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Calif. Senate Republicans To Elect New Leader

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Republicans in the state Senate will vote for a new leader when they return to the Capitol.

Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton, who is termed out after 2012, said Friday that January is the "logical time for a change."

Joel Anderson of La Mesa and Bob Huff of Diamond Bar have expressed interest in leading the 15 Republicans in the 40-member chamber. Huff has been the Republicans' budget negotiator, while Anderson is the top Republican on the Senate Public Safety Committee.

Dutton, of Rancho Cucamonga, says his replacement should take charge before Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, proposes his budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year in mid-January.

That way, the new leader can begin negotiating immediately with majority Democrats over how to close the state's multibillion dollar deficit.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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