You may recall that Alan Autry was the Mayor of Fresno for two terms, succeeding Jim Patterson, a current candidate for the 19th Congressional District. Autry is supporting State Senator Jeff Denham, and has been taking major shots at Patterson while hosting a radio program on KYNO 940 am. Now, this station has less than a 1% share, so there aren’t many listeners, but I am really, really saddened by Autry’s attacks. He’s been my friend for many years, but as a Patterson supporter, I feel compelled to respond.

The latest Denham attackshowed up in my mail today, with Autry claiming that Patterson left him in a fiscal mess when he took over for Patterson in 2001.

If this claim weren’t so ridiculous, it would be laughable, and it makes fair game the Autry record while in Fresno City Hall.

Let’s set the record straight: Jim Patterson was elected Mayor of Fresno in 1993. The city was gang infested and had the worst auto theft rates in the nation. Over the next eight years, with some federal help, Fresno hired 384 police officers, cut the crime rate 75%, and balanced eight straight budgets. Pension obligations were… Read More

Slatemailer CONTINUING THE REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION. Features Cooley for Attorney General, Villines for Insurance Commissioner.… Read More

FR friend and blogger Doug La Malfa (I think he grows rice for a living) is running for the State Senate. He’s got a new commercial running in the sprawling northern district in which he is running, featuring conservative Congressman Wally Herger… … Read More

It has come to our attention that staff of the Governor’s Office has sent Campaign materials from their State e-mail accounts in attempt to solicit Endorsements and support for their Political activity as it relates to their opposition of the California Jobs Initiative – the ballot measure which is expected to appear on the November ballot.

Simply put, using Taxpayer funds to support Political activity is a violation of Campaign Law (FPPC rules).

Below is a copy of one such e-mail from the Governor’s staff (Chief Deputy Director Lisa Kalustian) on state government e-mail system, unmistakably soliciting political activity in opposition to the California Jobs Initiative, along with the forwarding of campaign literature. Also included in the e-mail is an Endorsement Form from the official Campaign Committee that was formed to oppose the ballot measure. The name of the person receiving the e-mail has been removed in order to protect the whistle blower’s anonymity.

To further investigate the matter, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has filed a Public Records Act request with the Governor’s office, and has cc’d the Fair Political Practices… Read More

The SacBee’s Capitol Alert blog is reporting that Democrats are busy rejecting the Governor’s proposed cuts in the budget. Of course they are. Because the Democrats believe that when the economy is in bad shape, that’s the time you want to raise taxes. Actually, to be more accurate, the liberals in the legislature pretty much want to raise taxes any time.

At some point, the Democrats in Sacramento have to understand that when the economy is humming along, then the private sector grows, and the GDP goes up, and also the money available to government at every level increases. But the opposite is also true — and when the economy restricts, it is not just the private sector that has to go through proverbial belt-tightening, it is also government that must do this. Adding more taxes is problematic for many reasons, but a great pragmatic reason is that doing so will damage economic recovery efforts.

Fortunately the State of California, unlike the Feds, cannot print money. And since the resolve of the Governor and legislative Republicans… Read More

Republican voters will have no doubt who the former Alaska Governor and 2008 GOP Veep nominee is supporting for U.S. Senate…… Read More

Lonely day in the mailbox. COOPER FOR SHERIFF “Endorsements” pretty clean, good piece… doesn’t point out he is a Democrat.… Read More

Who is on my mid-week flight to Sacramento? I'm hanging with 20 year FR friend and Assemblyman Van Tran. Also on the flight are Jonathan Choi of Dart Enterprises (need a LOT of plates or cups? He's your man – also Judy Legan is off to advocate for Apartment Owners, and my buddy former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Charlie Walters is on his way to a state criminal justice commission meeting. That's a wrap!… Read More