The last line in the Capitol Weekly’s piece today profiling the three Democrats running to replace termed out Assemblywoman Wilma Chan in the 16th Assembly district race reminds me why it’s so lonely in the Bay Area at election time:

"No Republicans have filed to run in the district, where GOP voters are outnumbered 6-to-1 by Democrats."

That line made me think of my 10-year-old daughter asking me the other day if John Kerry is from California. "No," I said. "He’s from Massachusetts."

"Well, then why does everyone in Oakland have his bumper sticker on their cars?" she asked.

Mind you, it’s March ’06. Kerry lost the election in November… Read More

In this business of politics we sometimes forget that the men and women who become policy makers are not necessarily themselves the biggest reason for thier own success. The fact is, George W. Bush would be no where without Karl Rove (George W.’s ‘brains’). For every successful politician there is a man or woman, some times a team, but more regularly on person that is their political brains, foot soldier and all around goto guy or gal. This column is written not just in tribute to them but to highlight just how important the politicians ‘brains’ really are.

I am going to present this list as a start of something bigger and encourage readers to give me their thoughts on who else to include on future lists. Today’s list will include ten elected officials and their ‘brains’ mostly from Orange County, but some from other parts of the state.

ASSEMBLYWOMAN MIMI WALTERS

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE CARONA

ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR LOU CORREA

ASSEMBLYMAN TODD SPITZER

ASSEMBLYMAN TOM UMBERG

ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR BILL CAMPBELL

ANAHEIM MAYOR CURT… Read More

I have received dozens of calls over the last month about CRA and how one goes about getting a CRA endorsement. People could read our bylaws at the CRA website. I’ve learned that it easier to find my phone numberon the site then click the by-laws link. So here is a quick primer.

Statewide endorsements and Board of Equalization are done at the Statewide Endorsing Convention. We recently had one in Bakersfield. Delegates sent by units and the Board of Directors then endorse statewidecandidates and initiatives.

All endorsements at all levels require a two-thirds vote.

CRA is a conservative organization not only in beliefs, but also in how it operates. The state does not endorse in local races.

If the local race partisan or non-partisan has more than one unit in that area (meaning ANY of the geography regardless of size), a local endorsing convention must be called with delegates from all the affected units. With the current gerrymandered seats, some legislative districts could haveseveral clubs that need to be invited to participate. A single club in a… Read More

GOVERNOR ’06 – Arnold banks, The Dems spend. The big news of the day is that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has really put his campaign fundraising into gear, raising millions of dollars since the beginning of the year – out raising each of his Democratic opponents. Actually, this highlights the financial advantage of running unopposed as the Republican Party’s pre-primary endorsed nominee for Governor — Schwarzenegger is not only putting money in the bank for the fall campaign — but his two opponents are spending money like crazy on television ads as they wage a hard-fought campaign for their party’s nomination. Of course, all three candidates for Governor are quite wealthy in their own right, multi-millionaires all. That said, there are a lot of news stories today that talk about the extremely deep pockets of E-bay co-founder Steve Westly, who has a personal fortune measured in… Read More

GOVERNOR ’06 – Arnold banks, The Dems spend. The big news of the day is that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has really put his campaign fundraising into gear, raising millions of dollars since the beginning of the year – out raising each of his Democratic opponents. Actually, this highlights the financial advantage of running unopposed as the Republican Party’s pre-primary endorsed nominee for Governor — Schwarzenegger is not only putting money in the bank for the fall campaign — but his two opponents are spending money like crazy on television ads as they wage a hard-fought campaign for their party’s nomination. Of course, all three candidates for Governor are quite wealthy in their own right, multi-millionaires all. That said, there are a lot of news stories today that talk about the extremely deep pockets of E-bay co-founder Steve Westly, who has a personal fortune measured in… Read More

FR friend Bruce Bialosky sent me this column weeks ago, and I told him I would run it. Somehow I never did, and after a gentle reminder from Bruce, here is his piece, which is definately from the heart, which he has entitled, "Why Arnold is Losing the Republicans"… Bruce has been involved with helping to raise funds up in LA for Republican candidates and causes for years.

The recent semi-annual California Republican Convention was an attempt by Governor Schwarzenegger and others to solidify his support with the base of the party. Despite his efforts and those of State Senator Tom McClintock, Arnold has failed as of now. Schwarzenegger positions have left the base feeling that supporting him for reelection may not only be the wrong thing to do, but may also be… Read More

As reported in my earlier post, there is a breaking news story tonight in San Diego concerning an unusual financial relationship between San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn and his Chief of Staff Joan Wonsley. The essence is that Horn owns a big home Carlsbad, and that Wonsley lives in it with her children, and pays rent to her boss. But there is a serious of seemingly unusual irregularities with required paperwork surrounding such a relationship. I admit as I was watching the television story that I was caught a little off-guard when the reporter clearly implies that unnamed neighbors say that the Supervisor in fact stays at this home on occasion, which the Supervisor denies in the video.

Anyways, you can see the News 8 Video right here.

Or you can read a transcript of the… Read More

San Diego politicos have been on pins and needles today in anticipation of local TV station KFMB Channel 8’s pending 5 pm investigative report on Supervisor Bill Horn, his Chief of Staff Joan Wonsley, and their alleged shared property interests. Some in SD say that Horn, running for re-election against challenger and former Assemblyman Bruce Thompson, has been the subject of these rumors for years.

It is now apparent that whatever Channel 8 will be breaking within the next hour, may have already been broken by local activist Patsy Fritz today in the weekly Valley Center Road Runner. Because the column is not yet on-line, below is the full text.

It’s always a bit awkward to post this kind of story — especially since I have a friendship with both Bill Horn (pictured) and Joan Wonsley. But we’re in the business of ‘breaking news’ here, and since this one is clearly in the public domain… That said, I… Read More