The race to succeed termed-out Assemblyman Todd Spitzer is gearing up.

Over at Red County/Riverside, you can read about Corona Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Miller signing up GBWA to run his campaign, and about other potential contenders.

In OC, Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Neil Blais has hired JohnsonClark & Associates to run his AD71 effort.… Read More

When Speaker Fabian Nunez held his press conference yesterday to announce that his "support" for a fair redistricting process, he didn’t count on the Mayor of San Francisco displacing all of his prime media coverage — yet that is exactly what happened. Nunez’ little tap-dance where he and his termed-out, self-interested legislative colleagues who desperately don’t want to have to return to life outside of the legislature was relegated to less optimal locations in state newspapers… We will be talking a lot here about this ‘deal’ where a weakening of California’s term-limits statute gets married up with a fair redistricting proposal, and the pros and cons. But since I am in a hurry this morning, I will jump straight to the big news of the day… San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had an affair with his campaign manager’s wife… Joy. The good news for Newsom is that our nation is filled with examples of public… Read More

As most FR readers know, I have spent the last few months on the campaign trail as I seek election as Vice Chairman, South, of the California Republican Party. The region is vast — including Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial Counties. This large region has meant a lot of driving to event like today’s meeting of the Lincoln Club of Palm Springs. (Not to reinforce any stereotypes, but we are gathered at a country club!).

The Chairman of the club is the very energetic and very Repubican Kim Glassman, who today is presiding over a meeting of nearly a hundred GOPers from all around the Coachella Valley. The main featured speaker today is newly elected Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco (many of you may recall that for a time, then-Assemblyman Pacheco served as Assembly Republican Leader.

Also on hand are State Senator Jim Battin and freshman Assemblyman Paul Cook – both great legislators (and not just because they’ve endorsed me in my Party run).

Pacheco’s presentation was about 25 minutes long, and pretty comprehensive. He started off with a very sobering statistic that this county has well over… Read More

A friend just forwarded the following:

Welcome to Citizens for the California Republic! Dear E-Team Member:

Like you, I have been watching the disastrous turn to the Left thatis nowtaking place in Sacramento – and like you, I don’t intend to sit idly by.Spending is growing faster and the deficit is growing bigger than underGray Davis. The Governor who promised to "cut up the credit cards" hasdoubled our debt burden in just three years. And 72 hours after he tookthe oath of office, the Governor who promised never to raise taxesproposed the second biggest tax increase in California’s history to provide free health insurance to illegal aliens.

I have formed a committee called "Citizens for the CaliforniaRepublic."Its purpose is provide the 75,000 citizen politicians like you whosupported me in the recent elections with a steady stream of informationand practical suggestions to enable every one of us to make our voicesheard.

Our first project is completed: a new web site at… Read More

When Speaker Fabian Nunez held his press conference yesterday to announce that his "support" for a fair redistricting process, he didn’t count on the Mayor of San Francisco displacing all of his prime media coverage — yet that is exactly what happened. Nunez’ little tap-dance where he and his termed-out, self-interested legislative colleagues who desperately don’t want to have to return to life outside of the legislature was relegated to less optimal locations in state newspapers… We will be talking a lot here about this ‘deal’ where a weakening of California’s term-limits statute gets married up with a fair redistricting proposal, and the pros and cons. But since I am in a hurry this morning, I will jump straight to the big news of the day… San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had an affair with his campaign manager’s wife… Joy. The good news for Newsom is that our nation is filled with examples of public… Read More

Assemblyman Joel Anderson introduced legislation earlier this week to divest the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) of investments in Iranian-connected businesses, appropriately questioning whypublic funds should support terrorist states (read the original FR post and Joel’s SDUT op-ed).

At the time, not even he likely comprehended the amount of monies invested, as research was still being conducted to determine the total. Granted, California may have the best-funded retirement system in the world, but the answer is still unbelievable.

According to Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG), a Washington, DC-based research and consulting firm that specializes in corporate ties to Iran and other security concerns, CalPERS is invested in 152 companies with ties to Iran with investments that total some $14 billion. CSAG further identifies 69 of these companies,… Read More

Last night the phone lines were blazing when the story hit the wires about Mayor Gavin Newsom’s affair with a woman who was 1) a staff member; 2) a substance abuser and 3) the wife of a staffer with whom Newsom was personal friends. Newsom’s deputy chief of staff confronted him yesterday after his wife confessed the affair.

Yesterday, Newsom refused to comment. Today, Newsom admitted the affair: "I want to make it clear that everything you’ve heard and read is true, and I am deeply sorry about that. I am deeply sorry, and I am accountable for what has occurred."

I’m betting that Newsom’s public approval numbers in SF actually go UP after this story and the accompanying… Read More

Assemblyman Joel Anderson introduced legislation earlier this week to divest the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) and State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) of investments in Iranian-connected businesses, appropriately questioning whypublic funds should support terrorist states (read the original FR post and Joel’s SDUT op-ed).

At the time, not even he likely comprehended the amount of monies invested, as research was still being conducted to determine the total. Granted, California may have the best-funded retirement system in the world, but the answer is still unbelievable.

According to Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG), a Washington, DC-based research and consulting firm that specializes in corporate ties to Iran and other security concerns, CalPERS is invested in 152 companies with ties to Iran with investments that total some $14 billion. CSAG further identifies 69 of these companies,… Read More