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<\/a><\/p>\nIt is one and done for state Assemblymember Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield.<\/p>\n
He announced he will not seek re-election after his term expires in December 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen how the system works, and the system is broken,\u201d Ellis told 23 ABC<\/a> in Bakersfield.<\/p>\n Ellis won a special election to the 32nd Assembly District seat earlier this year, replacing Vince Fong, who won a seat in Congress. The district covers parts of Kern, Tulare, and Fresno counties.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s terrible time management, it\u2019s bureaucracy at its worst, and it is sad to me that the state of California and the working man have been misled,\u201d Ellis said.<\/p>\n Kern County Supervisor David Couch, R-Bakersfield, announced he will run to succeed Ellis. Couch already filed to run for a state Senate seat, occupied by Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, who is also termed out in 2026.<\/p>\n Couch\u2019s decision could benefit the two other active candidates in the race for the 12th District seat which covers Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties.<\/p>\n Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, R-Clovis, and businessman Michael Maher, R-Kingsburg, are also running.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is my friend. I wish him well in his Assembly race,\u201d Magsig said.<\/p>\n Since 43% of the district\u2019s registered voters live in Kern County \u2014 a plurality \u2014 it\u2019s possible another Kern County contender could emerge.<\/p>\n Tangipa Wants Insurance Commissioner Out<\/p>\n Assemblyman David Tangipa, R-Clovis, wants the state\u2019s insurance commissioner to broker his own exit.<\/p>\n \u201cRicardo Lara has shown a stunning disregard for the people he\u2019s supposed to serve. As families across the state struggle to keep up with skyrocketing premiums and an unstable insurance market, Lara has been jetting off on taxpayer-funded vacations \u2014 including stays at five-star resorts, limo rides, and even an African safari,\u201d Tangipa said in a news release this week.<\/p>\n Tangipa based his accusations on an ABC7 San Francisco<\/a> investigation. Lara allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars on trips to New York, South Africa and other destinations \u2014 raising questions about whether those expenses were related to his official duties.<\/p>\n The Fair Political Practices Commission, the state agency charged with enforcing campaign finance rules and ethics, is investigating, ABC7 reported.<\/p>\n \u201cRicardo Lara has made his priorities clear, and they don\u2019t include the people of California. If he\u2019d rather spend his time on vacation than doing his job, then he should step aside and pursue that full time. It\u2019s time for Lara to resign,\u201d Tangipa said.<\/p>\n Lara Denies Allegations<\/p>\n Lara\u2019s office vehemently denied any wrongdoing, criticizing ABC7\u2019s reporting.<\/p>\n In a lengthy statement sent to GV Wire, a Lara spokesperson said the insurance commissioner works hard, resulting in growth of insurance companies in California.<\/p>\n \u201cThe story you mentioned conveniently ignores this context. It\u2019s based on incomplete reporting and contains numerous false claims,\u201d press secretary Gabriel Sanchez said.<\/p>\n Among the denials, Lara\u2019s office said:<\/p>\n Every trip has a direct business purpose. The complete email response can be read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Karbassi Prevails in Latest Court Round with Soria<\/p>\n A sitting Assemblymember will not be allowed to file a countersuit alleging defamation against another elected official, a judge ruled.<\/p>\n Fresno City Councilmember Mike Karbassi has an ongoing defamation\u00a0 lawsuit against former council colleague and current Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria. He alleges a Soria campaign mailer lied about him.<\/p>\n The mailers date back to 2022 when both ran for state Assembly. Soria ultimately won and remains in office today.<\/p>\n Soria wanted to countersue, but needed the court\u2019s permission to do so. Fresno County Superior Court Judge Lisa Gamoian denied Soria\u2019s request in a ruling issued Monday.<\/p>\n In legal briefings, Soria said she waited to file while waiting on an appellate court decision, and additional discovery. Gamoian wasn\u2019t buying it.<\/p>\n \u201cDefendant knew the content of the campaign mailers targeting her without such discovery. As such, delaying well over a year in pursuing a defamation cross-complaint against Plaintiff demonstrates bad faith,\u201d Gamoian wrote.<\/p>\n Despite being a licensed attorney since 2012, Soria\u2019s attorneys said she lacked specific knowledge of defamation<\/a> law when she testified in a deposition that Karbassi did not defame her during the campaign.<\/p>\n A jury trial in Karbassi\u2019s lawsuit is scheduled to begin Dec. 1, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe California Highway Patrol provides dignitary protection, and they are not \u201cprivate security.\u201d
\n\u201cCalling this \u2018private security\u2019 is an insult to sworn peace officers dedicated to upholding their duties as part of the CHP\u2019s dignitary protection unit that protects California\u2019s statewide elected officials,\u201d Sanchez said.
\nThe trip to South Africa lasted five days, not two-and-a-half weeks as reported by ABC7.
\nAny personal excursions were paid for by Lara, and not the department\/taxpayers.
\nAttendance at Pride events was a legitimate function.
\nAny missing records claimed by ABC7 is kept by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and not the state.<\/p>\n