After lunchtime, the delegation heard a rousing speech from California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring, after which John Pesching, the Regional Political Director for the McCain campaign, and who served as the ground-guy for McCain in California for the primary, came forward to recognize those who lead the effort for the Arizona Senator in California: Cassandra Vandenberg, Finance Director for California Andrea Jones Rivera, California Campaign Manager Regional Chairs: Bob Laurie Anito Beck, Don Nelson: Bay Area Brian Forrest: Central Valley Rob Bren: Central Coast Steve Kuykendall: Los Angeles County, Luis Averado Robbie Hightower: Inland Empire Chris Truax – San Diego County Kevin Muldoon – Orange County Volunteer Coordinators Fred Hildbrant Alexia Delgianni Communications Team Jill Buck Chris Rubin Coalitions Chairman Gayle Pacheco (Gayle read off a lot of names of… Read More

It seems like I should add, from my first post, by adding that there are quite a few folks at the delation meeting who were supporter other candidates than John McCain. In a few instances you have some Romney delegation who represent the handful of House District that the former Massachussetts Governor carried — but much more so is a lot of outreach done by the McCain campaign to include supporters of former candidates Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney (I’m still looking around for an official Ron Paul supporters that is now on the delegation).

Who is making everything happen for the delegation?

The delegation staff is as follows (thus far):

Kathy Tavoularis, Executive Director Hector Barajas, Communications Director Charles Moran, Media Director (he’s an FR friend, so we’re looking for special treatment) Anthony Kuo, Executive Assistant Martin Paine, Transportation Coordinator Christina Tatevossian-Clendenin, Delegate Services Coordinator Jame Clark, Finance Consultant Julie Vallante, Housing Coordinator Janine Eggers, Major Gifts … Read More

I’m live blogging this morning from the organizational meeting of California’s Delegation to the Republican National Convention, taking place this morning in Burbank. After the primary concluded, the McCain campaign asked me if I would be willing to serve as a Statewide At-Large Delegate. I accepted the offer which means that FR readers who are not at the big event will be able to follow along as I blog from Minneapolis. There are about 450 people here, mostly made up of original supporters of Senator John McCain in the Presidential primary (each candidate puts up a slate of delegates and overwhelmingly, based on the results of California’s February Presidential primary, Senator McCain’s delegates were overwhelmingly seated). The meeting was opened by California’s Republican National Committeemembers, Tim Morgan and Barbara Alby. Both received a standing ovation for their service as both will be retiring this Summer after twelve years of service on the Republican National Committee. Tim and Barbara are both serving in leadership roles for the convention. Alby placed into nomination former… Read More

On Friday Judge Peter Polos of the Orange County Superior Court rejected claims that the "City Hall in the Park" initiative adopted by voters in Newport Beach last February violated the law. Polosrejected residentAlan Beek’s request for a preliminary injunction and found that his case had little likelihood to succeed on the merits.

The City Hall in the Park initiative, also known as "Measure B," amends the City Charter torequire the city to place any new City Hall at Newport Center next to the Central Library. I wrote the measure for proponents Marian Bergeson, William Ficker, and Jack Croul, and am representing them as Intervenors in the case, to help defend the measure in court. Opponent Beek and his allies, who lost the argumentwith the voters of Newport Beachwhen they approved"Measure B," have now resorted to the courts to overturn the vote of the people and the measure, and have filed two lawsuits expressing the usual litany of overblown environmental and traffic arguments, overlooking the taxpayers savings and need for a new facility in a central location.

The cityis… Read More

The liberals that control the California legislature HATE Proposition 13. Why? Because they have a voracious appetite for taxing working Californians, and "playing" with that money as if it were the fruits of their own labor. Well, this past week was the 30th Anniversary of the passage of Prop. 13, and to celebrate the occasion, Senate and Assembly Democrats killed commemorate resolutions in their respective houses. Below is an account from Senate Tom Harman, who authored a resolution for the Upper Chamber…

Democrats Are Party Poopers for Prop 13’s Birthday by State Senator Tom Harmon

… Read More

The liberals that control the California legislature HATE Proposition 13. Why? Because they have a voracious appetite for taxing working Californians, and "playing" with that money as if it were the fruits of their own labor. Well, this past week was the 30th Anniversary of the passage of Prop. 13, and to celebrate the occasion, Senate and Assembly Democrats killed commemorate resolutions in their respective houses. Below is an account from Senate Tom Harman, who authored a resolution for the Upper Chamber…

Democrats Are Party Poopers for Prop 13’s Birthday by State Senator Tom Harmon

… Read More

As I type this blog post into my computer, I am more or less lamenting the fact that Senate President-Elect Darrell Steinberg is such a nice guy. He was just by my office suite (he didn’t come to see me, but I did have an opportunity to chat with him for a few minutes). I found him to be extremely engaging, friendly and disarming. All traits that make him especially dangerous, I suppose, from the perspective of these qualities all working to make Steinberg more effective as a politician. That is to say, I think state government is way too big and spends way to much. Clearly he does not agree. Ahhh, such is life.

It struck me that he won’t be the source of nearly as much fodder as the guy whom he is replacing in the big chair — Don Perata — who is famous for his flamboyant ways.

Anyways, here’s a photo we just took. Myself (in the casual attire), Steinberg, and Chino Hills Mayor Curt Hagman, the GOP nominee in the overwhelmingly Republican 60th Assembly… Read More

After the dust settled in San Bernardino County, two things were clear: the stunningly large margin of victory for First District County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt over three opponents and the defeat of respected five-term incumbent Dennis Hansberger of the Third Supervisorial District.

Mitzelfelt’s constituency includes the High Desert region (Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley) while Hansberger’s district includes Redlands and San Bernardino city.

Republican Hansberger’s defeat at the hands of upstart challenger Neil Derry, also GOP, means the “dean” of San Bernardino County’s board of supervisors has served for just five-and-a-half years.

Incoming Third District Supervisor Neil Derry (pictured) has Capitol connections – he served as a top district staffer to then-Assemblymember Fred Aguiar in the late nineties before Derry entered the private sector. In addition to being a businessman, Neil Derry also got elected to the city council of San Bernardino.

Supporters of Neil Derry claim the challenger’s message of change… Read More