The crowd is racaus here in Newport Beach. Members-elect, current members, and a handful of 3rd house institutions are mingling and sipping wine. A very nice cap to the end of the first day of our conference. Leader Villines has set the tone for a productive retreat; a term newly elected member Paul Cook finds highly objectionable. Out of respect for his service (once a Marine Colonel, always a Marine Colonel!), we are “conferencing”. Tomorow proves to be a most enjoyable and invigorating experience as we begin to really delve into the meat of our conference. Tonight, we raise our glasses to unity.… Read More

I really couldn’t be more proud to live in Oakland than I am today. Not only do I have to look forward to seeing Jerry Brown hands the reins of power over to Ron Dellums, but we get a hand-holding ceremony around Lake Merritt to celebrate the new mayor to boot! The Chronicle’s Matier & Ross write today about Dellums’ and Schwarzenegger’s planned festivities. One can’t fault Schwarzenegger for throwing a big party this time around. He rightly held off when he was first elected, rolling up his sleeves and telling the voters that he understood he was sent to Sacramento to get work done that the recalled Gov. Gray Davis was unable to accomplish. But under normal situations, it is customary for governors to throw inaugural parties and there’s no doubt that… Read More

In the coming days, newly minted Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines will be announcing key leadership team members, the most prominent of which will be his selection for Chairman of the Assembly Republican Caucus.

We have verified that Villines’ pick for this important post is conservative leader Bob Huff. Huff has quickly risen in prominence in GOP circles because of his understanding of politics, his commitment to core Republican principles, and his ammiable personality.

Congratulations (in advance) Assemblyman Huff – our expectations are appropriatly high! And a nod of respect to Leader Villines – a superb pick!

(Note: I’ve had this intel for a little while, choosing to hold it in confidence. I’m only posting it now because so many folks have told me, that it will be common knowledge by noon. I guess make that eleven now!)… Read More

Shortly before the Thanksgiving recess, the 23 members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus elected San Bernardino County’s lone Democrat Congressmember, Joe Baca, to serve as chair of that organization. This is noteworthy given the frosty relationships that had developed between Baca and many members of the caucus as a result of Baca’s questionable political fundraising practices and his alleged poor treatment of his female colleagues.

Just this past March, six members of the all-Democrat Congressional Hispanic Caucus resigned their association with the organization’s political action committee, BOLDPAC, due to Congressman Baca’s steering of funds from the PAC’s treasury to assist the Baca family’s failed attempt to building a political dynasty in the Inland Empire. Baca has chaired BOLDPAC (Building Our Leadership Diversity) since 2001.

The six who ended their affiliation with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ PAC did so as a direct result of PAC Chair Baca’s decision to use PAC… Read More

One of California’s brightest public policy minds is retiring (perhaps temporarily) from public office after a sixteen-year career on the Garden Grove City Council.

Political professionals, myself included, often times under estimate the impact of individual elected officials. And it is easy to discount the majority of elected officials both local and in the legislature–they just don’t have the skills or knowledge or command of the issues that allows them to be great at the job of making policy.

Councilman Mark Leyes is the exception to that rule. He is in an economist by education, a political strategist by necessity and visionary by desire. And if you had ever been to Garden Grove in the late ’80s and then came back today, you would know why Tuesday night’s retirement party hosted by the city had included over a hundred admirers of Leyes and what he accomplished in his tenure on the council.

Having served on a local water board and policy guru at another water district prior to… Read More

Shortly before the Thanksgiving recess, the 23 members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus elected San Bernardino County’s lone Democrat Congressmember, Joe Baca, to serve as chair of that organization. This is noteworthy given the frosty relationships that had developed between Baca and many members of the caucus as a result of Baca’s questionable political fundraising practices and his alleged poor treatment of his female colleagues.

Just this past March, six members of the all-Democrat Congressional Hispanic Caucus resigned their association with the organization’s political action committee, BOLDPAC, due to Congressman Baca’s steering of funds from the PAC’s treasury to assist the Baca family’s failed attempt to building a political dynasty in the Inland Empire. Baca has chaired BOLDPAC (Building Our Leadership Diversity) since 2001.

The six who ended their affiliation with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ PAC did so as a direct result of PAC Chair Baca’s decision to use PAC… Read More

Today the Governor made fifteen more appointments into State Government — 9 Republicans and 6 Democrats. To the Shasta County Fair Board: Eileen Bauer (R), Emmett Burroughs (R), Bill Gibson (R), Bradd McDannold (R), Pete Peters (R), Larry Russell (D), Patrick Wallner (D), Victor Woolery (R).

To the Advisory Committee on Juvinile Justice and Delinquency: Carol Biondi (R, Los Angeles), Sandra McBrayer (D, San Diego), Winston Peters (D, Los Angeles), Maria Rochart (R, Glendale).

Also: * John Dunker (R), of Rio Dell to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. * Matthew Magner (R), of Bakersfield, as special assistant inspector general of the Bureau of Independent Review in the Office of the Inspector General. * Samuel Wakim (R), of Yreka to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. (A special FR congrats to Sam Wakim, who is Chairman of his… Read More

Back on November 15th, the Governor announced ten appointments — but I got busy and never penned a post on them… 6 Republicans and 4 Democrats…

So here they are — one Republican to the Recreational Trails Committee, Laura Zabkar of Foresthill — and nine appointments to Regional Water Quality Control Boards: Jack Clarke (R), 64, of Apple Valley, to the Lahontan District; Francine Diamond (D), 63, of Pacific Palisades, to the Los Angeles District; Maurice Gallarda (R), 53, of Yorba Linda, to the Santa Ana District; Amy Horne (D), 52, of Truckee, to the Lahontan District; M.E. "Red" Martinez (D), 75, of Banning, to the Colorado River Basin District; William E. Peacock (D), 65, of Portola Valley, to the San Francisco Bay District; William Ruh (R), 47, of Montclair, to the Santa Ana District; Gary Shallcross (R), 59, of Monterey, to the Central Coast District; Seymour Van Gundy (R), 75, of Riverside, to the Santa Ana District.

Oh yes, I always like to emphasize that there are qualified individuals of all political parties to serve in positions of public trust. That having been said, how someone chooses to register gives you… Read More