Republicans looking to choose between multiple candidates in a race are going to have to look elsewhere than the Insurance Commissioner’s seat. Six months ago, there was a spirited three-way primary going on between Dr. Phil Kurnzer, wealthy businessman Steve Poizner, and attorney Gary Mendoza. In the intervening months, Poizner’s campaign has been in high-gear, raising tons of cash, and amassing lots of endorsements. Most recently, last weekend, the endorsement of the conservative California Republican Assembly.

In the meantime, a couple of weeks ago, Dr. Phil hung it up, announcing that he was not longer a candidate. Today, I heard from Gary Mendoza’s campaign — he, too, has decided not to run. Mendoza’s departure, while not unexpected, is an example of another great guy who won’t be on the ballot. I’ve known Gary since our mutual involvement in former-Congressman, now SEC Chairman Chris Cox’s first Congressional campaign back in 1988. Gary held up the GOP banner as the nominee for Insurance Commissioner in 2002 — but was not able to win. Anyways, I am sure we’ll… Read More

Elton Gallegly can chuckle over a beer tonight at his apparently successful effort to thwart our representative democracy. Despite a last minute scramble by Strickland and his supporters to get him filed – there was not enough time. So on the ballot is Gallegly (who has filed but announced he is retiring and will not be waging any campaign) and some obscure fellow named Tannenbaum. Strickland has a few days to consider whether he will try to mount a write-in effort, or keep his eye on the State Controller’s seat. In the meantime, if anyone sees Elton Gallegly around town, avert your glance. He has brought shame on himself and the GOP today…… Read More

I can’t imagine a worse way to end a career in Congress than pulling the manuever that Elton Gallegly has in Ventura County today…and it might work…but probably not.

Apparently unlike State Legislative seats, filing does not extend if an incumbent doesn’t file (FR friend and political law expert Chuck Bell verified this for me). Gallegly, by waiting until two hours before the close of filing on the last day to file to announce his plans is really trying to stick it to former Assemblyman Tony Strickland.

Right now, Strickland has dozens of volunteers converging on the Registrar’s office to sign nomination docs in time for him to file for Congress.

Shame on Gallegly for this kind of street theater..is he like four years old? Even the often-immature Bill Thomas retired with a week to give other candidates time to file…… Read More

I just spoke with Strickland Team insider Joel Angeles, who confirmed for me that if it is true that Elton Gallegly is running for Congress, that former Assemblyman Tony Strickland is prepared to retool his run for State Controller into a run for the House of Representatives. You can be very sure that the first endorser that Strickland would get for this race would be that of the local Assemblywoman, his wife, Audra. Right after that, look for the next endorsements to come from two opposite sides of the GOP spectrum — the local State Senator, Tom McClintock, would certainly support his close ally running for Congress — and of course State Senator Abel Maldonado would be pleased as punch to have a free ride to the GOP nomination for State Controller.

There is one legal question running through my mind right now — about whether Strickland can ‘unring’ the bell on his filed candidacy for State Controller — and what happens with that. One thing is for sure, Strickland… Read More

Tom McClintock needs to drop out of the long shot, virtually impossible run at Lt. Governor and run for Congress NOW. The GOP majority is a rudderless, uninspiring bunch that is in dire need of intellectual arguments against the hate filled left. Elton Gallegly may be a great guy, but he brought nothing but a reliable vote to the table.

This could be the one chance we have in Washington to have a positive, conservative agenda. Tom McClintock – you are not going to be the Lt. Governor this fall but if you run for Congress, you will be the Congressmen. It’s time to run for a seat you can win and keep for a long time. Where do I send my $2,000?… Read More

The last day for candidates to file for re-election always brings with it surprises. Certainly the biggest one of today is the surprise announcement this afternoon by long-time GOP Congressman Elton Gallegly (Ventura County – pictured) who has decided after 10 terms in the House of Representatives to call it quits.

Why now? Gallegly has told the Ventura County Star that it is due to health concerns. But in addition to this, immediate speculation also goes to his long-standing distant relationship with the very popular local State Senator Tom McClintock. McClintock has had aspiration to run for Congress, and in fact ran some years back unsuccessfully against Tony Beilenson in a neighboring district. Of course, McClintock is now committed down a course towards the GOP nomination for Lieutenant Governor that is pretty much irreversable, giving Gallegly the chance to step aside when he knows that it will not be McClintock who… Read More

According to Bill Bradley at New West Notes, the Governor is still short of the six votes he needs from Assembly Republicans to pass his bond for bike paths, farm worker housing and oh ya some roads. Of course with no reforms. See the item here.I’m asking FR readers for there top six picks of "most likely to Squish".

If you name all six— before the vote there is a prize.… Read More

Yesterday the California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that it is constitutional for the City of Berkeley to require the Boy Scouts to comply with an antidiscrimination policy that prohibits discrimination against homosexuals. (Read the Court’s opinion in Evans v. City of Berkeley here.)

You might recall that the United States Supreme Court ruled in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale (2000) that the Boy Scouts could exclude homosexuals on the basis of First Amendment associational rights. (Read the US Supreme Court decision here.)

Following the Dale decision, numerous cities began to either terminate the Boy Scout’s use of public property or require them to agree to nondiscrimination policies.

Evans involved the Sea Scout’s (a Boy Scout affiliate) free use of a berthing facility at a city-owned marina. In a nutshell, the state Supreme Court ruled that requiring adoption of a nondiscrimination policy did not violate the Boy Scout’s First Amendment… Read More