FYI for inquiring minds. The State GOP has hired crack political operative Kathy Tavoularis as its ne Statewide Field Coordinator for the Victory ’06 program.

Victory ’06 is the coordinated Get-Out-The-Vote political effort of the whole Republican Team – from the Governor’s political operation to the Congressional, legislative and state and local GOP committee efforts.

Cathy will be teamed up once again with her old boss, Bill Christiansen, who is the Victory ’06 State Director.

Both are former Executive Directors of the Orange County Republican Party.

Congratulations, Kathy!!… Read More

GOP Source: Gallegly to Switch Course, Seek Re-election By David M. Drucker Roll Call Staff Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) has reconsidered a last-minute decision to retire and will announce Tuesday that he intends to seek re-election this year after all, a move that comes at the urging of House leaders and members of California’s GOP delegation, a knowledgeable source said late Monday. … Read More

Oh the twists and turns. Even as Darrell Issa is trying to get Elton Gallegly to campaign for re-election, the Chairman of the Ventura County GOP sent out the following e-mail yesterday, rallying support for Michael Tenenbaum, the only other Republican on the primary ballot with Gallegly:

Dear Central Committee Members, Alternates, and friends: This has been a trying week for Ventura County Republicans. Many of us have felt frustrated, surprised, saddened, betrayed, challenged and/or confused. The sudden news that our 10 term congressman, Elton Gallegly has had to withdraw from the race due to serious health issues has caused us sadness and concern for him and his family. This was obviously not planned by him, and I can only imagine how… Read More

Polling off the wire in Congressional District 50 (802 likely special election voters/Competative Edge Research). For those of you outside Southern California, Competative Edge is legit.

First Ballot:

Busby 33.5% Bilbray 14.8% Roach 7.9% Kaloogian 7.1% Morrow 4.7% Uke 3.6%

Leaning:

Busby 5.3% Bilbray 4.3% Roach 4.3% Kaloogian 2.7% Morrow 2.1% Uke 1.1%

What should concern observers the most is the surprising run-off numbers:

Bilbray 40.9% Busby 38.2%

Roach 35.8% Busby 35.2%

And here’s where it gets interesting…

Busby 43.8% Kaloogian 32%

Busby 40.7% Morrow 35.5%… Read More

INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE Governor Schwarzenegger continues to lead negotiations with legislative leaders towards the goal of putting a massive infrastrucuture bond proposal on the June ballot — it isn’t clear if today is actually the last day to get something worked out — the ‘last day’ keeps sliding, it was last Friday. Based on my math, I think a deal could be worked out as late as Friday, but that would create a real time-crunch. I was with Senator Tom McClintock for a few minutes yesterday, and he was recalling that with Props. 57 & 58, they had like less than 72 hours to put together and turn in the ballot arguments they submitted. The primary sticking point in negotiations is stemming from the fact that legislative Democrats insist on loading up this bond package with billions of dollars in non-infrastructure spending, and are solidly opposed to spending reforms. From my perspective, the most movement has come from legislative Republicans who, frankly, have good reason to be skeptical and opposed to a massive borrowing… Read More

INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE Governor Schwarzenegger continues to lead negotiations with legislative leaders towards the goal of putting a massive infrastrucuture bond proposal on the June ballot — it isn’t clear if today is actually the last day to get something worked out — the ‘last day’ keeps sliding, it was last Friday. Based on my math, I think a deal could be worked out as late as Friday, but that would create a real time-crunch. I was with Senator Tom McClintock for a few minutes yesterday, and he was recalling that with Props. 57 & 58, they had like less than 72 hours to put together and turn in the ballot arguments they submitted. The primary sticking point in negotiations is stemming from the fact that legislative Democrats insist on loading up this bond package with billions of dollars in non-infrastructure spending, and are solidly opposed to spending reforms. From my perspective, the most movement has come from legislative Republicans who, frankly, have good reason to be skeptical and opposed to a massive borrowing… Read More

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointments of James A. Boscoe to a judgeship in the Tuolumne County Superior Court and Jose L. Alva and Ronald A. Northup to judgeships in the San Joaquin County Superior Court.

JAMES BOSCOE Boscoe, 64, of Sonora, has served as superior court commissioner for the Tuolumne County Superior Court since 1997. He previously was an attorney in private practice specializing in family and personal injury law from 1995 to 1997. Boscoe also served as deputy district attorney for Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador counties from 1990 to 1995. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Santa Clara School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge William Polley.

… Read More

The race for Los Angeles County Assessor will feature the incumbent assessor Rick Auerbach. Rick has to be the favorite for winning but a Deputy County Assessor is challenging him for a third time. A Democrat. A Democrat with the legal nameJohn Lower Taxes Loew. Obviously, I’m sympathetic to a guy willing to go that far to express his views. But why is he Democrat?

Maybe every candidate should do this. Tom Cut The Car Tax McClintock, Arnold Build It With Bonds Schwarzenegger, Elton Don’t Know Squat About Filing For Congress Gallegly, Randy On The Take Cunningham. Mike I Spell Poorly Spence. The list can go on and on. It would give us some insight into the kinds of people we are voting for.… Read More