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Will Parra go Republican?
| Friday, Jun 20 2008 10:02 AM
Last Updated: Friday, Jun 20 2008 11:17 AM
Will Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford be going Republican today?
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Nicole Parra
“I don’t think I need to go that far,” Parra said.
But she said she hasn’t truly decided yet, with less than four hours remaining to make up her mind.
The 30th District Assemblywoman called a press conference in downtown Bakersfield at 2 p.m. today to respond to sharp letters from the Kern County Democratic Party which suggest she should leave the Democratic Party, because she’s supporting Republican Danny Gilmore against Democrat Fran Florez as her replacement in the Assembly.
Parra, who is termed out this year, defeated Gilmore in a close election in 2006. But she has supported him with everything but a formal endorsement.
The reason is likely personal.
Parra and her father Pete have maintained a vicious, running feud with state Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter, who helped staffer Michael Rubio oust the elder Parra from his seat on the Kern County Board of Supervisors in 2004. Fran Florez is Dean’s mother.
Candi Easter, chairwoman of the Kern County Democratic Party, sent Parra a letter this week with voter registration cards that could be used to change her party affiliation.
She also sent letters to Democratic Assembly leaders asking that Parra be stripped of staff, committee assignments and her credentials to the Democratic National Convention.
Parra said she has already bought plane tickets and a hotel room to the convention, and she still plans to go.
Parra’s guest at the press conference will be Laura Gadke, the Central Valley regional vice-chair of California Republican Party, according to staff in Parra’s Sacramento office.