Assembly Republican Caucus sees shake-up, new leadership changes

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(The Center Square) – The Assembly Republican Caucus had an abrupt change in leadership this week after former Assembly Minority Leader Heath Flora, R-Ripon, was suddenly dismissed from his role in favor of Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare.

Other Republican assemblymembers were elected to roles in the Assembly Republican Caucus, including Assemblymember David Tangipa, R-Fresno, as assembly minority whip. Assemblymember Josh Hoover, R-Folsom, was elected minority floor leader. Assemblymember Natasha Johnson, R-Lake Elsinore, was elected minority caucus chair. Assemblymember Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, was elected minority deputy leader.

Hoover told The Center Square on Wednesday that he thought Flora, who held the position of Assembly Minority Leader for almost a year, did a “fantastic” job leading the caucus.

“When he took over as leader, it was communicated very clearly that he was going to be a bridge to the next leadership,” Hoover said of Flora. “It was always the plan that it was going to happen at some point this year, and I think I’m just really excited to work with this new team on moving our caucus forward.”

According to The New York Post, Flora frustrated other Republican politicians in the California State legislature this year after voting in favor of increasing sales tax hikes. He then became the target of two ethics investigations over his alleged misuse of campaign funds and behested payments.

Data from the Fair Political Practices Commission shows that Flora filed records related to behested payments 58 times. Behested payments are legal in California and elected officials are required to file disclosures with the commission when they direct payments to be made to outside organizations and it is made for a legislative, governmental or charitable purpose. The Center Square reported this week on potential conflicts with the payments and the lack of transparency, including more than $300 million directed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Some of the businesses and individuals Newsom got to donate had issues in front of the state.

Filings related to complaints made against Flora were apparently not readily searchable on the commission’s website.

The Center Square was not able to reach Flora before press time on Wednesday. Other lawmakers in new leadership positions were tight-lipped this week about criticizing Flora, saying instead that complaints filed against a politician with the Fair Political Practices Commission is relatively commonplace.

“Anybody can file an FPPC complaint,” Deputy Minority Leader Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin, told The Center Square on Wednesday. “That’s very common in politics to have an FPPC complaint put on them, so it really was totally irrelevant to our conversations as a caucus.”

Assembly Caucus Chair Natasha Johnson, R-Lake Elsinore, added that any organization experiences times where change needs to be made and that is just as true in politics and government.

“Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Johnson said. “In a tight timeline like we’re in an election cycle, and all the challenges we’re facing, it’s an opportunity for us to take this change and make something great of it.”

Macedo did not respond to The Center Square for an interview but said in a press release announcing her new position that she will use her role to focus on reducing the cost of living in California.

“I am deeply honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me, and I am proud to stand alongside a unified caucus dedicated to real, common-sense solutions,” Macedo said in the press release. “Our message is clear: California is becoming unaffordable for working families, and our caucus is united in the fight to bring down the cost of living, make our communities safer and hold state bureaucrats accountable.”