POLITICAL WRANGLING

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A round-up of national, state and local political news

 

By Buck Shott

 

April 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week in the political arena, Jerry Brown came out swinging against Meg Whitman, Republicans duke it out for the 36th State Senate race, and Democrats endorse candidates at their state party convention.

“USED CAR” WHITMAN? Steve Poizner accepted Jerry Brown’s challenge for a three-way debate in the Governor’s race, but thus far, Meg Whitman has refused. Now Brown fires back: “Surely, if she believes she is good enough to be governor of California she must also consider herself competent enough to appear with her opponents. A candidate for public office should not act like a used car salesperson who relies on misleading TV ads. Public service is a higher calling, one that demands integrity, openness and honesty,” adds Brown, who is urging voters to sign a petition urging Whitman to stop dodging the debates. (http://action.jerrybrown.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1665 )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Tracy Emblem got a special gift on her birthday, April 16th: endorsement from the California Labor Federation, which represents two million workers. Her opponent, Francine Busby, picked up endorsement of the state party.
 

BILBRAY  A SHOE-IN FOR CONTROVERSY: Emblem and Busby’s opponent, incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray, stirred up controversy on MSNBC's Hardball this week when he suggested that police should be able to stop suspected illegal immigrants based on the type of clothes and shoes they have on. “They will look at the kind of dress you wear, there’s different type of attire, there’s different type of…right down to the shoes, right down to the clothes. But mostly by behavior,”Bilbray said, promptly sparking a blogosphere discussion of what conclusions onlookers might draw from the type of footwear the well-heeled lobbyist-turned-Congressman wears.
 

BIG GUNS SOUND OFF IN FOR ANDERSON: Congressman Duncan Hunter and the San Diego Deputy Sheriff’s Association have thrown their support behind Joel Anderson for the 36th State Senate race.
 

LASUER THROWS STONE HIS BACKING: Anderson’s opponent, Jeff Stone, won endorsement from former Assemblyman and current Sheriff candidate Jay LaSuer for the 36th State Senate district. The would-be lawman praised Stone for introducing the strongest sex-offender notification ordinance of any county in California; the measure has just been adopted by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. Under the ordinance, Riverside residents will receive e-mail alerts and postcards when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhoods. Sex offenders will be barred from living within one and a half miles of any school, library, park or recreation center where minors gather. The ordinance also closes gaps in the Megan’s Law registry and in local law-enforcement tracking efforts, according to LaSuer.
 

LABOR SUPPORTS CLAY: Paul Clay, the Democrat running for the 36th State Senate seat, picked up backing from the Central Labor Council AFL-CIO for Riverside and San Bernadino Counties. In issuing its endorsement, the CLC said Clay’s “interest in the issues of concern for the working men and women of our communities is greatly appreciated."
 

LAME DUCK WANTS TO BLOW SMOKE: State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta) will leave office in 2011 due to term limits. But his lame duck status hasn’t stopped him from raising a flap. Hollingsworth has introduced SB 1194, a bill to stop government agencies from banning wood-burning fireplaces and lift some bans already in place. Wood fireplaces and stoves also offer reliable home heating, Hollingsworth said. "That's vital to residents in isolated areas. They know cold weather can bring power outages, and propane bottles can run dry. A wood fire can be a lifesaver."
 

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM: In a hotly contested primary race, Dave Jones won the California Democratic Party’s endorsement for state insurance commissioner over Hector de La Torre at the state Democratic convention. In the Lieutenant Governor contest, neither Gavin Newsom nor Janice Hahn received enough delegate votes, so the party issued no endorsement in the race.

Delegates also endorsed Jerry Brown for Governor, along with incumbents Senator Barbara Boxer, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, Controller John Chiang, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, and current Board of Equalization members Betty Yee and Jerome Horton. Chris Parker, running for Board of Equalization, also got the endorsement. San Diego County incumbent Congressional members Bob Filner and Susan Davis were endorsed, along with challengers Francine Busby in the 50th CD and Ray Lutz in the 52nd. For State Legislature, the following endorsements were made: Assembly Districts: AD 66 Douglas Dye, AD 75 Paul Garver, AD76 Toni Atkins, AD77 Mark Hanson, AD78 Marty Block, AD79 Ben Hueso. State Senate Districts: SD 36 Paul Clay, SD 38 Gila Jones, SD 40 Mary Salas.

 


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