I sure wish Claude Parrish would at least put up a fight against Bill Lockyer in the race for Treasurer, but since he isn’t, we might as well learn a little something from him.

For all you candidates thinking of running in 2008 — a quick strategic tip for when you plan your precinct targeting.

In targeting precincts for local races and trying to find "swing voters" we often try and find high and low water marks from previous elections. The candidate that is rock bottom represent the base turnout and the candidate who won by the largest margins are the target.

Republican candidates in 2008 will have an easy formula to determine this number. In each precinct, divide the number of votes Claude Parrish receives after Bill Lockyer whoops his butt by the number of votes Schwarzenegger gets after he waxes Angelides. The precincts with the largest margin have the most number of potential swing voters.

I guess its kind of like rooting for your team to go winless for the season so that you can get the first round draft pick the next year.… Read More

Here are some things to look for when reading today’s political news on the FR main page: *Apparently an audit has found that voter-approved bond money have been misused. The Contra Costa Times has the story. Yet another reason for FlashReport readers to VOTE NO on Propositions 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 84.

* San Bernardino County FR Correspondent Brad Mitzelfelt makes big ink in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin with a recent post on the FlashReport… * With four weeks until election day, Phil Angelides is finally airing a "this is who I am" commercial? Earth to Phil: You’ve already been defined — you are the TAX MAN. * Bill Bradley takes today’s Golden Pen Honors with his in-depth look at the California Republican Party’s Victory ’06 Get-Out-The-Vote operations. * Anyone with a doubt on how to vote in the Attorney General’s race today should check out Marylee Shrider’s column today in the Bakersfield Californian. * 28 days until the ill-advised proposed sales tax to subsidize the Sacramento Kings is up for a vote. So far, reports the… Read More

Postmus, Ovitt Introduce County Sex Offender Ordinance

ONTARIO – Mark Lunsford returned to San Bernardino County Monday to urgevoters to approve Jessica’s Law, the statewide ballot initiative bearing his murdered daughter’s name. Lunsford (pictured below, thirdfrom right)was joined by a dozen state and local officials, including Jessica’s Law Honorary Chairman State Sen. George Runner and co-chairs Fourth District County Supervisor Gary Ovittand Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus, at a press conference in Ontario.

Proposition 83 would provide numerous strengthened provisions to State law including GPS tracking of paroled sex offenders for life and new predator-free residency limits aroundschools and parks. It would make California’s sex offender laws the toughest in the nation. Jessica’s law allows local… Read More

The McClintock for Liuetenant Governor campaign has taken off the gloves with the release of a new television advertisement, appropriately entitled, "Credibility." Just watching the spot (attached below along with a McClintock fact sheet on the ad) makes you understand why — credibility is something that McClintock’s opponent, John Garamendi, is lacking.

This ad has started airing today in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles.

Again, click on the ad file below to watch it on your computer!… Read More

A few weeks ago, the board of the California Republican Party had a teleconference to discuss the mail program of the CRP. Assemblywoman Mimi Walters and the campaign on behalf of Proposition 90 wanted the CRP to include the yes position on all their mailing to GOP Voters. Prop. 90 is a popular issue and will motivate GOP voters to go to the polls. Some CRP board members agreed and brought this issue up. Enter CRP consultant Marty Wilson. According to my sources Marty was insistent that Prop. 90 could not be on the slate unless theycould find$300,000 to fund it. At some point I’m told he was verbally abusive towards the few board members willing to stand up on this. The board with three dissenters gave carte blanche to Wilson to do as he saw fit. Now I need to explain, I served on the board of the CRP for six years and I know everyone wants party’s help for free and of course that doesn’t … Read More

With the Gubernatorial debate now a part of history (in case you missed it, my take is here). Phil Angelides, down by double-digits in every public opinion poll that has been published, desperately needed to have something, anything happen in this one and only debate that would change the horrible position in which Angelides finds himself.

For the last few months, Phil Angelides has been flailing as a candidate, failing to gain any momentum or traction. Angelides has been unable to convince many core Democrat voters that he is capable of running the complex government apparatus of this large state. At the same time, Governor Schwarzenegger has been on top of his game, coming across as capable and effective.

The Governor has been appealing to his core Republican base with his emphasis on his pledge to oppose any new taxes or fees, and he has been appealing to many Democrats and centrist voters by making a big deal out of… Read More

With the Gubernatorial debate now a part of history (in case you missed it, my take is here). Phil Angelides, down by double-digits in every public opinion poll that has been published, desperately needed to have something, anything happen in this one and only debate that would change the horrible position in which Angelides finds himself.

For the last few months, Phil Angelides has been flailing as a candidate, failing to gain any momentum or traction. Angelides has been unable to convince many core Democrat voters that he is capable of running the complex government apparatus of this large state. At the same time, Governor Schwarzenegger has been on top of his game, coming across as capable and effective.

The Governor has been appealing to his core Republican base with his emphasis on his pledge to oppose any new taxes or fees, and he has been appealing to many Democrats and centrist voters by making a big deal out of… Read More

Here’s a little advice forRepublican candidates seeking their Party’s endorsement and assistance in San Bernardino County elections: You can’t have it both ways. If you think political parties shouldn’t be involved in local or so-called ‘non-partisan’ elections, then don’t ask for their support only to later criticize their involvement if they endorse someone else. By doing so you run the risk of seeming disingenuous.

Consider Sunday’sSan Bernardino County Sun article by staff writer George Watson that profiles judicial candidate Larry Roberts, who placed second to GOP-backed Steve Malone in the June Primary (30.6% vs. Malone’s 44.8%). In it, Roberts explains how the GOP’s involvement in the election gives him “chills” because of its potential to frighten jurists from making the right decisions for fear of Party retribution. Read it here.

But when Malone points out that Roberts had also sought the party’s support, Watson’s report paraphrases Roberts as saying he… Read More