Camarillo Lawmaker Deploys To Afghanistan For A Year

SACRAMENTO (AP) — A California lawmaker and member of the Navy Reserve has cast his last vote before deploying to Afghanistan for a year.

Jeff Gorell, a Republican Assemblyman from Camarillo, cast his final floor votes Thursday before reporting for duty Friday morning.

He is a lieutenant commander whose family has a history of military service dating back three generations. The 37th Assembly District will go without a representative when Gorell vacates his post. He said the other option, to resign and force a special election, would be too costly.

Fellow members of the Assembly sent Gorell off with two standing ovations and lined up to hug him before he left. Gorell, who is 40, was elected in November.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)