It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that my friend, former co-worker and Orange City Councilman Steve Ambriz was killed this afternoon in an automobile accident in Orange. Steve leaves behind a beautiful wife and family. He was dedicated to serving in local government and loved the City of Orange. I got to know Steve while working with him at the Office of Supervisor, now Assemblyman Todd Spitzer. Steve always had a cheerful personality and can do attitude. He really did love being of service to people. He will be very missed in my life and in the Orange County community.

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Reps. Ken Calvert and Gary Miller both Republicans representing parts of Orange County are fed up with OC 5th Dist. Supervisorial candidate Cassie DeYoung’s antics.

DeYoung, is a councilwoman in Laguna Niguel running for the south county seat against former Assemblywoman Pat Bates (a client of my firm). Bates is well liked and has virtually all the local elected and partisan endorsements.

DeYoung has been sending mail knocking Calvert and Miller for supporting transportation solutions that she says would be bad for Orange County.

Its a bold move on the part of her consultants. And it backfired. First the chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority Art Brown release a letter pulling his endorsement (one of the few DeYoung had) because, and I am paraphrasing, it’s pretty stupid to attack two sitting Members of Congress that represent big chunks of Orange County and who have huge say over federal dollars coming to OC. I think Congressmen Calvert and Miller who have both been Probolsky Research clients would have let the first mail piece slide. But the … Read More

Pres. Fox is scheduled to address the state legislature any minute. If my cable is working, I’ll provide live updates of his address. Sources in the building tell me Senator Dave Cox is distributing buttons that say, "No Mas." Clever. (With Updates)

** 5:07 PM **Jim Lopez, chairman of the California Republican National Hispanic Assembly, distributed a press release today with the following questions for Mexico’s President Vicente Fox.

1. Why have you failed to enact social and economic reforms and eliminate corruption that would create jobs and help keep families together in their own home country?

2. While you criticize President Bush for his plan to use the National Guard to protect our sovereignty, how do you reconcile the fact you use the Mexican Army to seal off your southern border with Guatemala?

3. Why shouldn’t the US Government be allowed to secure its border when “our neighbor” is the number two supplier of heroin, the largest foreign source of marijuana, the largest producer of methamphetamines and where 90% of the cocaine sold in the United States comes though the US-Mexican Border?… Read More

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I wasn’t going to write this post until I had spoken to both Rex Frazier and Michael Gunning just …well… just because I’m that kinda guy.

My friend Mike Paiva, my left wing neighborwho has begun to see the light after joining the vaunted Personal Insurance Federation, came up to me at our kids swim time trials and asked if I had heard the news? I said, “No, did you son break another record?” He laughed and said, “It’s Rex”.

Of course that meant that the member companies that comprise PIF had made their final selection to fill Dan Dunnmoyer’s spot with Rex. I couldn’t be happier for Rex and I think PIF made the right choice. Here’s why.

I’m by no means a denizen of the building, but I know that Michael Gunning is viewed by many as a consummate lobbyist and the face of PIF. I think Michael is the strongest when he’s free… Read More

I have been told by a reputable source that the City of Hercules had a large booth and a big delegation at the International Council of Shopping Center (ICSC) Spring Convention in Las Vegas this week. So, at the same time the City Council was abusing their power by invoking eminent domain authority to force Wal-Mart (a ICSC member) out of their community, they were spending big money to recruit other retailers to their town. Residents and city leaders have said that a Whole Foods or other trendy, high-end store would be acceptable, but that Wal-Mart, which attracts a lower-income, more diverse crowd, is not. The elitist attitude of Hercules residents and city officials is just amazing, especially given that the city resides in the open-minded, diversity-loving, liberal Bay Area.… Read More

There is a controversy in Mill Valley over a physics teacher who annually fires a gun into a piece of wood as a hands-on way to teach his students how to calculate the speed of a bullet. For more than 10 years, teacher David Lapp has brought his M-1 Carbine rifle (leftover from Lapp’s days as a military police officer in the Korean War) to school to conduct one of his many unusual physics experiments. Lapp has had the approval of his principal, but apparently the district was not aware of it. Critics say that he is violating state law by bringing a gun to school.

I’m a big supporter of gun rights, but I honestly don’t know if I’d want my kids’ teacher bringing his gun to school. It’s not that I wouldn’t trust the… Read More

GOP Assembly leader wrote a letter to President Fox asking for some time for GOP Assembly members to share their thoughts. Fox declined and is ONLY going to meet with Democrats and Schwarzenegger before his speech. In my view some GOP legislator should sneak into the meeting and if caught ask for amnesty or atemporary permit to stay and then take a collection from those present to pay some of his bills.

But I digress.

Since Republicans won’t get face time with the President, what should they do?

First, they should follow Chuck DeVore, McClintock, and others that won’t be at the speech. See article here.

Second, they should hold a press congerence before the speech an announce and demand support for the California Border Policie Initiative and other security measures. They should announce ammendments to the budget to require proof of LEGAL residency before getting benfits etc….

The CA GOP needs to be clear and consistent in demanding these things now. There is now better time than right now.

A Luta… Read More