As a follow up to my breaking news post of yesterday, regarding Steve Danon filing paperwork to run for County Supervisor, current 3rd District officeholder and board vice-chair Pam Slater-Price’s office does have a comment. From John Weil, the supervisor’s chief of staff… Vice Chairwoman Pam Slater-Price is not leaving office. She has no plans to leave, has not discussed leaving and has never mentioned leaving. She has every intention of running in 2012.

I am aware that another candidate has pulled papers. He told me directly – and the supervisor today – that he will not run against her. He will run if the seat is open.… Read More

Just call thisthe follow-up to the follow-up on the breaking FlashReport news about Steve Danon’s foray into the 3rd District County Supervisorial race.

I just got off the phone with Danon.

The significant question, of course, was not whether he’s taken steps to run (which he clearly has — see the post of yesterday), it’s whether he will stay in, even if incumbent Supervisor Pam Slater-Price runs for a sixth term in 2012. Given her office’s comment earlier today that Danon told them he would only run if Slater-Price does not, as well as the clear ‘and she IS running’ statement, this story might have been short-lived.

But — and I mean that — here’s what Danon had to say:

"They misunderstood. I’m 100 percent in. I’m hearing from a lot of folks, who have encouraged me to run, that 20 years on the Board of Supervisors is… Read More

California Good editorial piece in today’s Union Tribune.

In recent weeks and months we have seen story after story about fraud and overpayments in… Read More

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey just sent this over…

Unbeknownst to most Californians, yesterday was the Special Election run-off for Congressional District 32, a traditionally Democrat-controlled seat due to the infamous gerrymandered districts we have here on the left coast. Not surprisingly, Judy Chu, Democrat from the San Gabriel Valley and current Member of the Board of Equalization, District 4 – another seat traditionally held by Democrats – won by a margin nearly parallel to the RE v. DEM voter registration gap (against Republican Betty Chu). This leaves us with a vacancy on the State Board of Equalization upon Judy Chu’s resignation. The important question: Who will Governor Schwarzenegger appoint to replace her on the Board of Equalization?

Rumors have it that the Governor is “worried” about his legacy. So far, many of us have been impressed with his recent “about face” towards fighting on behalf of the taxpayers and promising to veto any budget that even hints of raising taxes or fees. Fighting for taxpayers on a responsible budget deal is a great place to start. However, it doesn’t end there. He has the opportunity to… Read More

The Small Business Action Committee has just engaged in a statewide media buy for a new television spot "Hold The Line" that highlights the precarious state of the California economy, and the need for California government to live within its means — balancing the state budget without raising more taxes. It’s appropriate that this ad is coming from the SBAC as small businesses around California are particularly vulnerable to our recession.

We reached out FR friend Joel Fox, the President of the SBAC, for comment. As always, Fox was quite direct: "We want the state to live within its means and are calling on legislators to pass a balanced budget with no new taxes. California has its highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression, there’s no doubt that we cannot afford to pay any more in taxes."

You can see the spot below… … Read More

Last week I wrote about the shameful lack of debate on bills in the state legislature. With 3,000 bills introduced every year, lawmakers don’t have time to consider truly important issues (like a balanced budget) because they’re preoccupied with ridiculous issues like banning novelty lighters. Average citizens who come to the capitol to participate in their governmentare allotted seconds to express their input on laws that will impact their lives. Well, yesterday Democrats in the Senate Judiciary Committee got a taste of their own medicine when Chairman Ellen Corbett wouldn’t allow debate on a bill authored by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza. Check out the exchange between Corbett, Senator Dean Florez and Mendoza:… Read More

Today I was on Inga Barks’ radio program on KERN radio in Bakersfield. Topics we discussed included the state budget crisis, Assemblyman Danny Gilmore’s quixotic support of Proposition 1A ($16 billion in higher taxes) on the June ballot, the California Energy Commission’s efforts to ban big screen televisions, and the attempt by the legislature to create a brand new California Blueberry Commission. To listen — click on the link below. For those in the Fresno area, I will be on again with Inga this afternoon in the 5pm hour on KMJ radio.… Read More

Steve Danon, the longtime San Diego politico and chief of staff to Congressman Brian Bilbray, has taken the first official step to run for the third district County Supervisorial seat, held the last 16-plus years by Pam Slater-Price.

Danon filed a Candidate Intention Form 501 with the Registrar of Voters on July 10, giving him the ability to raise campaign funds. A voice mail has also been established, with Steve’s friendly voice greeting callers (I may be among the first) with, "Thanks for calling Steve Danon for County Supervisor" and directing folks to www.stevedanon.com. The crisp-looking website includes links to his Facebook and Twitter pages.

Danon, a self-described moderate, has been a force in the area political scene and GOP circles for over two decades. He previously served as chief of staff to County Supervisor Ron Roberts, and ran for San Diego City Council in 2001, a barn-burner won by Donna Frye.

Although there has been "talk" of Danon running for Supervisor, this concrete early action — given Slater-Price’s current fifth term doesn’t end until 2012… Read More