June 6, 2006
Unofficial Crotty Voter Guide
This is yet one more in a decreasingly occasional series of election guides since 2000 discussing the issues and individuals appearing on the state and local ballot for your consideration and your determination. This voter guide was begun in response to the myriad ballot initiatives California citizens and legislators spawned over the last decade or so, accompanied by clever or stupid or misleading or devious, but certainly confusing campaign ads.
Last year, there were several relatively unexpected elections. Yours truly called the Mayor’s race correctly – twice. I was dead-on concerning the Governator’s ballot initiatives (of course, knowing Gail Kaufman didn’t hurt), and went two for two with San Diego City Council races (and, although there wasn’t a January City Council edition, those two were slam dunks as well).
However, this is about informing voters, not predicting election outcomes. As always, for many readers, it is an opportunity to learn the (almost) untarnished truth and make and informed decision prior to voting. Others jump to the end of each discussion, see what I recommend, then vote similarly or otherwise …
This cycle was particularly preoccupying, due to two first-time candidates for office (average number of phone calls per day per client approximately 8). Therefore, please be advised that not all the information herein was written by yours truly. Some material was excerpted from other publications. In addition, this analysis is not quite as thorough as most of you have come to expect (and dread). Be that as it may …
Introduction
Only two statewide officeholders, nonpartisan Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and Republican Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, are running for new terms, touching off battles for other offices considered to be political stepping stones.
Republicans, by design or happenstance, have only one serious primary battle looming, pitting state Sen. Abel Maldonado against former Assemblyman Tony Strickland for the Controller's Office that Westly is giving up to run for Governor. That leaves the GOP's major candidates for other offices – state Sen. Tom McClintock for lieutenant governor, state Sen. Chuck Poochigian for attorney general, Silicon Valley executive Steve Poizner for insurance commissioner and Assemblyman Keith Richman for treasurer – free to raise money and seek favorable publicity.
Not the Democrats. There's an array of potentially heated primary conflicts, a three-way duel for lieutenant governor among state Sens. Jackie Speier and Liz Figueroa and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi that has already sparked sharp exchanges between Speier and Garamendi.
Jerry Brown, one of the state's best known (and most controversial) political figures, who served two terms as governor and two as mayor of Oakland with other political sojourns in between, is the early favorite for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. But Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is ramping up a campaign that focuses on Oakland's violent crime and exploits, he hopes, Brown's negative image among voters.
State Sen. Joe Dunn wanted to run for attorney general until Brown bumped him aside. Then he wanted to run for state treasurer, until Attorney General Bill Lockyer opted for that position. Now Dunn is running to succeed Westly as controller, but must get by Board of Equalization member John Chiang in the primary, then defeat the Republican nominee.
With Dunn's switch, Lockyer has a free ride for the Democratic nomination for treasurer and thus can hoard his multimillion-dollar campaign fund for the race against Richman, who faces Board of Equalization member Claude Parrish. Given Lockyer's big war chest, Richman is the one who must hustle for enough money to make it a race.
The financial shoe's on the other foot for Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, who wants to continue his political career as insurance commissioner. Never known as a strong fundraiser, Bustamante doesn't have to worry about a primary race but faces a Republican rival with an unlimited budget from his own bank account in Poizner.
Finally, two termed-out state senators, Debra Bowen and Deborah Ortiz, will duel for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state and the right to challenge McPherson's bid for a new term.
Proposition 81
California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2006.
Summary
This act provides for a bond issue in an amount not to exceed a total of six hundred million dollars ($600,000,000) to provide funds for the construction and renovation of public library facilities in order to expand access to reading and literacy programs in California’s public education system and to expand access to public library services for all residents of California.
Fiscal Impact: State cost of about $1.2 billion over 30 years to pay off both the principal ($600 million) and interest ($570 million) costs of the bonds. One-time local costs (statewide) of about $320 million for local matching contributions.
Analysis
The state could sell $600 million in bonds to provide grants to local agencies for the construction, renovation, and/or expansion of local library facilities. Local agencies would contribute about $320 million of their own funds towards these projects.
Proposition 81 builds new community libraries and renovates old ones. It encourages school-library partnerships and helps fight illiteracy, without tax increases. $600 million in state matching funds combines with local funding to provide safe havens for children after school and greater library access for seniors, businesses, disabled, and families.
Vote Yes.
Proposition 82
Preschool Education. Tax on Incomes Over $400,000 for Individuals; $800,000 for Couples. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Summary
Establishes voluntary preschool education for all four-year olds. Funded by 1.7% tax on individual income over $400,000; couples’ income over $800,000. Fiscal Impact: Increased annual revenues of $2.1 billion in 2007–08, growing with the economy in future years. All revenues would be spent on the new preschool program.
Analysis
The state would make a free, voluntary, half-day public preschool program available to all 4-year olds. The state would impose a new tax on high-income taxpayers to pay for the new program.
It encourages parental involvement, expands teacher training, has no cost for 99.4% of taxpayers, and provides for independent audits and criminal penalties for misuse of funds.
People Who Make More Than $400,000 A Year Say:
The state would not: (1) establish a new preschool program available to all 4-year olds or (2) impose a new tax on high-income taxpayers to pay for such a program. (The state and federal governments would continue to provide existing public preschool services, primarily to children of low-income families.)
Proposition 82 is the wrong approach. Let’s fix K–12 first before creating a new education bureaucracy and spending $2.4 billion per year for only a 4–5% increase in preschool enrollment. There are better, more cost-effective ways to expand preschool.
What I Say:
I don’t make $400,000 a year.
I don’t care what Carl Reiner did. Are there flaws in the measure? Yes. All citizen-placed propositions have flaws. Are they insurmountable? No.
Will it really take money away from K-12? Only if the legislature allows it to happen.
Although the People Who Make More Than $400,000 committee spent millions on TV ads that confused voters … and, we all know that confused voters cast “no” ballots … so, Prop 82 will lose, it’s still a good idea.
Vote yes even though it’s going to lose. Make it close. Make a statement. Force the legislature to actually do something for a change.
Governor
Democrats
Steve Westly
• Occupation (Actually, it’s more like a hobby): Controller of the State of California
• Elected Member, Democratic National Committee
• Senior Vice President, eBay
• Office of Economic Development, City of San Jose
• Teacher, Stanford Business School
• Department of Energy, Carter Administration
• Vice Chair, California Democratic Party
Key Endorsements
• Sierra Club (?)
• California National Organization of Women
• California Police Chiefs
Phil Angelides
Occupation: Treasurer of California, 1999 - Present
• Created his own residential home building business.
• Congress for the New Urbanism's Lifetime Achievement Award (What’s that?)
• Former Chair, California Democratic Party
• Graduate, Harvard University and Coro Foundation Fellow
Key Endorsements
• Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi and Fabian Nuñez
• California's Teachers, Firefighters, and Police Officers
• Sierra Club (?) and Vote the Coast, California National Organization of Women
Analysis
Now, had Westly taught at the finest PUBLIC University in California at Berkeley, it would be much more impressive. And, who cares about San Jose (right, Jack)?
Anyone who brings up anything about the Carter administration as a POSITIVE doesn’t have: anything else to say; any sense; a good campaign consultant. Hell, even a die-hard liberal Democrat like me has only gained respect for Carter despite his Presidency and/or since he was President.
Phil, Phil, Phil. You’ve wanted to be Governor for so long. You’ve worked the base. You have all the institutional Democratic support. Dem activists and labor unions love you. You even spent six tortuous years as State Treasurer.
STATE TREASURER! John Nance Garner, Vice President from 1932 to 1940 under FDR, once said the post wasn’t worth a “bucket of warm spit.” If that’s true, what type of warm liquid is California State Treasurer (not) worth?
Even Controller, which is pretty obscure and benign, at least has to serve on 62 state boards and commissions, including Chairing the Board of Equalization (which makes me pay them for the opportunity to charge sales tax).
And what’s up with the Sierra Club? Endorsing both candidates? Saying that, “[e]ither Treasurer Angelides or Controller Westly would be the greenest governor California has ever had.” Pullleeeezzzz!!! And to think I used to do a lot of work for them. Hey, that’s it! Ever since I stopped working for them … no, they’ve always been screwed up.
Let’s take the way-back machine to 1984, when Phil Angelides became president of Angelo Tsakopoulos' AKT Development Corp. He soon started his own development company, River West, and entered into a series of enduring real estate partnerships with Tsakopoulos. Together, they made a fortune paving over thousands of acres of wetlands inside the Sacramento sprawl. Although he keeps a low media profile, Tsakopoulos is a prodigious campaign donor to California office-holders, most of all to Phil.
Now, a brief lesson in how things work in Sacramento: In the late 1980s, Tsakopoulos and Angelides were trying to plow over protected vernal pools in the flood plains of Sacramento County. But their development projects were stalled due to federal and state environmental concerns. Suddenly, a real estate partnership called Live Oak Associates II bought up part of the flood plain adjacent to AKT Development's land.
Government disapproval of wetland development vaporized. The land was lifted from the flood plain—on paper. Live Oak Associates II mysteriously obtained permission to roll over the wetlands. Departing from normal practice, the city of Sacramento subsidized the development of Live Oak's physical infrastructure. And as Live Oak's suburb was planted on the banks of Laguna Creek, new life was breathed into AKT Development's projects in North Laguna Creek and Laguna West, which proceeded without significant regulatory opposition.
Miraculously, the state legislature funded a network of freeway exits and access roads and pretty parks to serve the expanded sprawl. Local environmentalists were incensed, but there was nothing they could do to stop the development juggernaut. Because, you see, one of the limited partners in Live Oak Associates II was Mr. Willie Brown, who, as Mr. Speaker, had the power to turn the wishes of his friends into bureaucratic realities. For his efforts, Brown made $9 million on the Live Oak Associates II deal that opened up south Sacramento County to Tsakopoulos and Angelides. Everybody won. Almost.
Westly has better TV ads and better mail. Angelides should go back to being a developer.
Unfortunately, Democrats being Democrats, Angelides will make it close, with institutional Dems & labor support.
Although I am, by nature (and be virtue of my Party affiliation), a pessimist, I expect enough Dems decide only Westly can compete with Arnold & he wins.
Oh, and they have both saved Arnold Schwarzenegger a ton of money in oppo research.
Republican
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bio – we all know it.
Analysis
Governor Arnold’s approval ratings have started to rebound after last year’s drubbing by the labor unions & their campaign consultant, Gail Kaufman (a fellow Willie Brown Speaker’s Office of Majority Services (SOMS) staffer). Why?
Maria Shriver. She was the driving force that resulted in the Wilson & Bush advisors being booted and bringing in Demo Susan Kennedy to run the show as Chief of Staff. Not too long ago, Joe Nunez, a high-ranking teacher’s union official, was re-appointed by the Governor’s office to the state Board of Education. In fact, about 46% of the Governator’s appointments – including judgeships – have been Dems.
Then, there’s the infrastructure bond to be on the ballot when? Of course, November 2006, along with the general election.
Democrats were made to choose between going with the Governor, who basically jumped out in front of the Demo bond measure, or, opposing it and be seen as overly partisan, gridlock-forcing obstructionists.
Beautiful! Leave it to a Democratic political operative to put the Democrats in a box!
Arnold will be Phoenix-like against Westly in the fall.
Green Party
Peter Miguel Camejo
Is attempting to attain Ralph Nader-like status …
Lieutenant Governor
Democrats
Jackie Speier
• Occupation: California State Senator
• Assistant Pro-Tem of the Senate
Key Endorsements
• U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
• Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez
• California National Organization of Women
Liz Figueroa
• Occupation: California State Senator
• First Latina from Northern California elected to the Legislature
• UC Regent
Key Endorsements
• California Nurses Association (CNA)
• The Sierra Club
• The United Farm Workers (UFW)
John Garamendi
• Occupation: California State Insurance Commissioner
• 1995, Appointed by President Bill Clinton to the number two position in the U.S. Department of the Interior, Deputy Secretary
• Elected to the California State Assembly in 1974 and the State Senate in 1976
Key Endorsements
• Vice President Al Gore
• California Teachers Association
• California Professional Firefighters
Analysis
NOTE: I like Jackie. When I worked for Lucy Killea, I had the opportunity to make her acquaintance.
For those of you not old enough, or sufficiently historically versed, on Nov. 18, 1978, twenty-eight year-old Jackie Speier was a congressional aide and legal counsel to Rep. Leo Ryan whom she accompanied to Jonestown, Guyana. There was an ambush, Ryan and four other members of his party were shot and killed as they attempted to board a plane at Port Kaituma airstrip. Then, there was the announcement that 913 members of a group known as “The People’s Temple” (primarily from Oakland & the East Bay), led by the Reverend Jim Jones, committed or were forced to commit suicide (okay, “forced suicide” would be murder, but you get the idea) by drinking (or having injected) cyanide-laced purple Kool-aid. Yep, that’s when & where purple Kool-aid became notorious.
Jackie was shot five times. She underwent 10 operations, and she still has some of the bullets in her body. She ran to replace Ryan and lost. She ran again and lost. Then, a number of years later, she won election and re-election to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, then the state Assembly and state Senate. (Quentin Kopp nicknamed her "the Poodle.")
She’s a publicity hound. Speier isn’t shy about using Jonestown to her political advantage. She’s not popular among her fellow legislators because she can be overly self-righteous and insufficiently respectful. She’s too uncompromising and not enough of a team player.
Liz Figueroa was as State Assembly member from 1994 – 1998, where she Chaired the Insurance Committee and the Select Committee on Aerospace. She has been the State Democratic Party Central Committee’s Affirmative Action Committee forever.
She was elected as State Senator in 1998 and drove a former staff member of mine crazy in her 2002 re-election (I probably received at least a dozen calls that started, “I’m quitting, because Liz …”).
Currently, she Chairs the Senate Government Modernization, Efficiency, and Accountability Committee, Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee, Senate Subcommittee on International Trade Policy and State Legislation, and the Senate Subcommittee on Technological Crime and the Consumer.
Liz co-authored a bill calling for universal pre-school, and she sits on the Political Directors Board for Rob Reiner’s universal pre-school initiative.
She’s involved with the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) and the Salvadoran American Legal Education Fund (SALEF).
Liz co-authored a bill with Senator Kuehl that would have granted universal health care to all Californians through a single-payer system and has been involved with children/youth issues, including legislation for universal child health care
Planned Parenthood has given her a 100% pro-choice rating for her career. She earns a 100% rating from Equality California. She’s consistently near a 100% rating on her record for labor.
Figueroa carried the popular "no-call" anti-telemarketer legislation. She also carried the (in some circles) questionable bill that would have forbid Google from secretly scanning the actual content of e-mails for the purpose of placing targeted direct marketing ads.
Good, old-fashioned liberal Democrat. Therefore, she doesn’t have a chance.
John Garamendi attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he was a second-team All-American offensive guard in football, a two-time member of the All-Pacific Coast Conference team, and the 1964 West Coast heavyweight wrestling champion.
John and his wife, Patti (don’t get me started on Patti. Suffice to say, they’re one of those couples where people wonder, “what the heck is he doing with a @#$% like HER?”) were Peace Corps volunteers in Ethiopia. Then he screwed that all up by going to Harvard Business School and earning an MBA.
John was elected to the State Assembly in 1974 and served a single two-year term. He next won election to the State Senate, where he eventually became Senate Majority Leader. In 1991, Garamendi was elected as California’s first Insurance Commissioner.
In 1995, Bill Clinton appointed Garamendi as a Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1998, the US Attorney was investigating Patti. He left the Clinton Administration to take a cushy job as a partner in the Yucaipa Companies. Yucaipa is an investment company, but made its name with grocery stores (they own Jurgensen's, Falley's, and Alpha Beta, among other chains).
The company's chairman is billionaire Ron Burkle, who (surprisingly!) is a prominent Democratic activist and fundraiser (Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson now serve as advisors to the company).
Oh, the federal investigation. Patti improperly tapped a family trust fund -- created to care for her then-79-year-old mother -- to finance her campaigns for the state legislature and congress (thankfully, she lost both). Of course, it didn’t help that John had previously borrowed $7,000 from his mother-in-law, albeit not the trust, to finance some of his campaigns.
Also in 1998, he led a group of returned Peace Corps volunteers on a peace mission during the Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000. Garamendi is presently the leader of a similar team conducting peace negotiations in the Congo Civil War.
John became bored at Yucaipa, so he decided to once again run for Insurance Commissioner in 2002. He won. Assuming he wins the Lt. Governor’s race and Arnold is re-elected, John will run for Governor in 2010.
Analysis
This is a tough one. As I said, I like Jackie. Until recently, I was ready to call it for Garamendi. However, he’s 1) getting worked over by the insurance companies on TV, and, 2) doesn’t have enough residual name ID to beat Jackie if he can’t match her TV buy (her ad is very good). In a minor upset, Jackie wins (unfortunately, for her staff-to-be)!
But, really, it’s Lieutenant Governor. Who cares?
Republican
Tom McClintock
First elected to the Assembly at the age of 26, McClintock served from 1982 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 2000. During these years, his major claim to fame was California’s current lethal injection death penalty law, spearheaded the campaign to rebate $1.1 billion in tax over-collections to the people of California, and advocating the abolition of the car tax.
From 1992 to 1994, McClintock served as Director of the Center for the California Taxpayer, a project of the National Tax Limitation Foundation. In 1995, he was named Director of Economic Regulatory Affairs for the Claremont Institute’s Golden State Center for Policy Studies, where he wrote and lectured on state fiscal policy, privatization, bureaucratic reform and governmental streamlining.
He was re-elected to the Assembly in 1996. In 2000, McClintock was elected to the California State Senate.
Analysis
The one good thing I have to say about him is that he’s a member of “the Bureaucracy Reduction and Closure Commission” and an advocate of performance based budgeting, which, if you throw in zero-based budgeting, is something I’ve been kicking and screaming about for 20 years.
McClintock will easily pick up the Republican Party's nod for the state's second highest (and least productive) state office.
McClintock hopes to put his name recognition gained by his 2002 bid for Controller and 2003 Gubernatorial recall run to defeat whichever Democrat emerges from the tough three-way primary.
State Controller Steve Westly edged McClintock by 16,811 votes in 2002, a margin of 0.7 votes per precinct. While 2006 is likely to see a significantly higher voter turnout than 2002's embarrassingly low turnout for the Gray Davis-Bill Simon snoozer, McClintock is still likely to provide a strong challenge to Jackie in the fall.
Secretary of State
Democrats
Deborah Ortiz
• Occupation: State Senator
• Chair of Senate Health Committee
• Elected to State Senate in November 1998
• Elected to the Assembly in November 1996
• Elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1993
• Born and raised in Sacramento, attended the University of California at Davis and graduated from McGeorge School of the Law
Key Endorsements
• National Women's Political Caucus
• Environmental Advocate Erin Brockovich
• Peace Officers Research Association of California
Debra Bowen
Education: BA, Michigan State University, 1976; JD, University of Virginia, 1979
Professional Experience: Attorney, 1979-1992
Political Experience:
California State Assembly, 1992-1998
California State Senate, 1998-present
Currently Chair of the Senate Elections Committee
Member of Appropriations, Energy, Utilities and Communications, Government Modernization, Efficiency and Accountability, Natural Resources and Water, Revenue and Taxation & Rules
Key Endorsements
Democracy for America
California for Democracy
EMILY's List
Pro-choice, big on education & pro-gun control. She wants to support universal health care, but her district won’t allow her to.
Bowen's landmark, first-in-the-nation law passed in 2001 makes it much more difficult for criminals to commit identity theft by banning companies from using Social Security numbers as public identifiers and by giving consumers the right to freeze access to their credit reports.
Analysis
In 1993, Debra Bowen’s first year in elected office, she successfully passed AB 1624, landmark legislation putting all of California's bill information on the internet. In the years since, she has worked to protect privacy in the electronic age and to strengthen the auditing of electronic voting equipment to ensure the accuracy of the vote.
My good friend, Lyn Greene, worked Debra’s first campaign and likes her very much. Lyn also dated Jim Brulte, so take it for what it’s worth … (Hi, Lyn ☺)
Bowen is making opposition to Diebold one of the centerpieces of her campaign. The first item in the news articles listed on her website—usually the spot for personal plugs—is a recent Oakland Tribune article entitled “Scientists Call Diebold Security Flaw 'Worst Ever'” that never even mentions Bowen.
Bowen has gone after the makers of high-tech voting machines, particularly Diebold. She's made the accuracy and reliability of those machines a central part of her campaign.
In contrast, Deborah Ortiz does not yet appear to have fleshed out her position on electronic voting, or much else, for that matter.
Bowen has about $200,000 in the bank, while Ortiz has about $100,000. Nothing on which to run for statewide office.
However, Democrats are getting smarter. They have been increasingly vocal in their criticism of Secretary of State McPherson over what appears to be a snafu with the state's new voter registration database. Bowen says she doesn't think the foul-up is a Republican plot to disenfranchise new voters, but she hasn't been shy about linking McPherson to the Bush Administration, which approved his plan.
Senate Leader Don Perata joined the fray, and along with Bowen, they're claiming that thousands of newly registered voters or old voters who moved are going to be dropped from the rolls if the system isn't fixed.
Bowen, because of Diebold and her internet stuff.
Republican
Bruce McPherson
• Occupation: Appointed Secretary of State
• Served in the California State Legislature for 11 years
• While in the Assembly Served as the Chair of the Elections and Reapportionment Committee
• Editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel from 1967-1992
• Graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Key Endorsements
• California Teacher's Association
• California State Sheriff's Association
• California Farm Bureau Federation
Analysis
The California Teachers Association endorsed Bruce McPherson. For the past 20 years, the CTA has shown its support purely toward Democrats in statewide elections.
McPherson has been friendly to the CTA, but come on … It could be the $700,000 he has in the bank, and the CTA going with the candidate with the greatest name ID & most money. However, the CTA has never been that pragmatic …
I smell a deal. I’ll let you know when I find out what it involved.
McP makes it interesting, but ends up losing in November …
Controller
Democrats
Joe Dunn
• Occupation: State Senator
• College of St. Thomas, B.A., Magan Cum Laude
• University of Minnesota School of Law, 1983, Cum Laude
• UCI Foundation Board of Trustees
Key Endorsements
• California State Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
• Sierra Club California
• Equality California
John Chiang
• Occupation: Member, State Board of Equalization
• Law Degree Georgetown University Law Center
• Honors graduate degree in finance - University of South Florida
• Currently serving as Chair - State Board of Equalization
Key Endorsements
• California Federation of Teachers
• California National Organization for Women
• Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Analysis
Best web site of the cycle (www.joedunn.org) Joe Dunn’s web site identifies him as, “The Man Who Cracked Enron.” In fact, the Electricity Crisis Investigation Committee, which he chaired from 2001 to 2004, was the first to investigate Enron’s abuses.
Dunn says he will focus on the auditor’s aspect of the controller’s power. One of his first audit targets would be enterprise zones, set up 25 years ago to promote business in economically depressed areas by giving tax breaks.
In addition, Dunn says he’ll return the $600 million to $800 million that state holds in unclaimed property. It’s used as general fund money and he wants to give it back to the taxpayers.
I like Joe for a couple of reasons. He survived Catholic school and narrowly avoided getting sucked in as a Jesuit priest (I can relate to the Catholic school survival & I always thought the Jesuits were cool). In addition, he’s a Democrat who has created a safe seat for himself in Orange County!
John is a former aide to Sen. Barbara Boxer and an eight-year veteran of the Board of Equalization. He is enthusiastic about investing in "green" technology and moving away from fossil fuels.
John’s a former tax law specialist for the Internal Revenue Service. He has helped introduce free tax and finance seminars for Californians and helped provide free income tax assistance to low-income residents, seniors, veterans and non-profit agencies. He has backed property tax reassessment for domestic partners.
Basically, John’s a nerd. A nice guy, sure. But, John’s not ready. Sorry, Ray. At least you’ll still have a job after Tuesday!
Republicans
Abel Maldonado
• Occupation: Business Controller/Senator
• Controller of Agro-Jal Farms Inc.
• State Senator - former State Assemblyman, Mayor and City Councilman
Key Endorsements
• Speaker Newt Gingrich, U.S. House of Representatives, 1995-1999
• John Chambers, CEO, Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Alan Autry, Mayor of Fresno
Tony Strickland
• Occupation: Taxpayer Organization President
• President, CA Club for Growth
• State Assemblyman, 1998-2004
• Republican Caucus Chair
• Chief of Staff, Senator Tom McClintock
Key Endorsements
• State Senator Tom McClintock
• Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
• National Tax Limitation Committee
Analysis
The Republicans love Abel Maldonado. The son of immigrant field workers, the Maldonado family formed a small farm where Abel watched undocumented immigrants work in the fields, picking strawberries to help make the family very wealthy.
Abel attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where he studied crop science. Then, he went back to the farm, because the company now farms over 6,000 acres, employs over 250 people, ships produce all over the world, and provides him with the money to play politics.
In 1994, Abel was elected to the Santa Maria City Council at the age of 26. Two years later, he was successful in being elected Mayor by defeating a two-term incumbent. In 1998, Abel was elected to the State Assembly, where he served for three terms.
In 2004, Abel ran for State Senator for the 15th District and won the election by receiving 53% of the vote in a District where Democrats outnumber Republicans in registration. It helped that his opponent was from a County Supervisor with no personality from the southern tip of the recently gerrymandered district, unknown in the Democratic urban areas to the north.
Abel loves to rail against those illegal folks who pick his crops. He’s a good Latino prop for Gerry Parsky and, by extension, George W. Bush, as well as Governor Schwarzenegger.
In fact, Arnold likes Abel so much that he asked him to sponsor Schwarzenegger's bill that would raise the minimum wage by 50 cents an hour – not a popular move in a Republican primary.
A former state Assemblyman from Camarillo, Tony Strickland says the first thing he would do if elected is audit the Los Angeles Unified School District. Talk about stirring a hornet’s nest.
He’s also jumped on the gasoline/oil price issue bandwagon by saying he intends to abolish the state sales tax on gasoline.
Strickland is a fiscal conservative and has proposed abolishing “wasteful state boards and commissions,” such as the Integrated Waste Management Board (which, while with Lucy Killea, I helped to create – though not in it’s current, metastasized form).
Strickland also has been taking shots at Maldonado, calling him a flip-flopper and criticizing his support for a raise in the minimum wage. Strickland opposed the May 1 walkout, during which millions of illegal immigrants and their supporters left work and school to protest efforts under way in Congress to tighten immigration rules.
Strickland going after illegal immigrants just isn’t the same as when a Latino whose agra-business hires them goes after them. However, Strickland wins because Abel hasn’t figured out how to defend himself from Tony’s hits.
Treasurer
Democrat
Bill Lockyer
• California Attorney General
• CA Senate President, 1994-98
• California State Senate, 1982-98
• California State Assembly, 1973-82
• San Leandro School Board Member, 1968-73
Key Endorsements
• California Teachers Association
• California Professional Firefighters
• California Nurses Association
Republicans
Claude Parrish
• Occupation: Member, State Board of Equalization
• Degree in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude
• Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities, Honoris Causa
Key Endorsements
• Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
• Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
• Republican Assembly Leader George Plescia
Keith Richman
• Occupation: Business Owner/Assemblymember
Analysis
Keith Richman spent 20 years in medical practice, was involved with two businesses, an $80 million health care company and a successful Pacific Rim packaging company. He played in the Assembly for fun.
Claude Parrish, Vice-Chairman of the State Board of Equalization, Third District, serves approximately eight million residents in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego Counties as well as most of San Bernardino County and a portion of Los Angeles County.
Claude has held positions in management, finance and the securities industry. Prior to serving as a Board Member, Claude served as a Los Angeles County Insurance Commissioner as well as Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Republican party.
He was recognized by the Wall Street Journal as one of California's leading young business executives when he was a small business owner.
Parrish is advocating an untested method for bond sales that would bypass Wall Street and ask California-based brokerage firms to sell the bonds, which he says could save “hundreds of millions of dollars” in underwriting fees. Parrish is not pointing to studies or experience elsewhere to support his plan to bypass underwriters. He is relying on his experience as a former stockbroker. Right.
In the Assembly, Richman teamed up with Democrat Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla to form “The Bipartisan Group” of legislators dedicated to replacing partisan politics as usual with constructive cooperation. The Bipartisan Group, initially described as “renegades” by their more partisan colleagues, has played a key role in forming state budget and fiscal policy.
In recognition of his first session successes, Keith Richman was selected “Rookie of the Year” by the prestigious California Journal, describing him as an “open-minded independent problem-solver … a very, very capable guy.” In 2004, Keith was honored as “Elite” and a “Bridge Builder,” “for his problem solving attributes” by the California Journal.
Richman will earn the honor of going up against one of the more well-funded candidates of the cycle.
Attorney General
Democrats
Jerry Brown
• Occupation: Oakland Mayor/Attorney
• Governor of California, 1975-1983
• California Secretary of State, 1971-1975
• Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees, 1969-1971
• Various Legal Positions: Clerk to the California Supreme Court; Tuttle & Taylor, Associate; Fulbright & Jaworski, Associate
• J.D., Yale Law School
• B.A. in Classics, University of California, Berkeley
Key Endorsements
• Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
• Sierra Club, California League of Conservation Voters, Vote the Coast
• CA Police Chiefs Assn , CA Nurses Assn, United Farm Workers
Rocky Delgadillo
Los Angeles City Attorney/Prosecutor
Education
Law degree from Columbia University School of Law; bachelor's degree in psychology and social relations from Harvard University
Political experience
Project manager for Rebuild Los Angeles,1992-'94 (appointed); assistant deputy mayor for Los Angeles, 1993-'97 (appointed); deputy mayor for economic development for Los Angeles,1997-2000 (appointed); Los Angeles city attorney, 2001-present
Key Endorsements
"Magic" Johnson; state Sens. Gil Cedillo and Sheila Kuehl, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez; Assembly members Dario Frommer and Juan Arambula; U.S. Reps. Joe Baca, Lucille Roybal-Allard and Maxine Waters; Los Angeles City Council members Tony Cardenas, Greig Smith, Dennis Zine; Alexandra "Alex" Gallardo-Rooker, First Vice-Chair, California Democratic Party.
Republican
Chuck Poochigian
Current Office: State Senator
Current District: 14
First Elected: 11/03/1998
Last Elected: 11/05/2002
Next Election: Term Limited
Committees:
Agriculture
Appropriations
Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments
Joint Legislative Audit, Vice Chair
Public Safety, Vice Chair
Revenue and Taxation
Rules-Joint Rule 40
Education:
JD, University of Santa Clara, 1975
BA, Business Administration, California State University, Fresno, 1972.
Professional Experience:
Appointments Secretary, Governor Pete Wilson, 1991-1994
Chief Deputy Appointments Secretary, Governor George Deukmejian
Political Experience:
Assistant Republican Leader, California State Senate, present
Senator, California State Senate, 1999-present
Assemblymember, California State Assembly, 1995-1998
Accomplishments:
Author of legislation that would add to the list of crimes that qualify as a sexually violent offense assault with intent to commit rape and continuous sexual abuse of a child; author of a law to strengthen witness and victim notification of the release of violent felons; established a model Rural Crime Prevention Program.
Analysis
In 2001, Rocky became the highest ranking Latino elected to city-wide office in Los Angeles in over 100 years. National Journal's Hotline has called Delgadillo “The New Latino Democratic Star” and Roll-Call wrote, “It's hard to find a political observer in the Golden State who doesn't think he has the brightest of political futures.”
Rocky has a great story. He was born and raised in the East Side of Los Angeles. He went to Harvard University, graduated with honors, and received his law degree from Columbia Law School.
In various speeches, campaign ads and written biographies in past years, Rocky has said he made it out of his Eastside neighborhood by winning a football scholarship to Harvard University, where he was an Academic All-American before going on to become a professional football player.
The claim is one of several that are all part of Delgadillo's Cinderella-like story that emphasizes how athletic prowess led him to a better life. In a locally broadcast television ad for his reelection campaign last year, a narrator says, "He grew up in East L.A. Won a football scholarship to Harvard. But instead of cashing in, he came home to teach, coach and rebuild our community."
The football scholarship was news to Robert Mitchell, a spokesman for Harvard. "Harvard would not have given an athletic scholarship back then," Mitchell said of the late 1970s. "The Ivy League does not permit them."
What happened after Harvard is also murky. In a brief biography provided to participants at a Milken Institute Conference and Digital Coast Roundtable in 2003, identical language was used that said Delgadillo returned to L.A. "after a brief career as a professional football player."
He said he was a professional football player for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, but team spokesman Rom Halverson said he could find no record of Delgadillo being signed to play for the team. Neither is Delgadillo's name on the "Tiger-Cats All-Time Roster" on the football team's website, which Halverson said lists everyone who played for the team. "If he didn't play, he wasn't a Tiger-Cat," Halverson said.
Delgadillo could not provide documents showing that he signed a contract or played for the team. Brad Blank, a sports agent who represented Delgadillo, said he recalls that his client did sign a contract with Hamilton and reported to training camp but was cut before he could play for the team. Blank could not provide a copy of the contract.
But, Governor Moonbeam?
Now-Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown insists that his 46 years of opposition to the death penalty is a "non-issue" in the race for California attorney general.
Brown opposed the death penalty as a Catholic seminarian, as governor and as a three-time presidential candidate. And, his opponents will not allow us to forget Brown's time as governor from 1975 to 1983, or his father Pat Brown's two terms from 1959 to 1967 or his sister Kathleen Brown's unsuccessful gubernatorial run in 1994, without mentioning the death penalty. The whole Brown family has been tormented by personal opposition to the death penatlty.
The attorney general's office oversees myriad issues such as regulating charitable nonprofits, serving as counsel to other state agencies, collecting crime statistics and coordinating regional drug enforcement investigations. But one of the highest-profile issues involves death penalty appeals.
Under California law, the attorney general is responsible for fighting all the appeals of convicted criminals in the state, including 648 inmates on San Quentin's Death Row.
Rocky & Jerry agree on virtually every issue, but Rocky really likes to kill people. And, Chuck Poochigian, who is running unopposed for the Republican nomination, is also a strong death penalty backer and has used his Web site to criticize Brown in anticipation of a November general election.
Brown: "The people of California can count on me to follow the law," Brown said. "It's the law, and I will follow the law. The voters have made it clear, the Legislature has made it clear, and the courts have made it clear. The attorney general's duty is to follow the law. That means upholding death penalty convictions and defending these convictions through the appellate process."
As governor, Jerry Brown vetoed death penalty legislation, but the Legislature overrode the veto in 1977. He came under fire for appointing judges who opposed capital punishment, most notably Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Bird. And who can forget Rose Bird? Even if you have, the Republicans will remind you in the fall.
Bird became a lightning rod for death penalty supporters, because she found reason to invalidate the death penalties of every defendant's case she reviewed. Nine years later, Bird and two other justices became the first to be rejected by voters after years of withering attacks from law enforcement groups, victims' advocates and conservatives.
Then, there is Oakland’s recent crime wave. Brown made the fight against crime one of the four legs of his platform when he campaigned for mayor eight years ago. Oakland crime statistics, going back several years, appear to support Brown's claim that he has made progress.
Violent crime overall in Oakland has dropped over the past eight years, according to Brown's office and federal statistics. But the homicide rate, which generates the most public attention, has shown an upward trend, from a low of 60 in 1999 to a high of 109 in 2003, then back to 83 in 2004 and 88 in 2005.
Alarm bells rang this year amid a spike in violent crimes. Twenty-seven homicides, 720 robberies and 136 assaults were recorded, according to Oakland Police Department data. At this pace, the 2006 totals will eclipse last year's numbers.
Brown entered the mayor's office with a four-point campaign to construct 10,000 homes, improve public education, bolster the arts and reduce crime.
He has largely accomplished the housing goal. He tried to influence the financially troubled local school district before the state took it over in 2003. And one of two charter schools he commissioned now focuses on the arts.
To combat crime, Brown created post-parole programs. He pushed to end "sideshows," rowdy late-night gatherings featuring souped-up cars performing dangerous maneuvers. And he sponsored four tax measures - only one of which passed - to fund more police officers. Earlier this month, Brown unveiled a plan to redeploy 115 officers into a crime-suppression unit.
But the proposal drew strong opposition from the influential Oakland Police Officers Association, the police union, which contended the plan would do little to reduce crime but could instead hurt officer morale.
Brown has contended that Oakland's crime problem is partly the result of a "totally broken" state criminal justice system that suffers from a high recidivism rate.
Rocky doesn’t have enough money to compete with Brown’s statewide name ID. Brown wins and Poochigian rails against him for being soft on crime from June through November.
Insurance Commissioner
Democrat
Cruz M. Bustamante
Occupation: Lieutenant governor, politician
Cruz Bustamante became the first Latino to hold a statewide office in California in over 100 years when he was elected lieutenant governor in 1998. Prior to that position, Bustamante served as a California assemblyman and he was the first Latino speaker of the state assembly. Throughout his career Bustamante has supported the agricultural and immigrant communities of California, particularly in his home district of Fresno. He has promoted better education, environmental responsibility, and racial tolerance and diversity during his two terms as lieutenant governor. He is a low-profile politician who has earned a reputation as someone who works hard and who is not afraid to address controversial issues.
Cruz has a free ride.
Republican
Steve Poizner
Occupation: Businessman/entrepreneur
Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, University of Texas; master's degree in business administration, Stanford University
Experience: 12th grade American government guest teacher, Mount Pleasant High School in San Jose, 2002-2003; White House fellow, director of critical infrastructure protection, National Security Council, 2001-2002; chairman and CEO, Snaptrack, 1995-2001; chairman and CEO, Strategic Mapping, 1983-1995; strategy consultant, Boston Consulting Group, 1980-1983
Poizner is the founder of SnapTrack, a successful Silicon Valley company. SnapTrack developed technology that allows emergency services to pinpoint cell phone calls … kinda like what the NSA is doing, well, exactly like the NSA is doing!
In 2001, Steve was a White House Fellow in Washington, DC. He got to DC a few months before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, so he was given the title of “Director of Critical Infrastructure Protection for the National Security Council.”
As co-founder of both EdVoice, a lobbying organization …
It will be fun to see Cruz stomp all over “the lobbyist” in the fall.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jack O'Connell
• Occupation: State Superintendent/Teacher
• Teacher, parent, former school board member
• Two decades of public service in the legislature
Key Endorsements
• California Teachers Association
• Association of California School Administrators
• California School Employees Association
Analysis
We all love Jack … he’s a real person when he’s allowed to be. Ask Rich about walking precincts with him the first time he ran for Assembly in ’82, then vote for him.
United States Senator
Democrat
Dianne Feinstein
Occupation: U.S. senator, 1992-present
Education: Bachelor of arts degree in history, Stanford University
Experience: San Francisco mayor, 1978-88; San Francisco Board of Supervisors, 1970-78
Republican
Dick Mountjoy
Businessman/Retired Senator
Abortion Issues
2000 Mountjoy supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California 0 percent in 2000.
1999 Mountjoy supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California 0 percent in 1999.
Agriculture Issues
1998 On the votes that the California Farm Bureau Federation considered to be the most important in 1998, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 88 percent of the time.
1997 On the votes that the California Farm Bureau Federation considered to be the most important in 1997, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time.
Budget, Spending and Taxes
1997 On the votes that the California Taxpayers' Association considered to be the most important in 1997, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 92 percent of the time.
Business
1999-2000 On the votes that the California National Federation of Independent Business considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
1998 On the votes that the California Chamber of Commerce considered to be the most important in 1998, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 93 percent of the time.
1997-1998 On the votes that the California National Federation of Independent Business considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Environmental Issues
1999 On the votes that the California League of Conservation Voters considered to be the most important in 1999, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
Gender Issues
1998 On the votes that the American Association of University Women of California considered to be the most important in 1998, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 7 percent of the time.
Government Reform
1998 Mountjoy supported the interests of the California Public Interest Research Group 6 percent in 1998.
Gun Issues
1998-1999 On the votes that the Jack Berman Advocacy Center considered to be the most important in 1998-1999, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
1997 Mountjoy supported the interests of the Gun Owners of California 95 percent in 1997.
Labor
1999 On the votes that the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 1999, Mountjoy voted their preferred position 4 percent of the time.
Analysis
Why? The information above speaks for itself.
United States Representative, District 49
Darrell Issa
Analysis
Jeeni Criscenzo is running as the Democratic sacrificial lamb. She probably won’t even match the vote total of Lars R. Grossmith, the Libertarian.
United States Representative, District 50
Democrat
Francine Busby
• Occupation: Trustee, Cardiff School Board
• Past President, Cardiff Education Foundation
• Founder, Casa Theresa Central Guild
Key Endorsements
• League of Conservation Voters
• Fmr. State Senator Dede Alpert
• Congresswoman Susan Davis
Republican
Brian Bilbray
• Occupation: Immigration Reform Consultant (???)
• Former Member of Congress
• Former San Diego County Supervisor
• Former IB Mayor and City Councilman
Key Endorsements
• Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
• National Border Patrol Council-Representing over 10,000 Agents & Employees
• North County Congressman Darrell Issa
Analysis
I’ve done many campaigns in North County. The 50th district isn’t as safely Republican as many might think. While Reps have a large registration advantage, the district only went for Bush by 5 points more than his national average. Cunningham himself only won with 58% of the vote in ’04, which isn’t bad, but is probably at the low end for a 14-year incumbent.
We have a split local Republican Party dealing with the aftermath of a 14-way election, a congressman who resigned in disgrace, and a well-funded challenger who has name recognition. The issue of illegal immigration has been front-and-center, but it’s always the local issues that tip the scales.
Obviously, Democrats vote for Busby. Independents will break for Busby by about 70%. But, Republicans in the 50th just will not be able to vote for a Democrat. They’ll hold their noses and Bilbray gets a somewhat suppressed Republican turn-out of about 42% of the 44% available, which is enough for him to win by (barely) 1%.
United States Representative; District 51
Democrats (Round 3)
Juan Vargas
Education:
JD, Harvard Law School
MA, Humanities, Fordham University
BA, Political Science, University of San Diego, 1983.
Professional Experience:
Associate Attorney, Luce, Forward, Hamilton and Scripps.
Political Experience:
Assemblymember, California State Assembly, 2001-present
Assistant Majority Leader, California State Assembly
Member, San Diego City Council
Bob Filner
• Occupation: United States Congressman/Educator
• Participated in the Freedom Rides in 1961
• PhD. in the History of Science from Cornell University
Key Endorsements
• California Democratic Party
• Veterans of Foreign Wars-PAC
• California Teacher's Association
Analysis
Every Democratic Club in San Diego has endorsed Bob Filner.
So, Latino voter percentage has increased. Sure, Filner has received his share of unfavorable press attention (hiring his wife as a paid fundraiser for his campaign committee).
But, Bob is very smart.
I did some work for the Western Growers Association (thanks, John) earlier this year. They wanted me to speak with Bob. When I called, I told Bob that the Growers needed his help. His response? “What do they want me to do now, go pick lettuce?” If they had, he probably would have done so.
Another example. Vargas supported the interests of the California Farm Bureau Federation 33% in 2005. In 1999, Filner supported the interests of the American Farm Bureau Federation 27%.
In 2005, however, Bob supported the interests of the National Association of Wheat Growers 40%, including voting to abolish the estate tax (referred to by Republicans as “the death tax”), it was said to hurt family farmers. Prior to redistricting, Bob would never have voted that way.
Bob wins round three.
United States Representative; District 52
Republican
Duncan Hunter
He’s there as long as he chooses.
United States Representative; District 53
Democrat
Susan A. Davis
As long as she doesn’t do anything too stupid.
State Senator; District 36
Republican
Dennis Hollingsworth
Incumbent = winner.
State Senator; District 38
Republican
Mark Wyland
Republican = winner
State Senator; District 40
Democrat
Denise Moreno Ducheny
Incumbent = winner.
Member of the State Assembly; District 74
Democrat
Roxana Folescu
Republicans
Martin Garrick
• Occupation: Small Business Owner
• Former Member of the Reagan Administration (1980-85)
• Former Vice Chairman of the San Diego County Republican Party
• Former Member of the Solana Beach Crime Committee
• Former Member of the Solana Beach Budget Committee
• Member, San Diego County Party Central Committee - Assembly District 74
Key Endorsements
• Senator Tom McClintock
• Local Congressmen Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter; and Assemblywomen Horton
• 3 County Supervisors, Sheriff Bill Kolander and DA Bonnie Dumanis
Marie Waldron
Occupation: City Councilmember/Business owner
Scott D. Packard
• Occupation: Businessman
• Former Member Vista City Council
• Appointment as Vista Mayor Pro Tem
• Vista Parks and Recreation Commission
• Encina Waste Water Commission
Key Endorsements
• Ron Packard, U.S. Congress, Ret. (Dad)
• Bob Frazee, Former Assemblyman 74th District
• 5 out of 6 North County Republican Mayors (see full endorsement list)
Analysis
Scott Packard charged opponent Martin Garrick of running a campaign based on lies and distortions, including a campaign mailer that ties Packard to the sins of Las Vegas and labels him a “shady contractor.”
Marie Waldron said Garrick is using lies to mischaracterize her voting record on taxes and illegal immigration.
Garrick wins.
Member of the State Assembly; District 75
Republican
George A. Plescia
Analysis
Incumbent & Assembly minority leader Plescia wins.
Member of the State Assembly; District 76
Democrat
Lori Saldana
Occupation: Assemblymember/College Professor
Republicans
Ralph Denney
• Occupation: Business Manager/Notary
• CFO/Business Manager of mid-sized company.
Key Endorsements
• California Congress of Republicans & other Republican originations...
• Republican leaders such as Tricia Hunter and Larry Stirling...
Jeffrey H. Perwin
Occupation: Businessman
Analysis
Incumbent Saldana wins.
Member of the State Assembly; District 77
Democrat
Christopher R. Larkin
• Occupation: Small Business Owner
• San Diego State University graduate 1985 - Bachelors in Business Administration/ Marketing
• California Center on Victimology Volunteer of the Year
• San Diego Volunteer of the Year
Key Endorsements
• San Diego + Imperial Counties Labor Council (AFL-CIO)
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU
Republicans
Nancy Beecham
• Occupation: Nurse/Small Business owner
William "Bill" Jenkin
• Occupation: Businessman/Farmer
• Chairman, Ramona Community Planning Group
• 1st Vice-President/Economic Development Chair, Ramona Chamber of Commerce
• President, Ramona Rotary
• San Diego County Farm Bureau Member
• Chairman, Ramona High School Agriculture Advisory Council
Key Endorsements
• The East County Property Owners Association
• Bryan Woods - San Diego County Planning Commissioner
• Peter Schiff - Superintendent, Ramona Unified School District
Debbie Miller Beyer
• Occupation: Charter School Superintendent
• Founder of Literacy First Charter School
• MA from San Diego State University
• BA from New Mexico State University
• National Board of Directors for Concerned Women for America
Key Endorsements
• Assemblyman Jay LaSuer
• Congressman Duncan Hunter
• California Club for Growth
Joel Anderson
• Occupation: Businessman/Board President
• President, Padre Dam Municipal Water District
• Bush / Cheney '04 S.D. County, Conservative Chairman
• "Repeal the Car Tax", San Diego County Chairman
• Past Vice-President, California Republican Assembly
• BS from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Key Endorsements
• State Senator Tom McClintock
• California Republican Assembly
• Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Jack Dale
• Occupation: Santee Councilmember/Business owner
• Former Mayor, City of Santee
• Board of Directors, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Key Endorsements
• Former State Senator Jim Ellis, 39th District/ Former Assemblymember, 77th
• Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County
Observations
I just love to watch when Republicans eat their young.
Joel Anderson lost an Assembly primary to moderate Charlene Zettel in 1998.
But just like last time, Anderson must beat other conservative Republicans.
Debbie Beyer, an El Cajon conservative activist, is being backed by Dennis
Mountjoy, Todd Spitzer and other members of the Legislature, past and
present.
Nancy Beecham, a registered nurse, is backed by Assemblywoman
Shirley Horton. Jack Dale, a Santee councilman, is being backed by Zettel.
Analysis
Outgoing Assemblyman Jay LaSuer and Congressman Duncan Hunter don’t endorse people and let them lose.
Debbie Beyer wins.
State Assembly; District 78
Democrats
George Gastil
• Occupation: Lemon Grove School Board Member
• Former Policy Advisor to State Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny
• Adjunct Professor at Grossmont College and Palomar College
Key Endorsements
• San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye
• Stare Senator Denise Ducheny
• State Senator Christine Kehoe
Maxine Sherard
• Chair of the Martin Luther King Democratic Club
• Girls Club of San Diego
• Broadway Heights Community Council
• Literacy Volunteers of America
Bachelor’s Degree from South Carolina State College, a Master’s Degree from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D in Mathematics from the University of Iowa.
Republican
Shirley Horton
In 1992, I helped Shirley get re-elected to the Chula Vista City Council seat to which she had been appointed. In 1994, I helped Horton, then an Independent, get elected as Chula Vista Mayor. She was re-elected in 1998 (without my help). And, then went on to an infamous victory as a Rep to the 78th.
Analysis
Gastil gets the opportunity to lose to Horton.
Member of the State Assembly; District 79
Democrats
Mary Salas
In 1996, Salas became the first Latina elected to the Chula Vista City Council. In 2000, she ran for re-election and captured 66 percent of the vote. Her term ended in 2004.
Greg R. Sandoval
Occupation: School Board President
Jesse Albritten
Occupation: Tax Consultant
"War of Poverty" Job Training Project Director
Republican
Jean Roesch
Occupation: Educator
Analysis
Salas in a walk.
Board Member; San Diego Community College District; Trustee Area A
Daniel "Danny" Smiechowski
• Occupation: Teacher Columnist Caregiver
• Graduate Studies USIU Education
• BA SDSU French Linguistics
• Sorbonne French 1979
• Mesa College AA Real Estate Sociology
• Triathlete, Real Estate Sales, World Traveler
• Elected to Clairemont Planning Commission
Key Endorsements
• Martin Bloxham--President--California Congress of Republicans
• Dr. Joe Klatt---Professional Mediator
• The Honorable Monsieur Andre Bordes--French Vice Council to the United Stat
Maria Nieto Senour
Incumbent Maria Nieto Senour, a university professor, is running for her fifth term, which college officials say would make her the district's longest-serving trustee. She faces a repeat challenge from teacher-columnist Daniel Smiechowski, his third run for the seat.
Analysis
Senour becomes the district's longest-serving trustee.
Board Member; San Diego Community College District; Trustee Area C
Rich Grosch
Education
• B.A., education, California Western University
• M.A., education, USIU
• Life time California Teaching Credential
Professional background
• Teacher and Technology Coordinator - Computer Science - Sacred Heart Academy
• Alumni Director, United States International University
• Council Representative, San City Council – Dist. 6
• Teacher, team leader of Educationally Handicapped., Asst. Principal - Santee School District
Public Service
• Chairman, Ocean Beach Development Corporation
• Chairman, Ocean Beach Planning Board
• Chairman, Miramar Citizens Advisory Board
• Vice-President, Ocean Beach Town Council
• Chair, Ocean Beach Christmas Parade and Tree Committee
• Founder, Relocate Now!
• Board member, Airport Coalition
• Coach, YMCA youth basketball and soccer, Bishop’s School girls softball, Peninsula Youth Softball
Adam Van Susteren
Andy Hollingworth
Analysis
Rich could have been vulnerable after running and losing (for the 2nd time) for election to the City Council (this time in the 17-person field to replace Mike Zuchette. However, these guys challenging him are bozos. And, we like that Rich is (or was) a member of the Ocean Beach Geriatric Surf Club & Precision Marching Surfboard Drill Team.
Board Member; San Diego Unified School District; Trustee Area B
Jim Wilson
Martin Marcus
• Occupation: Substitute Teacher (San Diego & La Mesa)
• BA in Psychology; CUNY @ Brooklyn College
• MA in MFCC; USIU
• CA Teaching Credential; SDSU / Supplemental authorization in Mathematics
• Former PTA Legislative Representative
• Past Member of Allied Gardens Community Council
• Patrick Henry Reconfiguration Team Member
Michael "Mike" McSweeney
Katherine Nakamura
Being an incumbent typically confers advantages, but in the case of San Diego school board member Katherine Nakamura, incumbency might be a liability in a re-election bid against three District B challengers critical of her support for former Superintendent Alan Bersin.
Bersin left the San Diego Unified School District last year to become the state Secretary of Education. But his mixed legacy continues to haunt local school board politics, at times driving a wedge between Nakamura and the rest of the school board.
Nakamura is the only trustee left from a majority that backed Bersin.
Nakamura faces opposition from Jim Wilson, a retired school district manager; Martin Marcus, a substitute teacher; and Michael McSweeney, a remodeling contractor.
The challengers cast Nakamura as a remnant of the Bersin era who ought to be replaced as the district makes a new start under Superintendent Carl Cohn, who took over in October.
McSweeney, who lives near Nakamura in Del Cerro, ran unsuccessfully for school board in 1998 and for the state Assembly in 1996.
District B encompasses eastern San Diego from City Heights to Scripps Ranch and includes Tierrasanta, San Carlos, Normal Heights, Del Cerro and the College Area. It has some of the most high-achieving and diverse schools.
Wilson of Scripps Ranch and Marcus of Allied Gardens were inspired to run by their personal experience with the Bersin administration. Both are political novices.
Marcus, a self-described “Mr. Mom”, is the father of a public school senior with a visual impairment, so he empathizes with special education parents.
Wilson's two grown children attended public schools. Because of his background in vocational education, he's a proponent of career academies and helping students who are not college-bound.
The San Diego Education Association, the teachers union, is not endorsing anyone. The Lincoln Club, a business group that in the past supported pro-Bersin candidates and the San Diego County Republican Party have endorsed McSweeney, who is the party's first vice chairman.
Wilson has the endorsement of the San Diego County Democratic Party and the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council.
All three of Nakamura's challengers said they like Cohn's style and ideas. They lauded him for supporting Grant Elementary School's expansion into middle grades. They like Cohn's idea of giving schools more flexibility, so they can have the same leeway charter schools enjoy.
Analysis
Anyone but Nakamura.
County of San Diego; Supervisorial District 4
Richard Barrera
• Occupation: Public Policy Director
• Masters Degree in Public Policy, Harvard University
• 15 Years Experience Helping Working Families
• President and Executive Director of the nonprofit Consensus Organizing Institute, helping neighbors come together and improve their own communities
• Helped homecare workers organize for better wages and health care, as a leader with United Domestic Workers and Service Employees International Union
Key Endorsements
• San Diego County Democratic Party
• The Sierra Club
• Hon. Bob Filner, Lori Saldana, Donna Frye, Toni Atkins, and Francine Busby
Ron Roberts
• Occupation: Supervisor, District 4
• Grew up in Linda Vista, in government housing
• Earned Master's degree in Architecture UC Berkeley
• 1987 - Elected to the San Diego City Council
• 1994 - Elected as County Supervisor, District 4
Key Endorsements
• District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis
• Sheriff Bill Kolender
• San Diego County Deputy Sheriff's Association
Analysis
People! Don’t you understand? Incumbents always win (unless they are as stupid as Duke Cunningham).
County of San Diego; Supervisorial District 5
Bruce Thompson
• Occupation: Regional Business Administrator
• BA in business administration and Economics Univ. of LaVerne
• Fallbrook Elementary School Board Member 1992-4
• CA State Assemblymember 1994-2000
• Bush for President 2000 California Co-Chairman
Key Endorsements
• Congressman Darrell Issa (Vista)
• Congressman Ron Packard (Carlsbad), Ret.
• San Diego Tax Fighters (Richard Rider, pres.)
Bill Horn
• Occupation: County Supervisor/Rancher
• B.S. San Diego State University
• County Supervisor for 12 years
• Chairman of the Board
• Captain, USMC, Vietnam Veteran
• Awarded Bronze Star and Purple Heart
• Avocado/Citrus Grower/Businessman
Key Endorsements
• Congressman Duncan Hunter
• Sheriff Bill Kolender
• Mayor Jerry Sanders, San Diego
Analysis
Not that unusual in LA or San Francisco, but a bit out of the ordinary here in San Diego, a former Assemblyman is running for Supervisor. Bruce Thompson plans on unseat Bill Horn as the Fifth District's county supervisor.
Thompson is a former Fallbrook school board member and a former Republican Assemblyman for parts of inland North County and Southwest Riverside County
Horn has held the Fifth District Supervisor seat for 11 years.
Horn has trouble staying out of the news for some sort of scandal or political flare-up.
North County communities are still smarting from the monstrous gerrymander of 2001, in which Horn used a back-room deal to dump working-class Escondido from District 5 in favor of wealthy contributors in Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad and Fairbanks Ranch. And voters won't soon forget his campaign to give himself a 25% raise even as the county was refinancing a $1.2 billion debt in its under-funded pension system.
Most recently, Horn has failed to resolve serious questions about his decision to buy a fancy house in Carlsbad and allow his chief of staff to live there, without reporting the deal in accordance with state disclosure rules.
This pattern is no accident; problems flow from Horn's arrogant, vindictive approach to regional politics.
Despite rumors of an extramarital affair with his chief of staff and an unorthodox real-estate deal, Horn is not fatally wounded.
So long as Horn stays on message, he has a good chance of defeating Thompson. Horn has a huge war chest. And then there's the demographic edge.
In the cities, Horn's the easy choice.
Roughly two-thirds of the 5th District's population resides in four cities – Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista and San Marcos – where supervisors aren't exactly rock stars. In reality, no one living inside city walls cares too much who the supervisor is. Their city councils make land-use decisions.
In the 5th District's unincorporated areas, the country folks like Horn. Except in Fallbrook and surrounding communities – Bonsall, Rainbow and Pala – where voters are upset about a massive development proposed for 1,000 acres just east of Interstate 15 and north of state Route 76.
This open land, called the Pala Mesa Valley, is projected to explode into a de facto city, a population center that will include schools, commercial and a sea of tract houses. In the past year, an influential group called Fallbrook Fair Plan has sprung up to challenge what it views as an inside deal designed to enrich developers. The Fair Planners are not your garden-variety NIMBYs. Led by well-respected business leaders, they're seeking a reasonable balance between growth and quality of life.
Thompson, who lives in Fallbrook, realized early on that Pala Mesa Valley was his base. So, Thomson wins Fallbrook and Horn wins the race.
Incumbency. Deal with it.
Assessor/Recorder/Clerk; County of San Diego
Howard Johnson
Occupation: Imaging Tech
Key Endorsements
• The King
• People
(No joke. Directly from the League of Women Voter’s “smartvoter.org.”)
Gregory J. Smith
• Occupation: Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
• Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk since 1994
• County Assessor since 1983
• Masters in Public Administration from SDSU
• Part-time evening Facility member at SDSU
Key Endorsements
• San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs Association
• San Diego County Deputy District Attorneys Assoc.
• San Diego Association of Realtors
Analysis
Smith has been county assessor for 23 years. First appointed in 1983, his job was expanded in 1994 to include the duties of recorder and county clerk. He has been re-elected five times.
Johnson has worked for Smith for five years as an imaging technician, responsible for scanning documents. When not working the late shift for the county, Johnson has been participating in marches and protests in support of those who are challenging tougher immigration laws. He was a photographer in the Navy, and he also likes computer games.
Johnson has raised no money, though he has handed out some fliers urging people to vote for him. He said his campaign is taking place largely through word-of-mouth and on the Internet, via MySpace.com Web pages.
Let’s say it together. Incumbency. Very good.
Sheriff; County of San Diego
Bruce Ruff
• Occupation: Sheriff's Sergeant
• San Diego State University Graduate
• San Diego State University School of Ed
Key Endorsements
• Bruce Thompson - former State Assemblyman
• Howard Kaloogian - former State Assemblyman
• Priscilla (Harris) Schreiber - Grossmont High School District Board Member
Bill Kolender
• Occupation: Sheriff
• Past President, California State Sheriffs' Association
• Former Police Chief, San Diego Police Department
• Former Director, California Youth Authority
• Former Board member, International Association of Police Chiefs
• Former President, Peace Officers Research Association of California- San Diego & Imperial Counties
Key Endorsements
• Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County
• District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, County of San Diego
• All 5 members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors
Analysis
If you are going to challenge the re-election of one of the more popular politicians in town, you'd better have a compelling argument to sell to voters. And, a ton of money.
It will be the third political contest between the men. Kolender trounced Ruff in 2002. And in 1994, Ruff finished a distant third in a three-candidate race in which Kolender unseated incumbent Jim Roache.
Ruff has neither.
Kolender, in a walk. I-N-C-U-M-B-E-N-T-C-Y.
Council Member; City of Chula Vista; Seat 1
Patty Chavez
• Occupation: Councilmember, City of Chula Vista
• BA in Journalism, San Diego State University
• Commissioner, Chula Vista Resource Conservation Commission
• Chula Vista Service Award 2004
• Communication Consultant
• Account Executive, Lucent Technologies Business Partner
• Communications Specialist, Solar Turbines
Russ Hall
• Occupation: Special Education Technician
• Graduate, San Diego State University
• Graduate, Hilltop High School
• 8-yrs Planning Commission/8-yrs Parks & Recreation Commission
• 20 yrs Economic & Business Development Experience-State of CA
• 6-yrs Economic Development Commission
• 10 yrs Volunteer Coach Youth Sports
Key Endorsements
• Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce
• Former Chula Vista Councilman John Moot
• Planning Commissioner Bryan Felber
Rudy Ramirez
A lifelong Chula Vista resident, Rudy Ramirez has run a Chula Vista business for 20 years.
He’s served on the city's Board of Ethics, General Plan Update Steering Committee and Advisory Committee for Bayfront Development.
In 1986 Rudy started a welding and metal fabrication business in Chula Vista. Today that small business is San Diego Architectural Metals, with manufacturing operations in Chula Vista and Tecate, Mexico.
Also running are social worker Patricia Moriarty and public affairs officer Jesse Navarro.
Hall has served on the city's Planning Commission, Economic Development Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission.
The race for the council seat has provoked complaints from community activists and Councilman Steve Castaneda, who said Chavez has an unfair advantage as an appointed incumbent.
Critics say Mayor Steve Padilla rushed the appointment after pre-selecting Chavez as his candidate. Within one week, the council received 19 applications for the position, interviewed three and appointed Chavez unanimously.
Chavez is endorsed by Padilla; Sen. Deborah Ortiz, D-Sacramento; and the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council.
Chavez is the only council member who is openly endorsing Padilla in his re-election bid.
A council incumbent has not lost an election in Chula Vista since 1970.
This incumbent, a very nice person, will lose to Ramirez on Tuesday, June 6. Hall places second. The person who pushed her onto the Council will bring her down.
Mayor; City of Chula Vista
Steve Padilla
• Occupation: Mayor, City of Chula Vista
• BA in Public Administration
• Former Chula Vista City Councilman
• Former Police Officer
Key Endorsements
• Chula Vista Police Officer's Assoc. and Chula Vista Firefighter's Assoc.
• Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce
• League of Conservation Voters
Steve Castaneda
Steve Castaneda, Chula Vista City Councilmember, was elected to the Chula Vista City Council on November 2, 2004. Prior to his election, Steve served as Chair of the Chula Vista Planning Commission, serving from 1998 until his election to the City Council. He led the Planning Commission in the successful fight to establish a Greenbelt around the City of Chula Vista.
Cheryl Cox
• Occupation: Educator/Businesswoman
• Doctorate, Education, University of Southern California (USC)
• Master's, Political Science, San Diego State
• 30 years, teacher, principal & administrator in Chula Vista Elementary School District
• Currently, Assistant Professor, National University
• Member, Charter Review Commission, Nature Center Board of Trustees
• President, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Board of Directors
Key Endorsements
• Deputy Sheriff's Association
• Assemblywoman Shirley Horton
• Former San Diego Police Chief, Dave Bejarano
Analysis
I helped get Steve Padilla elected to the City Council in 1994. I played a small role when he was elected mayor in 2002. I haven’t been asked to help this time.
Padilla faces four opponents in the June 6 primary: City Councilman Steve Castaneda, school board member Cheryl Cox, mortgage lender Ricardo Macias and retiree Petra Barajas. A candidate can win outright by getting more than half the votes; otherwise, the top two vote-getters in the primary will progress to a runoff in the Nov. 7 election.
Steve sought advances on his paychecks from the city 10 times in the past year because of personal debt problems. The practice is legal; Chula Vista is one of a very few cities that allow it for cash-strapped employees. But during the past six years only 18 other Chula Vista employees have ever drawn advances, and none ever more than once.
A personal bodyguard was hired for the mayor, became an issue, and the contract ultimately was bought out by the city. Council members were unhappy that the need for the bodyguard was never fully vetted and that payment for the bodyguard from separate funds tended to disguise the true cost of the contract. Padilla also collected several months of personal car allowance while being chauffeured in a city-purchased SUV; he refunded the allowance.
Chula Vista has formed a nine-member redevelopment corporation with four outside experts to oversee redevelopment of its downtown area. Stipends for council members serving as corporation directors are $750 a month ($1,500 for the mayor). When it was disclosed that City Council members were collecting the stipends even though the corporation had yet to meet, there was considerable political scrambling and moves to effectively refund the early payments.
Castaneda has been attacking Padilla. Cheryl Cox is distancing herself from the fray.
Cheryl Cox will place first. Padilla second. Castaneda will place a close third behind Padilla.
Padilla and Cox get to go after each other in November.
Proposition B. Proposed "Write-in" Candidate Amendments to the County Charter -- San Diego County
Shall the San Diego County Charter amended be to allow "write-in" candidates to participate in primary elections, but not in general elections, for County Supervisor and for other County elected offices?
Analysis
This is Ron Roberts’ effort to stop what happened when Donna Frye entered the City of San Diego Mayor’s race. But, it would only apply to Countywide contests. If anyone is serious about this, they need to have legislation introduced at the state level
Vote no.
