Republican gubernatorial candidates have been quick to pounce on the Valley's farm water shortage as they stump for votes in the region.

But when the Legislature finally passed an $11 billion water bond this week as part of a larger deal, two of the GOP contenders didn't exactly embrace the deal with open arms --despite strong support for the bond from Valley ag groups.

Steve Poizner said in a statement that the legislation "represents an important step." But he added that he was "reviewing details" and was "concerned, however, that the Legislature did not do enough to constrain the size of the proposed bond."

Meg Whitman gave a similar statement, saying she too was "troubled by the last-minute additions to increase the size of the bond." Tom Campbell gave the most positive review, saying the "fundamentals" of the deal "all appear to be the right ones."

The cautious statements reflect a split in the GOP over the bond, which requires voter approval in November. Some fiscal conservatives have criticized the borrowing, which will cost the state up to up to $809.3 million in annual debt service at its peak.

Two GOP statewide candidates voted against the bond: state Sen. Chuck DeVore, who is running for U.S. Senate, and state Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, a lieutenant governor candidate, who has supported previous water bond proposals. Denham's opponent in the GOP primary, state Sen. Sam Aanestad of Grass Valley, was not even present for the vote. DeVore's GOP primary opponent, Carly Fiorina, supports the bond.

Two Democratic lieutenant governor candidates voted yes: state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, who helped negotiate the deal, and state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach. They faced pressure from the left, as some environmental groups and unions opposed the deal.

Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis, who is running for insurance commissioner, voted yes and gave an impassioned floor speech in support.

"This isn't an issue about debt service," he said, but about "survival" of the Valley's farm-heavy west side.