A Democrat activist in Santa Barbara County officially kicked off his effort to recall Supervisor Brooks Firestone on Friday when he served papers to the Supervisor’s office that legally begin the process. Brett Wagner, citing grievances with Supervisor Firestone’s land use votes, will have 120 days to gather over 7600 signatures in order to qualify for the November ballot. Santa Barbara’s 3rd Supervisorial District is a diverse one—it encompasses the Santa Inez valley, famous for its wineries and agriculture, the college community of Isla Vista and the city of … Read More

FOCUS ON DC DARRELL ISSA TAPPED BY SPEAKER The House Select Committee on Intelligence is a very small, carefully chosen bi-partisan Committe on Capitol Hill. It is the members of this small group that are given exclusive briefings on covert operations, intelligence data and other confidential information and actions of the federal government. It is an important oversight role that is played by the members of this Committee as they literally have access to information that the vast majority of Congress does not. For years, the now-disgraced Duke Cunningham served on this committee. It was recently announced by Speaker Dennis Hastert that California Congressman Darrell Issa will be replacing Cunningham on this important panel. This is a great appointment for the Congressman, and increases his growing clout on Capitol Hill. Congratulations Darrell Issa! … Read More

FOCUS ON DC

DARRELL ISSA TAPPED BY SPEAKER The House Select Committee on Intelligence is a very small, carefully chosen bi-partisan Committe on Capitol Hill. It is the members of this small group that are given exclusive briefings on covert operations, intelligence data and other confidential information and actions of the federal government. It is an important oversight role that is played by the members of this Committee as they literally have access to information that the vast majority of Congress does not. For years, the now-disgraced Duke Cunningham served on this committee. It was recently announced by Speaker Dennis Hastert that California Congressman Darrell Issa will be replacing Cunningham on this important panel. This is a great appointment for the Congressman, and increases his growing clout on Capitol Hill. Congratulations Darrell Issa!… Read More

Having just returned from a quick vacation, I want to first thank our Guest Editor Nicholas Romero for his fine work – he put together the FR main page on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and did an outstanding job I must say. Nick will continue to help me out, as needed, going forward. Thanks, Nick! The "must read" today is a piece by LA Times political reporter Peter Nicholas on Governor Schwarzenegger: "The Private Side of his Governance. The piece offers an ‘inside look’ at Arnold Schwarzenegger and how he runs his office and how he approaches his job. I found it to be quite interested and eye-opening. I was fascinated to read a piece in the Contra Costa Times (reprinted from the LA Times, so you may have already read it) that focused on the California GOP delegation and the immigration issue. The piece talked about while all of the Democrats support some degree of guest worker program, the GOPers remain solid in their opposition to any kind of amnesty. However, the exception to the GOP solidarity comes from Central Valley Republican Congressmen George Radanovich, Devin Nunes and Bill Thomas, who… Read More

For those of us who fought to bring the GOP up from the minority….up from under a corrupt…..big spending Democratically controlled Congress…I feel betrayed and angered by someone (and others) so compelled for power that they simply thumbed their noses at the law….and us.

I say good riddance to Tom DeLay….a man so powerful he very well may cost the GOP the 50th congressional seat. Another form of proof that those with 202 area codes think they are above all and twice as smart.… Read More

These additional appointments from the Governor just came over the wire.

Special "shout out" to FR friend John McCammon (who was Republican Congressman George Radanovich’s Chief of Staff for many years) and a special mention to Christine Ruben who had been working for Chuck Poochigian’s campaign for AG, and is now going to be Deputy Secretary for Communications at the State and Consumer Services Agency.

There are five Republicans, one Democrat and one Decline-to-State in this batch of appointments:

THE REPUBLICANS

William Bush, 54, of Elk Grove, has been appointed undersecretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. He has served for over 30 years at the Franchise Tax Board and has held the position of interim executive officer since 2005. Bush is a Republican. John McCamman, 52, of McLean, Virginia, has been appointed chief deputy director of the Department of Fish … Read More

Last week Governor Schwarzenegger announced ten appointments. Again, here we list the appointments, grouped by partisan registration, using the basic guideline that voluntary association of an individual to a political party gives some indicator of their basic ideological and philosophical leanings.

Of special note among the Democrats is Joe Nunez, an appointee of recalled Governor Gray Davis to the State Board of Education. The Governor has re-nominated Nunez to this post. Hold on to your seat for this: Nunez is not only the chief political and legislative person for the California Teachers Assocation union, but is also the Chairman of the Alliance for a Better California, the union-umbrulla group that has and continues to pound Governor Schwarzenegger. I can’t figure out this appointment???

THE REPUBLICANS

Cary Nosler, 61, of Carmichael, has been appointed to the Acupuncture Board. He has served as host of … Read More

I was on vacation for a good chunk of last week, so I am playing catch-up on "Appointment Watch" where we review the Governor’s appointments to various positions, and look at the partisan registration of those individual, using the basic guideline that voluntary association of an individual to a political party gives some indicator of their basic ideological and philosophical leanings.

Last week Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of longtime Democrat Richard M. Goul to a judgeship in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Goul, 48, of Newport Beach, has served as a deputy district attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office since 1989. He is currently deputy-in-charge of the sexual assault unit of the Long Beach branch of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Goul was a law clerk for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office from 1986 to 1989. He also served on the Cerritos College Board of Trustees from 1979 to 1985. Goul… Read More