BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Two local leaders are preparing to trade their seats at home for new roles in Sacramento — and that transition will soon leave two local offices vacant.
Andrae Gonzales and David Couch are set to move from local government to the state Assembly.
Gonzales currently represents Bakersfield's Ward 2, while Couch is Kern County's District 4 supervisor.
Gonzales is expected to move into the 35th Assembly District seat, with Couch taking on the 32nd Assembly District seat by December 7, leaving two local seats vacant.
So, what happens next?
I spoke with Ian Anderson, a political analyst, about why he says residents should care about local politics.
"Those heavily impacted issues like homelessness for exampe, when we talk about intervention, they're going to happen through county and city especially. Those federal and state elections all of those can do is send guidelines, funding, but those actual interventions happen at home in your city," Anderson said.
At a city level, one representative says residents can push for a new candidate soon.
"There will be four weeks where folks can put in that petition. Once they submit that petition, if it's a valid petition a...