In the rough and tumble world of state politics, Yucca Valley-based Assembly minority leader Chad Mayes has become the latest target. Mayes, who just joined with seven other Republicans in voting for an extension of a prominent California climate change policy, is being accused of an extra marital affair and his resignation from the leadership post is being demanded. Joseph Turner, a conservative activist, posted allegations that Mayes engaged in an extramarital affair with his predecessor, Kristen Olsen, on the anti-immigration website, “American Children First,” based on a letter written by Olsen’s estranged husband. In that letter, which has been confirmed, Rod Olsen requested that the Assembly Legislative Ethics Committee investigate whether Mayes had inappropriately used state resources while carrying on the affair. Emails to Mayes from Z107.7 News asking for a statement have not been answered. Turner took Mayes to task for “following the moderate GOP playbook that discourages opposition to illegal immigration, seeking the respect of Democrats and reporters, and betraying his party over climate change.” Olsen, who handed control of Assembly Republicans to Mayes in late 2014, petitioned for divorce in April 2016. Mayes petitioned for divorce June 12 citing, “irreconcilable differences.”
