FLASHREPORT

Exactly one year to the day after San Bernardino County's lone Democratic Congressman Joe Baca's son Jeremy suffered a stunning defeat for the state Assembly seat once held by his father, Jeremy Baca has once again failed to win elective office.

 

In a special election for a seat on the Colton City Council, Jeremy Baca was trounced by a 2-1 margin, coming up with a paltry 25% of the votes cast. As was the case with last year's Assembly Democratic primary election in the 62^nd AD, the younger Baca had vastly outspent his opponents, yet the significant fundraising advantage was not sufficient for electoral victory.

 

Among the issues that resurfaced in this race were similar to those of his 2006 state legislative campaign - a drunk driving conviction (for which he is still on probation), a 2004 arrest that occurred as part of a fight with an ex-paramour. This election, the younger Baca had to contend with the fact that he moved into the district in December 2006 simply to run for a vacant political office - he was a longtime resident of a neighboring city that is quite culturally, politically and demographically different from the city he sought to serve as a councilmember.

 

Jeremy Baca's most recent defeat is another blow to the imploding Baca Democrat political machine in California's Inland Empire. Last year, Baca's oldest son Joe Jr., failed in an attempt to win an Inland Empire state Senate seat. The Baca machine also backed Colton's then-mayor for re-election in November 2006, only to have her lose to a candidate officially backed by the San Bernardino County Republican Party.

 

Furthermore, it should be noted, that the San Bernardino County Young Republicans and the New Majority PAC supported the winner - area real estate professional Vincent Yzaguirre - with significant financial backing in the closing days of the race. Although a registered Democrat, Yzaguirre was backed by prominent law enforcement organizations and pro-business groups. The district in which Yzaguirre will represent is heavily DEM in voter registration.

 

Jeremy Baca's race was managed by a consultancy headed by former GOP Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith staffer Paul Fickas.

 

It is likely that the second of Jeremy Baca's crushing defeat in a span of one year marks the end of Jeremy Baca's political aspirations.