Assemblyman Not Ruling Out Secession Idea

Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, reacted favorably Friday to Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone's announcement that he would like several counties to secede from the state.

“This is an idea that has been kicked around many times over the years,’’ Nestande said. “You can essentially argue that California is too large to effectively manage. Any smaller group is easier to manage, any smaller state, smaller company, smaller city.”

The assemblyman said that he plans to call Stone to talk about the proposal soon.

"It’s a good thought provoking idea, but I just don’t know functionally if it works. That’s a different level of discussion."

He added that the move would give the West Coast more equal representation in the senate.

Stone said will ask leaders in Riverside, Imperial, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Kings, Kern, Fresno, Tulare, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa and Mono counties to consider seceding from California.

Under the proposal, the leaders would be asked to consider forming a 51st state, the State of South California, Stone said in a statement sent by Ray Smith, spokesman for the Riverside County Executive Office Thursday night.

Stone is slated to bring the secession proposal to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on July 12.

You can read more about Stone's proposal on Patch.