The Governor today announced some new appointments. The FR continues to list out these appointments through the prism of political party with the idea that someone’s voluntary association with (or not with) a particular political party is one indicator of their overall political philosophy and/or ideology.

Congrats to FR friend Pam Corradi for being tapped for her local fairboard! Here they are:

THE REPUBLICANS

Margie Beeson, 52, of Lake View Terrace, has been appointed to the San Fernando Valley Fair Board (51st District Agricultural Association). She serves as an Avid editor and media manager for KCET, public television for Los Angeles. Jan Boel, 62, of Gold River, has been appointed deputy director of legislative and … Read More

Education is a critical issue for America, and for California. As a political professional, I spent the 1998 election cycle 100% dedicated to the education issue, first as the campaign coordinator for the successful Proposition 227 (to end the failed practice of bilingual education in public schools) and then as Campaign Manager for Gloria Matta Tuchman, who narrowly lost against former Democratic State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin.

I am a graduate of the California State University System and served as a member of the California State Students Association representing my university, and I also volunteered on a statewide commiteee of the CSU System.

It pains me to no end to know that during five long years, now-disgraced and recalled Governor Gray Davis appointed some very liberal Democrats to the important and impactful position of being a Trustee for the California State University system. There are only a few of these appointments. One of the painful appointments was when… Read More

Jill Buck is the Republican candidate running for the 18th Assembly district which is currently held by Assemblyman Johan Klehs. The common wisdom in this area is that the general election for this district is just a formality after the Democratic primary is over, given the area’s heavy Democratic registration (54% Democrat vs. 21% Republican). But Buck doesn’t buy that common wisdom.

Buck doesn’t believe that the district is a guaranteed Democratic win.

"The fact is when you look at voter turnout, we’re neck and neck," she said. When Buck talked about wanting to run for the State Assembly, she said lots of people encouraged her to run…in another, more Republican district. But she decided to throw her hat in the ring for the 18th distric at this past CRP convention in San… Read More

The decision by Governor Schwarzenegger to oppose Proposition 82 shouldn’t surprise anyone. The fact that he distanced himself from the announcement by leaving it to a campaign spokeswoman to deliver the news shouldn’t be that surprising either. The only surprise is that it took so long.

Way back in 2005, Rob Reiner’s ballot initiative to raise taxes to pay for pre-school programs looked like a pretty sure bet to pass. Taxing the wealthy is a proven vote-getter (for ballot initiatives, not candidates, Mr. Angelides,) Everybody loves pre-school. And Reiner seemed to be on track to putting together a stem cell-ish coalition to fund and pass it. California’s business community leaders announced their opposition, a number of existing preschool providers warned of its harm to their existing programs, and policy analysts began to point out that the initiative would… Read More

Today, via his campaign spokesperson, Governor Schwarzenegger issued a simple but clear statement relative to Proposition 82 that will appear on the November ballot, and raises taxes in order to create a state-controlled pre-school program:

"Put simply, the governor does not support tax increases and is opposed to Proposition 82 because it will raise taxes." – Katie Levinson, Communication Director for the Governor’s Campaign.

This is a great position to take, and hopefully the Governor will spend quite a bit of time publicly speaking out against this measure and raising funds to defeat it. The Governor’s opposition to tax increases is substantially more meaningful if he vigorously fights for this important position. The first step… Read More

While normal people are doing normal things, you are reading this political website, and two of our site contributors, Duana Dichiara and Adam Probolsky, are in the midst of the only real political drama going on in California right now (other than the ‘will Roach run in June’ situation in San Diego).

Yesterday’s race in the 35th State Senate District special election didn’t end in the early evening, or the late evening — for that matter it didn’t end this morning! Actually, as of right now, niether candidate has declared victory nor admitted defeat. Conservative Diane Harkey is less than 300 votes behind moderate GOP Assemblyman Tom Harman.

All of the action today was down at the Orange County Registrar of voters where the ‘defense’ (aka…Team Harman) was headed up by Dichiara and his business partner… Read More

Conventional wisdom for the Special Election taking place today to replace John Campbell is that a low election-day turnout favor’s his choice to replace him — businesswoman Diane Harkey.

Well, if that’s the case, the fact that at my polling place in Irvine mid-day (it’s actually three large precincts consolidated into this one voting spot) – only two dozen or so voters have turned out today.

If this is the case district-wide, absentee ballot returns will account for an overwhelming majority of votes cast. And Harkey ran the best drill to those early voters…… Read More

It”s Election Day in OC but pretty quiet.

Here is a first hand account from a Huntington Beach voter and his wife. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

SUBMITTED BY AN ACTUAL VOTER:

TAMY and I went into our polling place at 8:15–should be the heart of big-line times–at a polling station that included 5 consolidated precincts.

Democracy and OC were well served today, as it became pretty clear my wife and I were allowed to personally choose our next senator.

No line. Workers absolutely thrilled to see us. Only ones there, only one other signature on the voting lists was visible.

So while there’s still time to vote, early indications where I live (in the heart of Harman country–HB) it’s Harkey in a landslide 2-1 maybe even 3-0.… Read More