At today’s Vista Chamber of Commerce lunch Mayor Morris Vance spent well over a half an hour describing how he favors either a 1/2 cent sales tax increase or a property transfer tax to build a new civic center. Of course, there would be a new City Hall in the civic center. Morris Vance, for those of you not from North San Diego County was the former Vista city manager. The City of Vista is a largely Republican, conservative turf with representatives like Darrell Issa, Bill Morrow, and Mark Wyland. Hardly tax and spend turf… particularly if the taxing and spending is for new government buildings.… Read More

The big mystery announcement that was supposed to be forthcoming the other dayturned out to be not much of a shock…Encinitas Councilman Jerome Stocks decided not to enter the fray in the 74th, the Wyland seat.

Jerome, a great guy who — among other things — drove his city’s rightful pro-property rights reaction to the Kelo eminent domain decision (perhaps the first local elected official to do so), would be a great face in the legislature, but he was going to have an uphill battle against Garrick and Waldron…and now Packard.

The SD Politics Blog had mention of Stocks dropping a few days ago…consultant Jack Orr indicates Stocks confirmed it at the monthly North County National Albondigas Political Society luncheon (ask me what the heck that is, and I’ll turn you over to Jack).

So, I check to see if the North County Times picked it up over the… Read More

FR FEATURED IN THE CHRONICLE Yesterday, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci penned a very flattering piece on this website, which appeared on the front page of the second section of the paper! It is a great read, and a lot of folks say some very flattering things. Please take an opportunity to check it out! (This photo to the right is me working on this site – a photographer came to my home in the early hours of last Wednesday morning!)

MARK LENO: PRO-CRIMINAL Today’s lead feature column in the FR is an eye-opening piece from Assemblyman Todd Spitzer (pictured to… Read More

FR FEATURED IN THE CHRONICLE Yesterday, San Francisco Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci penned a very flattering piece on this website, which appeared on the front page of the second section of the paper! It is a great read, and a lot of folks say some very flattering things. Please take an opportunity to check it out! (This photo to the right is me working on this site – a photographer came to my home in the early hours of last Wednesday morning!)

MARK LENO: PRO-CRIMINAL Today’s lead feature column in the FR is an eye-opening piece from Assemblyman Todd Spitzer (pictured to… Read More

When the smoke cleared, there was no fire on this particular rumor…

Over the weekend, I reported on the rumor that Governor Schwarzenegger’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs, Richard Costigan, was leaving soon to take a position in the private sector. As I said, I’d received a half a dozen different contacts on this, and so I reservedly shared the rumor with FR readers. Well, this morning I had an opportunity to "ping" that rumor with someone who would definately know if this is true or not. It’s not. While invariably Richard will leave the Governor’s staff at some point (he is in one of those "24/7"… Read More

People in positions of power inevitably attract the ‘crazies’ people who 1) have a lot of time on their hands, 2) passionately believe in something, however misguided their belief is, and 3) take action to show the world how crazy they are.

Well our own Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona is no different from any other high profile elected official. Last week the crazies came out to protest him. It wasn’t clear why they were protesting although the wife of a candidate who is opposing the sheriff was there according to the Orange County Register.

Outside of that handful of crazies, the rest of Orange County is solidly behind the Sheriff. Illustrating my point: Diane Harkey who is running for 35th Senate District brags about her endorsement from the Sheriff in the same column in today’s OC Register. As Harkey’s pollster you can bet I only advise her to promote endorsements who play well with the voters.

Also on the Carona front, the Register points out he has $340,000+ in the bank. I will let the Carona campaign… Read More

Veteran Democratic operative and LA Weekly political columnist reports at New West Notesthat the media buyers for another type of veteran, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are asking for ad rates and time slots. Does this portend the influx of 527’s campaigns that can circumvent campaign finance laws or is it an old fashioned Independent expenditure? Like a gubernatorial campaign can run on at a little over $20,000 a donation.Read the article here.… Read More

I’ve been out of commission for a couple of weeks and just now catching up with the news. Last week’s PPIC poll has some in our State wondering if the Governor’s post special election strategy is working, as his approval ratings are inching back up from the lows of last fall.

The answer is: no.

Anecdotally, which is one way of gaining a feel for political winds in the air, we know the Governor has depressed his base horridly, and the chances of recovery are slim to none. This is based on email I receive, conversations in restaurants and social functions, and with my small business peers. Without exception these encounters have been pretty much the same. People around here admire his moxy for making a run at reform for the special election, but are disgusted with his State of the Union proposals. “What the hell is he borrowing all this money for?” is a common question.

Another way of looking at poll numbers is through the prism of recent political history and here my analysis is simple – he’s running unopposed at the moment. He’s active, in the news, proposing policies and there are pictures of him… Read More