Many members of the California Republican Party are asking,  "What happened to the Party’s expensive 2006 GOTV program?"

Since the CRP’s biennial reorganizational convention is coming up soon (February 9-11 at the Capitol Hyatt in Sacramento), important questions need clear and honest answers. I will try to do so based on the facts I have learned…

The CRP’s Operating Account in 2005 spent a total of $9,100,000. Combining all CRP accounts (19 in all), including Assembly and Senate Republicans and Team California, the total expenses was $18,700,000 in all of 2005.  Not bad for a Party out of power.

At the beginning of 2006 the members of the CRP Board of Directors were faced with poor political prospects, which generally became fact, including the Governor’s race. Remember — at that point Arnold was still suffering from the $164 million government-union-sponsored anti-Arnold hesteria.

The CRP has a committee, designated Cal Plan which provides a specifric political budget for each election cycle.  It’s a powerful committee.  Membership of the Cal Plan Committee  is restricted to a few members of the CRP Board, plus representatives from Assembly and Senate Republican leadership and the Governor’s office.  Sarah Simmons from the Governor’s campaign and Cal Plan’s Chairman, Lorelei Kinder, negotiated an aggressive budget to fall under the auspices of the Cal Plan Committe, but known as Victory 2006.  

Victory 06/Cal Plan would set up VOIP centers (generating millions of GOTV calls) , voter registration, microtargeting, absentee ballot program, direct mail and financing the 72 hour program… The total budget was set at $20,000.000.

It was understood that the CRP would adopt the Cal Plan budget of $20,000,000 only if the Governor would "guarantee" raising all necessary funds. This pledge was discussed at the CRP Board on April 21, 2006, in Sacramento.  After the Governor’s representative agreed, the CRP Board of Directors agreed to assume responsbiliity for this budget on June 23, 2006 at a meeting in Los Angeles.

By the time election day arrived, the VIctory 06 program spent over $16,000,000.

There are two rumors I wish to address.  The first: Was the GOTV mail  program all about Arnold, not supporting our team?  The second:  Were the telephone centers scripting messages for only Arnold and not the other GOP candidates?

The cost of the GOTV mail program was $3,003,535.19. I have examined each piece mailed. Of the 19 statewide mail pieces: 1 was"Pro-Arnold, 4 were "Anti-Angelides", 5 were "Border Control", 5 were "Pro-Jessica’s Law", and 3 were "Pro-Parental Right to Know". See them here.

The unusual VOIP Telephone Centers cost was $2,454.264.31. Millions of voters were called. But what were they told ?  Again by verifying the web site above,  11 scripts were approved. Only one mentioned only the Governor. 3 stressed the entire ticket, without mentioned the Governor. 3 stressed one of statewide candiidates with Arnold. and 4 focues on taxes, gay marriage, immigration and Jessica’s Law. CRP Victory ’06 Director Bill Christiansen managed this program.

Good questions ought to be raised about GOTV/Victory 06, but the mail and telephone programs supported our ticket and policy issues unselfishly. Soon, I will report on the CRP’s registration program, which cost over $6,000,000 and the results will surprise you.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 16th, 2007 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.