Counties urge Schwarzenegger to reconsider special election timing

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The five counties that make up the now-vacant state Senate district once held by Abel Maldonado are urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to reconsider the timing of the special election to fill that seat.

In a letter to the governor Thursday, Paul Macintosh, executive director of the California State Assn. of Counties, said Schwarzenegger’s decision to hold the election in August instead of November will lead to additional costs, a lack of poll workers and polling places and the disenfranchisement of military and overseas voters.

The letter is the latest effort to pressure Schwarzenegger to move the election to November -- something Democrats have wanted but Schwarzenegger has refused. Democratic leaders in the Legislature lashed out at Schwarzenegger for refusing to consolidate the special election with the November general election.

Macintosh estimates the counties of San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and Santa Clara will have to pay an additional $6.5 million to pay for the election.

--Anthony York in Sacramento