I have received dozens of calls over the last month about CRA and how one goes about getting a CRA endorsement. People could read our bylaws at the CRA website. I’ve learned that it easier to find my phone numberon the site then click the by-laws link. So here is a quick primer.

Statewide endorsements and Board of Equalization are done at the Statewide Endorsing Convention. We recently had one in Bakersfield. Delegates sent by units and the Board of Directors then endorse statewidecandidates and initiatives.

All endorsements at all levels require a two-thirds vote.

CRA is a conservative organization not only in beliefs, but also in how it operates. The state does not endorse in local races.

If the local race partisan or non-partisan has more than one unit in that area (meaning ANY of the geography regardless of size), a local endorsing convention must be called with delegates from all the affected units. With the current gerrymandered seats, some legislative districts could haveseveral clubs that need to be invited to participate. A single club in a… Read More

GOVERNOR ’06 – Arnold banks, The Dems spend. The big news of the day is that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has really put his campaign fundraising into gear, raising millions of dollars since the beginning of the year – out raising each of his Democratic opponents. Actually, this highlights the financial advantage of running unopposed as the Republican Party’s pre-primary endorsed nominee for Governor — Schwarzenegger is not only putting money in the bank for the fall campaign — but his two opponents are spending money like crazy on television ads as they wage a hard-fought campaign for their party’s nomination. Of course, all three candidates for Governor are quite wealthy in their own right, multi-millionaires all. That said, there are a lot of news stories today that talk about the extremely deep pockets of E-bay co-founder Steve Westly, who has a personal fortune measured in… Read More

GOVERNOR ’06 – Arnold banks, The Dems spend. The big news of the day is that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has really put his campaign fundraising into gear, raising millions of dollars since the beginning of the year – out raising each of his Democratic opponents. Actually, this highlights the financial advantage of running unopposed as the Republican Party’s pre-primary endorsed nominee for Governor — Schwarzenegger is not only putting money in the bank for the fall campaign — but his two opponents are spending money like crazy on television ads as they wage a hard-fought campaign for their party’s nomination. Of course, all three candidates for Governor are quite wealthy in their own right, multi-millionaires all. That said, there are a lot of news stories today that talk about the extremely deep pockets of E-bay co-founder Steve Westly, who has a personal fortune measured in… Read More

FR friend Bruce Bialosky sent me this column weeks ago, and I told him I would run it. Somehow I never did, and after a gentle reminder from Bruce, here is his piece, which is definately from the heart, which he has entitled, "Why Arnold is Losing the Republicans"… Bruce has been involved with helping to raise funds up in LA for Republican candidates and causes for years.

The recent semi-annual California Republican Convention was an attempt by Governor Schwarzenegger and others to solidify his support with the base of the party. Despite his efforts and those of State Senator Tom McClintock, Arnold has failed as of now. Schwarzenegger positions have left the base feeling that supporting him for reelection may not only be the wrong thing to do, but may also be… Read More

As reported in my earlier post, there is a breaking news story tonight in San Diego concerning an unusual financial relationship between San Diego County Supervisor Bill Horn and his Chief of Staff Joan Wonsley. The essence is that Horn owns a big home Carlsbad, and that Wonsley lives in it with her children, and pays rent to her boss. But there is a serious of seemingly unusual irregularities with required paperwork surrounding such a relationship. I admit as I was watching the television story that I was caught a little off-guard when the reporter clearly implies that unnamed neighbors say that the Supervisor in fact stays at this home on occasion, which the Supervisor denies in the video.

Anyways, you can see the News 8 Video right here.

Or you can read a transcript of the… Read More

San Diego politicos have been on pins and needles today in anticipation of local TV station KFMB Channel 8’s pending 5 pm investigative report on Supervisor Bill Horn, his Chief of Staff Joan Wonsley, and their alleged shared property interests. Some in SD say that Horn, running for re-election against challenger and former Assemblyman Bruce Thompson, has been the subject of these rumors for years.

It is now apparent that whatever Channel 8 will be breaking within the next hour, may have already been broken by local activist Patsy Fritz today in the weekly Valley Center Road Runner. Because the column is not yet on-line, below is the full text.

It’s always a bit awkward to post this kind of story — especially since I have a friendship with both Bill Horn (pictured) and Joan Wonsley. But we’re in the business of ‘breaking news’ here, and since this one is clearly in the public domain… That said, I… Read More

March 5, a street in the middle class city of Lakewoodis rocked by the expolsoion of ILLEGAL fireworks. The fire destroys a home and damages a few others.

City Council members must act. They know the solution ban LEGAL fireworks.

The brightest that Lakewood citiznescould elect have scheduled a November election to ban all fireworks in the city. If passed it will cut off funds to various non-profits.Don’t worry taxpayers will pick up the tab for the non-religious ones. See the story here.

Take that illegal firework merchants.… Read More

Exception political law attorney Dana Reed send this along. Pardon if the formatting is messed up as this is being posted from a Blackberry PDA:

FROM DANA REED:

"The Democratic primary election to succeed Senator Joe Dunn in the 34th SD (Central Orange County) was expected to be one of the most expensive legislative races in California’s history. Assemblyman Tom Umberg and County Supervisor Lou Correa were poised to re-enact the Gunfight at the OC Corral, and spend over $1,000,000 each in doing so.

The lines were drawn in the sand. Business interests and moderate Democrats were supporting Correa. Trial lawyers and environmentalists were on Umberg’s side. It was going to be fun to watch.

But Correa has shot himself in the foot and his name might not appear on the ballot. If Umberg’s attorneys are successful, Correa will be forced to run as a "write in" candidate, a daunting task at best.

What happened?

Well, the Correa campaign failed to follow the rules in submitting the proper number of signatures on their candidate’s Nomination Documents, and they got… Read More