I have written a little about the 59th AD. (You can see the post with the links to past posts here.) The conventional wisdom was that Anthony Adams has hustled himself to unstoppablefront runner status. Today’s reporting shows Adams with Cash on Hand of a little over $108,000. That’s what happens when you hire top-notch political help. You have to pay for it.

Lancaster shows over $150,000 COH counting a $100,000loan from himself.

The geography of this district makes it an interesting race. Especially, if both have the same type of money. Lancaster has the most in the LA part of the district and Adams the San Bernardino part of the district. Wild cards include Barry Hartz, a desert transplant from the SGV. How much will he raise and spend? How far will the Mountjoy political operationgo for him? Susan Slater from the Desert is running too.

Interestingly, when you search Anthony Adams in the Political Reform Division’s reporting system there is a PAC called Committee to Oppose Anthony Adams.… Read More

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BATTLE GOES LOCAL Just about anyone you talk to agrees that the federal government is not dealing adequately with the huge illegal immigration problem facing our country. The proportions of the problem and its impact are profound. Probably one of the most challenging aspects of the immigration problem with which to deal is the fact that millions upon millions of undocumented aliens are living within America now, and it is dealing with that part of the illegal immigration dilemma that is the most controversial of all issues surrounding this debate. Second to that would be border control issues. I was intrigued to read that a local city councilman from Santa Clarita (home of Magic Mountain, in northern Los Angeles County) has proposed that local governments get more proactive in discouraging illegal immigration by making it harder for undocumented aliens to get work. Some of his proposals include… Read More

Disclosures are rolling out for Assembly races. This is a fast over-view of San Diego hot spots, more to come…

In the 77th (LaSuer) Nurse/Businesswoman Beecham (Coronado Communications Client) brought in 134k in the last period and has 133k on hand. Much of Beecham’s fundraising was in the form of a loan, but she has the capability of partially self-funding. Businessman/activist Anderson (Nygren) brought in 44k and has 116k on hand. Anderson’s disclosures were notable for the sheer number of medium and small doners, many activist types. City Councilman Dale (Wainio) brught in 57k and has 91k on hand. Dale spent quite a bit this last go round on overhead. Beyer’s (Justin) on line file has not updated yet… I’ll update when they are in.

In the 74th (Wyland) Businessman Garrick (Coronado Communications Client) raised 213k this period and ended with 348 cash on hand. City Councilwoman Waldron (Gilliard) raised 47k this period and ended with 188k on hand, less on hand than on the less disclosure because of somewhat heavy overhead spending. More than half of the Garrick money is his own, both in the form of a loan and outright… Read More

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BATTLE GOES LOCAL Just about anyone you talk to agrees that the federal government is not dealing adequately with the huge illegal immigration problem facing our country. The proportions of the problem and its impact are profound. Probably one of the most challenging aspects of the immigration problem with which to deal is the fact that millions upon millions of undocumented aliens are living within America now, and it is dealing with that part of the illegal immigration dilemma that is the most controversial of all issues surrounding this debate. Second to that would be border control issues. I was intrigued to read that a local city councilman from Santa Clarita (home of Magic Mountain, in northern Los Angeles County) has proposed that local governments get more proactive in discouraging illegal immigration by making it harder for undocumented aliens to get work. Some of his proposals include… Read More

There they were. My guys. Congressmen George Radanovich and Devin Nunes. Our Central Valley dream team. On TV, State of the Union. The President has just said this: “We hear claims that immigrants are somehow bad for the economy – even though this economy could not function without them”, and my two Congressmen were on their feet, standing and clapping.

Don’t get me wrong. I love these guys. You’ll see my name on their FEC reports. But I realized at that moment how badly big ag is beating them up. I mean, I’ve not ever heard any complaint about immigrants. So I don’t know what the heck the President was talking about. But illegal immigrants are a different story. The GOP base as well as the rest of America have a legitimate complaint about this issue, for reasons of Homeland Security alone. And what the farmers really don’t want to happen is the flow of illegal immigrants to stop because labor shortages are MURDER right now in the ag industry. So, George and Devin, if the issue is illegal, not legal, immigration, exactly what were you clapping about anyway?… 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

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

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