Acosta, Wilk set to take office in Sacramento on Monday

Dante Acosta. Dan Watson/The Signal
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SACRAMENTO – The “-elect” comes off the titles of Dante Acosta and Scott Wilk at noon here Monday, when the Santa Clarita-area Republicans take the oaths of office to become state Assemblyman and Senator, respectively.

Starting Monday, as the Legislature’s 2017-18 session kicks off, they will officially become Assemblyman Dante Acosta of the 38th Assembly District and Senator Scott Wilk of the 21st Senate District.

“It’s an exciting time,” Acosta told The Signal over the weekend as he was preparing for his Statehouse debut.

Acosta and Wilk will take their new offices as members of the minority party in their respective chambers, with Democrats

Scott Wilk. Dan Watson/The Signal
Scott Wilk. Dan Watson/The Signal

holding super-majorities in both houses.

The Democrats hold a 55-25 edge in the Assembly and a 27-13 advantage in the Senate – numbers that will prove a challenge for the local lawmakers as they assume their new roles.

Acosta will be taking over Wilk’s old Assembly seat. Wilk moves over to the Legislature’s upper house to succeed Sharon Runner, who died in July. Runner had been in ill health for much of the previous Legislative session, and had not planned to seek re-election.

Acosta’s district spans the Santa Clarita and Simi valleys, while Wilk’s new domain encompasses both the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

Families, friends and political allies of Acosta and Wilk were to join the legislators for their swearing-in ceremonies, and then for receptions at the Statehouse.

Mayor Bob Kellar, among other local politicos, was expected to make the trip north to support his GOP buddies.

Acosta, after a contentious campaign, beat Democrat Christy Smith with 53.1 percent of the vote in November.

Wilk defeated Democrat Johnathon Ervin with 54.8 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Acosta’s resignation as Santa Clarita councilman and mayor pro tem also was to become official at midnight last night.

The council is expected to decide at its next meeting, on Dec. 13, how Acosta’s seat will be filled — either by a special election or, the more likely path, by an appointment process.

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