With Lou Correa being sworn in as Orange County’s newest State Senator (well, I guess he is sharing the honors with Mark Wyland who will represent some of southern OC), there is now a ten-way donnybrook underway to fill Correa’s seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. To most FR readers, this won’t raise much of an eyebrown as only a small percentage of our overall readers are from California’s most Republican County.

The election will take place in February, and so it will be a quick and high-profile affair. That said, as I look at the field of candidates, it would appear to me that just a simple review of them would give an obvious leg up to former Assemblyman Tom Umberg. The vast majority of the candidates are Republicans, and significant is that no one Republican seems to enjoy overwhelming support from the GOP community. Umberg, while not the only Democrat on the ballot, has already received the… Read More

As most of you know by now, President Gerald Ford died last evening here in the Coachella Valley. He was always a class act. He and his wife, Betty, were often seen around the valley, always gracious, always in good cheer.

Congresswoman Bono and Asssemblyman Benoit’s offices are the local leads, and have had staff working for the past year onthe myriad of details that surround the death of a President. Email me at bnestande@aol.com in a day or so if you need specifics, but, there will be ample public information rapidly forthcoming.

First two quick personal memories – as a teenager, my family was spending a weekendin Rancho Mirage at Thunderbird Country Club, four doors down from then President Ford’s desert home, the same one he passed away in. I was up early one morning and grabbed a couple of golf irons, a bag of golf balls, and jumped the fence to do some damage to the course. I’d never played before but was having a great time hacking away by myself when I saw three golf carts heading my way, one with a bunch of guys in suits hanging off it. I knew enough to realize it was the… Read More

Filing closed today for the Special Election to fill Orange County’s First Supervisorial District. Here is the line-up:

Carlos Bustamante – Santa Ana Councilman

Benny Diaz – City Commission Member

Brett Elliot Franklin – Orange County Businessman

Kermit Marsh – Councilman/Hospital Chairman

Lupe Moreno – Santa Ana Library Commissioner

Janet Nguyen – Hospital Boardmember/Councilwoman

Trung Nguyen – Engineer/School Boardmember

Larry Phan – Television Producer

Mark Rosen – City Councilman, City of Garden Grove

Tom Umberg – California State Assemblyman

The Special Election is February 6th.… Read More

From the Governor’s Office:

Update on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Health…

This morning, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger underwent successful surgery to repair his right femur, which he fractured while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho on December 23, 2006. The surgical team performed an open reduction internal fixation on the upper part of the thigh bone. The surgery lasted an hour and a half, the Governor was cleared to resume his duties as Governor at approximately 10:45 a.m. and he is expected to have a full and speedy recovery.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Ehrhart today issued the following statement regarding the health of Governor Schwarzenegger:

“At 9:45 this morning our surgical team, consisting of myself, two assistant surgeons, an anesthesiologist and two nurses, completed a successful open reduction internal fixation on the upper part of Governor Schwarzenegger’s thigh bone. The surgery involved using cables and screws to wire the two main fragments of the Governor’s broken femur bone back together. It lasted approximately an hour an a half, was without complication, and the post-operation x-rays look… Read More

"It’s the friends you can call up at four a.m. that matter." Marlene Dietrich, German movie actress (1901 – 1992)

Imagine my surprise this Christmas morning to wake up to Jon’s blog!Now that’s a loaded stocking! (:

The fact is, the 15th AD border is just a few blocks from my house. A move into the 15th wouldn’t change my kids’ schools or where I go to the grocery store, but it would change something more important…a friendship I hold very dear.

My friend, Judy Lloyd, was with me every step of the way in my bid for the 18th. I respect her very much, and I honor her as she explores a run in the 15th.

Still, I appreciate the kind words, Jon. (:

And now, without further ado, I’m hopping a plane with my kids to Florida where we will spend 10 days at Disney… Read More

There used to be a time when there were a lot of Bay Area Republican Legislators (where are you Bill Duplissea?). Now, there are only a few GOP districts that come in around the edges of the Bay Area — such as the 15th Assembly District in the East Bay, represented by Assemblyman Guy Houston. The rare Bay Area Republican legislator is termed out, and so there will be a donnybrook to replace him…

Lisa Vorderbrueggen, the Political Editor of the Contra Costa Times, has penned an early look at the field. One of the potential candidates is none other than our own contributor, Jill Buck. Jill just ran a very spirited campaign for Assembly in a neighboring district that was drawn to never elect a Republican. So, presumably Buck would need to move. But if she did, she would become a strong contender for sure! You can read the article here.

This Assembly District overlaps a portion of the Congressional District that Republican Richard Pombo just lost to Democrat Jerry McNerney, so this is just one more aspect that will make this area a ‘perfect political… Read More

Apparently Governor Schwarzenegger broke his leg yesterday while skiing on vacation in Sun Valley, Idaho.. It’s a pretty serious injury, as it apparently requires some surgery when he returns home to California. We wish the Governor a speedy recovery, and lament along with him that he is spending the next few days off of his feed instead of on the slopes!

The California DMV has a big challenge ahead of it, in order to have the Golden State comply with the Real ID act. We’ll all be tromping down to the DMV with documentation to prove that we are who we are — which is probably a good thing for Homeland Security, but a big challenge for a state bureaucracy…

Yesterday the Washington Post, there was a big article about green Arnold on this White Christmas.

Oh yes, the LA Times is not giving Representative Gary… Read More

Forgive me for rehashing one of my posts from a year ago, but I can’t help myself. The story is great, and the original blogger is pretty good….

Lest we forget… And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And… Read More