Chops and sushi

Democratic assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, who quit her challenge to county supervisor Ron Roberts early in the race, has transferred cash she raised for that campaign into a new committee aimed at a 39th District state senate bid in 2012. But with the campaign still a ways off, Saldaña managed to burn through some of the money on international travel, as revealed in a recent disclosure. Among other expenses, the committee paid out $1502 for Saldaña’s stay at Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel during a “legislative trip” she took to Japan from March 26 through April 1 of this year. The committee also picked up a $256 hotel stay in Hiroshima; $620 at the Osaka Westin; and $599 at the JW Marriott hotel in Los Angeles during April’s state Democratic convention. The committee reported getting a total of $15,000 this year. As of May 22, it had a cash balance of $4046. … Meanwhile, Democrat Chris Kehoe, who holds the senate seat sought by Saldaña, has set up a committee to campaign for Saldaña’s 76th assembly seat in 2012. Its hefty cash balance of $110,168 as of May 22 has been raised from an assortment of special interests, including Anthem Blue Cross, AT&T, and Walgreens. Expenses included $674 for a fund-raiser at Chops restaurant in Sacramento.