Heath Flora ousted as California Assembly GOP leader after campaign-spending revelations

California Assembly Republicans ousted Heath Flora as their leader Monday, one day after the California Post revealed that the Central Valley lawmaker is facing two state ethics investigations and spent more than $11,000 in campaign money at a Sacramento dive bar.

Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo, a first-term Republican from Tulare who served in Flora’s leadership team, was selected to replace him as minority leader, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The sudden shake-up ended Flora’s rocky tenure atop the Republican caucus less than a year after he took over the job.

California Assembly Republicans ousted Heath Flora as their leader Monday.

Flora (R-Ripon) remains a member of the Assembly.

The leadership change came after The Post reported Sunday that the Fair Political Practices Commission had opened separate investigations into allegations involving Flora’s use of campaign funds and his reporting of behested payments — charitable donations solicited by elected officials.

The Post also revealed that Flora’s campaign spent more than $11,000 at Chargins’ Bar & Grill, an East Sacramento watering hole more than 50 miles from his district.

Sources told The Post that Flora frequently drank at the bar and sometimes remained there for hours. Flora did not respond to detailed questions about the expenses or investigations before Sunday’s story was published.

Flora’s removal also followed growing anger among Republicans over his vote last month for legislation allowing 14 local governments to seek sales-tax increases beyond existing limits.

Only Flora and Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman Juan Alanis joined Democrats in voting for the measure, angering conservatives who accused the two GOP leaders of helping Democrats advance tax increases during a statewide affordability crisis.

Several Republican lawmakers had been discussing a possible challenge to Flora’s leadership before the caucus convened Monday.

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