FRESNO (KMJ) — The Assembly District 31 Special Election in full swing today, but it has made a financial dent. An estimated cost of $500,000, a tab which Fresno County is currently being forced to pick up.
“These special elections for state seats historically, most recently, are the financial burden of the counties and so that’s what happens in this instance”, says Fresno County Clerk Registrar of Voters Brandi Orth.
“This is an un-budgeted cost. We have gone to the Board of Supervisors asking for funding, the Board of Supervisors has already written a letter to the Governor requesting that the state reimburse the county.
“I don’t believe that the Governor’s office has responded”.
The Special Election was required after Henry T. Perea announced his intention to leave Assembly District 31 early. That meant the county had to find the money to democratically choose his replacement.
To win the Assembly District 31 Special Election on April 5th, a candidate needs 50% of the vote plus one. If that happens, a new representative could be in place before the end of the month.
If that doesn’t happen, then the top two candidates go onto a run-off election in June on the same date as the Presidential Primary – Tuesday June 7th. That would also be the same date as the primary for the full Assembly District 31 term.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
