Senator Lara Statement on Removal of Senator Ron Calderon from Latino Legislative Caucus Executive Board

SACRAMENTO, CA – Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Huntington Park/ Long Beach), Chairman of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, today released the following statement:

“This has been a banner year for the Latino Caucus. We set out to make a difference and were able to make major strides in improving the lives of all Californians by facilitating driver’s licenses for the undocumented community, expanding health care access to the uninsured, and expanding educational opportunities for millions of students.

Unfortunately, recent allegations against one of our Caucus members, Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello), threaten to overshadow our accomplishments and undermine the integrity of the Caucus as a whole. 

We take these grave allegations seriously. While we make no judgment as to the veracity, we have a duty to protect the integrity of a distinguished Caucus.

In fact, since my election as Chair last year, I have worked hard to make the Caucus, its policies and finances as transparent and open as possible.  It should go without saying but I do not take lightly the public trust that comes with elective office and I do not condone nor would ever engage in any activity that puts that trust in question.

In order to address all distractions that may impede our progress, the California Latino Legislative Caucus has removed Senator Calderon as a member of our Executive Board. In his place, I have appointed Senator Norma Torres (D-Pomona) who today, was also selected to sit on the Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics.

As a Caucus, we stand proud of our legislative accomplishments this year. Our focus remains on working together to build upon these policy successes with another ambitious policy agenda in 2014.”

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Contact: Lizette Mata, (916) 651-4499