Abel Maldonado
Former lieutenant governor Abel Maldonado’s top advisors are no longer part of his team as he explores a bid for governor. [LosAngelesTimes]
Over the past few weeks, his senior strategist John Weaver, media strategist Fred Davis, campaign manager Jeff Corless and deputy communications director Julie Smekalina have departed though the reasons why are under dispute.
Long time Maldonado confident Brandon Gesicki said the advisors were dismissed because they charged outrageous sums while not producing.
“John was let go because he really was in this just to charge huge salaries and never delivered anything,” Gesicki told the Los Angeles Times. “They never presented Abel with a campaign plan — that’s Campaign 101…. They were happy to charge him $25,000 a month in fees for sending out a couple tweets and talking to a few reporters.”
Others contend the advisors left because of Maldonado’s lack luster fundraising efforts.
Reports from late July show Brown had more than $10 million in his reelection account while Maldonado had less than $45,000.
