Oakland will elect a new mayor this year as our current mayor, Jerry Brown, seeks to follow Bill Lockyer into the Attorney General’s office.

Brown gave a fairly boring State of the City speech yesterday which focused mostly on the new development in the city.

"There has been in the past six years a tremendous business investment in Oakland," Brown told the City Council. "There has been a tremendous vote of private capital in the future of Oakland."

Its true-there has been more business investment in the city while Brown was governor. In the past,… Read More

The 35th Senate District is set for a Special Election on April 11th. Diane Harkey is moving fast and hard toward a win.

You don’t have to take my word for it, Alicia Robinson is the political reporter at the Daily Pilot, the Newport Beach/Costa Mesa paper. She writes, "But while Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey has been showing her face at various city council meetings and racking up big-name endorsements, Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman’s campaign seems to be missing in action."

Harman’s response: "Right now I’d say it’s kind of the lull before the storm," With the election just 13 potentially unlucky weeks away, there is no lull. There is constant motion and non-stop fund raising.

Harkey, a Dana Point city councilwoman and super-successful businesswoman has already ponied up six-figures of her own money and pledged more as needed. She has also been … Read More

Adam Mendelsohn is a new dad. He and his family have just relocated from Washington, D.C., back home to California. You see, this new dad is now the new Communications Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. After years of valient service, Rob Stutzman has departed the post (though he will still be doing work with the Governor’s re-election campaign).

Adam is a friend, and I think that he will do a great job for the Governor. Adam consented to an interview that is featured in today’s issue of the FlashReport! Congratulations, Adam!

(P.S. – Rumor has it that Adam has pledged to bring his new baby with him to work each and every day! Somehow I think Mrs. Mendelsohn might not like that idea…!)

GOVERNOR IN SAN FRANCISCO Governor Schwarzenegger commemorated Martin Luthor King, Jr, day with an appearance in San Francisco, where he spoke at an event sponsored by labor… Read More

Adam Mendelsohn is a new dad. He and his family have just relocated from Washington, D.C., back home to California. You see, this new dad is now the new Communications Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. After years of valient service, Rob Stutzman has departed the post (though he will still be doing work with the Governor’s re-election campaign).

Adam is a friend, and I think that he will do a great job for the Governor. Adam consented to an interview that is featured in today’s issue of the FlashReport! Congratulations, Adam!

(P.S. – Rumor has it that Adam has pledged to bring his new baby with him to work each and every day! Somehow I think Mrs. Mendelsohn might not like that idea…!)

View Full Commentary… Read More

Starting today, I am pleased to announce that we are adding a new member of the FlashReport Weblog cast of characters — Amy Thoma — who will be our new Central Coast correspondent!

Amy is currently the Executive Director of the Monterey County GOP, and involved a with a lot of grassroots Republican activities. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, Amy will bring a lot to the table.

Her beat will be from Santa Cruz down to Ventura County – a wide swath. Any FR readers are welcome to reach out to her!

We’ll be looking for great, insightful new and analysis from Amy!

Welcome!

Jon… Read More

If you haven ever driven North on the 710 (Long Beach Freeway) you will find that find that is stops at Valley Blvd in Alhambra. You have toexit. For over forty years the residents of South Pasadena have stopped completion of the 710 through Pasadenaby filinglawsuits, declaring homes as historic landmarks and punishing local politicians. Neighboring cities and business interests don’t like that fact. However, the intensity is on South Pasadena’s side. You can see a good quick rundown on that history here.

In an attempt to get around this problem, my buddy Gil Cedillo has introduced legislation to build a tunnel. You can my FR post on that here.

Now the supporters of finishing the freeway are trying to get a piece of Arnold’s $222 billion. See full story here.

These kinds of localfights will happen all over California. If the 710is included South Pasadena… Read More

Congressman Jerry Lewis, chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, favored fellow Californian Ken Calvert to take the vacancy left by Duke Cunningham’s resignation months ago on his committee. However, former Majority Leader Tom DeLay is poised to claim that plum assignment. DeLay, a member of the committee, had taken a leave in order to allow more room for other GOPers to get on the committee. With his responsibilities as Majority Leader, he wouldn’t have been a very active member anyway. Now, looking to find new power bases, DeLay will return.

One of the primary motivations of DeLay’s return is NASA. Johnson Space Center is one of DeLay’s constituents and he is passionate about the space program. This committee would give him oversight on NASA funding.… Read More

Okay, this has nothing to do with California other than the fact that it is one of Rep. Darrell Issa’s opponents for Policy Chairman. But this letter to the GOP Conference from Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan is too entertaining not to share.