21, 2016.
Prior to his election to the state Senate, Calderon served in the California State Assembly from 2002 to 2006.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Calderon was appointed to the following committees:
| California committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Banking and Financial Institutions |
| • Environmental Quality |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Insurance, Chair |
Due to an investigation by the FBI, Calderon was stripped of all his committee assignments on November 12, 2013.[1]
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Calderon served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Arts |
| • Governmental Organization |
| • Insurance, Chair |
| • Public Safety |
| • Veterans Affairs |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Calderon served on these committees:
| California committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Banking, Finance and Insurance |
| • Budget and Fiscal Review |
| • Energy, Utilities and Communications |
| • Governmental Organization |
Issues
Legislative scorecard
Capitol Weekly, California's major weekly periodical covering the state legislature, publishes an annual legislative scorecard to pin down the political or ideological leanings of every member of the legislature based on how they voted on an assortment of bills in the most recent legislative session. The 2009 scores were based on votes on 19 bills, but did not include how legislators voted on the Proposition 1A (2009). On the scorecard, "100" is a perfect liberal score and "0" is a perfect conservative score.[2][3]
On the 2009 Capitol Weekly legislative scorecard, Calderon ranked as a 64.[4]
Elections
2014
- See also: State executive official elections, 2014
Calderon filed a "Statement of Intention" with the secretary of state to run for California Controller in the 2014 elections.[5] He did not appear on the primary election ballot.
2012
Calderon was running in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing California's 38th District. He sought the nomination on the Democratic ticket.[6] Calderon dropped out of the race and endorsed Linda Sanchez in January 2012.[7]
2010
- See also: California State Senate elections, 2010
Calderon won re-election to the 30th District seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition. He defeated Republican Warren P. Willis in the November 2 general election.[8]
| California State Senate, District 30 General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Ronald S. Calderon (D)
|
105,946 | |||
| Warren P. Willis (R) | 48,534 | |||
2006
In 2006 Calderon was elected to the California State Senate, District 30. He finished with 93,436 votes while his opponent Selma Minerd finished with 38,340 votes.[9] Calderon raised $968,152 for his campaign fund.
| California State Senate, District 30 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Ronald S. Calderon (D)
|
93,436 | |||
| Selma Minerd (R) | 38,340 | |||
Noteworthy events
Gift disclosure fine
In February 2010, Calderon agreed to pay a fine of $600 for failing to disclose gifts from interest groups. Thirty other California lawmakers agreed to pay fines as well. Calderon's violations, which were more than any other legislator, included $300 in concert tickets from Verizon and $250 in golfing fees from the California Cable and Telecommunications Association.[10]
Bribery indictment
Calderon was removed from the California Film Commission on October 31, 2013, after an affidavit that was leaked to media sources said that the Democratic Senator accepted more than $60,000 from an undercover FBI agent posing as a film studio owner. According to the affidavit, Calderon reportedly accepted the money in exchange for his support of tax breaks for small studios. Calderon was removed from all of his other committee assignments on November 12, 2014.[1] California State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said, “This is serious stuff, and it doesn’t reflect well on the individual involved, obviously,” Steinberg said.
The FBI opened an investigation into the leaked affidavit.[11][12] Calderon's attorney Mark Geragos said that the case was "the definition of entrapment. Most of these so-called offenses were completely manufactured by the government at the cost of millions of dollars to the taxpayer."[13]
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation searched the offices of Calderon and the Latino Legislative Caucus on June 4, 2013.[14]
On February 21, 2014, Calderon was charged with accepting $100,000 in bribes in addition to plane trips, gourmet dinners and trips to golf resorts in exchange for pushing legislation related to film tax credits and workers' compensation. "Today’s action by the US Attorney casts a shadow of corruption and greed over our government and all who serve as elected officials," said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D). Steinberg refused to comment officially until the Democratic caucus had a chance to meet.[15]
On March 3, 2014, Calderon announced he would take a leave of absence to fight his bribery charges.[16]
Calderon's brother, former assemblyman Tom Calderon, was also indicted on money laundering charges.[17][18][19]
The trial was set to begin on March 1, 2016.[20]
Plea deal and sentencing
On June 21, 2016, Calderon pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. According to the charge, he allowed bribes earmarked for his older brother (who is also facing charges) to be funneled through the younger Calderon's firm. The maximum penalty for this particular charge is 20 years in prison, but prosecutors have agreed to give Calderon a sentence of no more than 70 months in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for September 19.[21]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of California scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the California State Legislature was in session from January 6 to August 30.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the chamber.
- Legislators are scored by the California Civil Liberties Council on their votes on "bills related to due process, privacy rights, equal protection, and criminal justice."
- Legislators are scored by California Clean Money Action on their votes on bills "to limit the undue influence of Big Money in politics in California."
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on issues related to labor.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to water policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills that relate to senior issues
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to consumers.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on taxpayer-related issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental policy.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the California State Legislature was in session from December 3, 2012, to September 13, 2013
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the California State Legislature was in session from January 4 to August 31.
|
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term Ronald + Calderon + California + Senate
See also
- California State Legislature
- California State Senate
- California Senate Committees
- California State Senate District 30
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Biographical profile of Ronald S. Calderon on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 latimes.com, "Sen. Ronald Calderon stripped of committee assignments amid inquiry," November 12, 2013
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "Capitol Weekly's Legislative Scorecard," December 17, 2009
- ↑ Fox and Hounds Daily, "Random Thoughts on the Political Scene," December 18, 2009
- ↑ Capitol Weekly, "2009 Capitol Weekly State Legislative Scorecard (Archived)," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance:Statement of Intention," accessed October 31, 2014
- ↑ California Newswire, "Calif. State Senator Ron Calderon Announces Campaign for Congress," August 9, 2011
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "Ron Calderon drops bid for congress, endorses Linda Sanchez," accessed March 1, 2012
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official 2008 General election results," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ Sacramento Bee, "California lawmakers agree to pay fines over gift disclosure," February 2, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ "CBS Local Los Angeles," "In Wake Of Sting, Sen. Ron Calderon Removed From State Film Panel," accessed Nov. 1, 2013"
- ↑ "Capitol Alert," "California Sen. Ron Calderon removed from Film Commission," accessed Nov. 1, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Former state Sen. Ronald Calderon preparing for corruption trial," February 21, 2015
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "California Sen. Ronald S. Calderon, brother charged in FBI probe," February 21, 2014
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Calderon indictment could affect other races, supermajority," February 21, 2014
- ↑ sacbee.com, "Ron Calderon takes leave of absence from California Senate," March 3, 2014
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Calderon ties to water district may be part of FBI investigation," June 5, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "Lawmaker says investigation has left him stressed," June 10, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013
- ↑ Associated Press, "FBI Looking Into State Sen. Calderon, Brother Since 2005," June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013
- ↑ Fox News, "Judge to decide if corruption trial against ex-California lawmaker Ron Calderon proceeds," August 2, 2015
- ↑ KFGO, "Former California state senator pleads guilty to corruption charge," accessed June 23, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
California State Senate District 30 2006–2014 |
Succeeded by Holly Mitchell (D) |
