Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) to join Manatt lobbying firm

[Newsjock]

Last edited Tue Aug 14, 2012, 07:31 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Sacramento Bee

Hours after announcing "increasing parenting challenges" were forcing his immediate resignation from Congress, Rep. Dennis Cardoza has landed a job with a top Washington D.C.-based governmental affairs firm.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP announced Cardoza would join the lobbying firm as a managing director.

Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/08/rep-dennis-cardoza-to-join-manatt-lobbying-firm.html

---

Earlier: Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) announces resignation
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/08/rep-dennis-cardoza-announces-resignation.html

Citing sensitive family needs, Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, has tendered his immediate resignation from the House of Representatives. The surprisingly timed departure takes effect at midnight Wednesday.

A veteran San Joaquin Valley politician first elected to the House in 2002, the 53-year-old Cardoza had previously announced he would not run for reelection. While citing the toxic partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill, he primarily attributed his speeded-up timing to growing burdens on the home front.

... The timing of Cardoza's resignation means there will be no special election to fill his 18th Congressional District seat, which encompasses parts of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties. His office staff will remain, taking care of constituent services but steering clear of political advocacy. Cardoza informed most of his staffers of his resignation plans in an emotional telephone conference call Monday. His departure leaves House Republicans with a 240-190 majority over Democrats, with five House vacancies.

[Bluenorthwest]

1. That's too bad and I'm sure he does not do so lightly

nt

[Renew Deal]

2. How long till a scandal becomes news?

And will it be about a person, money, or a crime?

[tularetom]

3. This has been a troubled congressional seat for years

His immediate predecessor was the infamous Gary Condit who left Congress under a cloud when his affair with murdered intern Chandra Levy went public.

And Condit replaced Tony Coelho who resigned his seat after it was revealed that he had financial dealings with prominent figures in the S&L scandal.

[Le Taz Hot]

4. Wow!

THAT came out of left field!

[mitchtv]

5. I thought I saw on tV that Condin's son wants to run for the seat

anyone else hear that?

[Xithras]

7. He ran in the neighboring 10th District and got clobbered.

The district borders in this part of the state were recently totally rewritten, so Condit was running in the 10th District to unseat Jeff Denham. Condit's campaign was always a left-field sort of thing, and he was handily defeated by Jose Hernandez. Hernandez is a hispanic astronaut born and raised here, who literally went from picking crops alongside his parents to flying in space and designing medical equipment at Lawrence Livermore Labs. Jose is inspirational, while Chad brought little more than his family name to the table.

Go Jose!

[Xithras]

6. This really isn't that huge a shock.

Cardoza announced that he wouldn't be running again last year, and he only has a few months left of his term. While the redrawing of the district played a big role, his family problems are a poorly kept secret. He doesn't talk about them directly, it's fairly well known that his two adopted kids came out of a family of meth addicts and abusers, and he's had to spend increasing amounts of time with them as they've grown older. He's been essentially absent from the district for quite a while now, so it's no shock to hear that he's ducking out a few months early.

Cardoza is a good guy, and I've had the pleasure of meeting him several times over the years. He'll be missed, but I have a deep amount of respect for the fact that he's putting his family first.

[Newsjock]

8. Story changed significantly

OP has been updated.

[senseandsensibility]

9. I find this strange.

I thought he was taking time off. I'd like to know more about this new job.