San Diego Politico

• Dave Roberts Drops Out of the 50th

  From the Desk of Dave Roberts
  Thanksgiving Day 2009
  
  
  Dear Friend,
  
  This past Monday was one of the happiest, yet saddest days of my life. As many of you know, Wally and I have been foster parents for abused children for well over a decade. [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 8:23am EST
  

• DeMaio’s Proposal Creates Open Season for Government Contractors, Harms Local Economy

  Press Release from Labor:
  
  DeMaio’s Proposal Creates Open Season for Government Contractors, Harms Local Economy
  Proposal would ban policies to help local workers and veterans; repeals living wage; could hand contracting power to unelected city manager
  
  SAN DIEGO – (November 23, 2009) – A proposed ballot measure supported [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 10:45am EST
  

• Union Members support Humberto Peraza for Chula Vista City Council

  The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council announced last week their endorsement for Humberto Peraza for City Council in Chula Vista for the June 2010 elections.
  
  In their press release, the Labor Council described Humberto as committed to rebuilding Chula Vista’s economy by creating [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 8:35pm EST
  

• California’s Constitution: Time for an Overhaul: Town Hall

  You are invited to join us in San Diego to discuss California's drastic need for reform and Repair California's Constitutional Convention ballot measures.
  
  California’s Constitution: Time for an Overhaul
  Friday, November 13, 2009
  8:30 a.m. Registration | 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Program
  NTC Events Center (directions)
  Truxton & [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:19am EST
  

• Statement from Chairman John Burton on Gavin Newsom’s Decision to Withdraw from the California Governor’s Race

  I have known Gavin Newsom since before he was born and I have watched him become a fine man and a skilled political leader.
  
  As San Francisco Mayor, Newsom has been a champion for marriage equality and innovative new environmental and health care efforts.
  
  But Gavin does not [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 2:07pm EST
  

• News from Barbara Boxer

  I am pleased to let you know of a major construction project that will create about 2,000 jobs in San Diego. A contract has been awarded for the construction of the new United States Courthouse in San Diego. This project will create a boost to the construction trades, which will, [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 8:44am EDT
  

• Does Meg Whitman Have the Judgment to Be Governor?

  From the CDP:
  
  
  Planned to Campaign for Candidate Who Wrote Working Women Were "Detrimental to the Family" Will Whitman Renounce McDonnell's Antiquated Views?
  
  
  Meg Whitman is already struggling to answer why she’s qualified to be California governor if she didn’t have the time or inclination' [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 3:15pm EDT
  

• Sen. Christine Kehoe to Serve as Honorary Chair for New Leaders Council in San Diego

  California State Senator Christine Kehoe has agreed to serve as the Honorary Chair for recently-formed chapter of the New Leaders Council in San Diego.

  The mission of the New Leaders Council (“NLC”) is to train and support the next generation of progressive [...]

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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 10:30am EDT
  

• Labor Council Endorsements

  Labor Council endorses Howard Wayne in City Council race and Jim Duffy for Sheriff. Rep. Susan Davis, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Assembly Candidate Toni Atkins also endorsed
  
  
  SAN DIEGO – (September 24, 2009) – The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council announced today its endorsements of [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2009, 9:01am EDT
  

• The Future of the Democratic Party in San Diego.

  The primary challenge facing Democrats in San Diego is to present a credible alternative to conservative leadership.
  
  San Diego is a newly Democratic community. For decades, conservatives have dominated local politics, and Democrats were left to fight over a limited number of districts to play [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 7:50am EDT
  

• Unity on the Governor’s race

  This is from the CDP Chair John Burton:
  
  
  Not long ago, I wrote you about next year’s governor’s race. The California Democratic Party’s Statewide Officers, Regional Directors and Caucus Chairs and I had concluded that our gubernatorial candidates should not seek the party’s pre-primary endorsement.
  
  The Party [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 9:11am EDT
  

• Statement of California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on the Passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy

  The nation has suffered a great loss with the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy, who was a giant in the history of the U.S. Senate.
  
  Sen. Kennedy was a friend and ally for decades. We shared a passion for broadening health care coverage, protecting the rights of poor and [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 7:48am EDT
  

• Read This

  From today’s San Diego News Network:
  State investigates alleged San Diego Republican corruption
  
  Given the bang-up job Nehring is doing that the state level this is really no surprise. To see it covered in the press is. [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 3:00pm EDT
  

• Districts 2 and 6 get one each

  The SDUT broke this yesterday:
  
  Jim Morrison, 52, of Pacific Beach is joining three other people to challenge the incumbency of Kevin Faulconer for the District 2 seat. A property manager, Morrison is involved with the Pacific Beach planning committee, town council and parking committee. This would be [...]
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  Posted: August 25, 2009, 1:51pm EDT
  

• Steve Hadley and Steve Francis

  The SDUT last Wednesday reported, under the headline “GOP Steve endorses Democrat Steve”, that Steve Hadley, Donna Frye’s current Chief of Staff and candidate for her seat on the San Diego City Council, has been endorsed by Steve Francis, the Republican former mayoral candidate.
  
  Some initial thoughts:
  
  WTF [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 3:34pm EDT
  

• Kittle is Out

  The bow-tied defender of a rampant free market and the San Diego status quo has been laid off from the SDUT.
  
  From Today’s Voice:
  Bob Kittle, the editorial page editor at The San Diego Union-Tribune, has been laid off, according to newsroom sources. So has Bernie Jones, the [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 3:22pm EDT
  

• Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on Passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver

  With the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver today, America has lost a champion for people with developmental disabilities.
  
  The founder of the Special Olympics, Shriver’s work and passion laid the foundation for the greater disability rights movement.
  
  Inspired by love for her sister, Rosemary, Shriver helped eradicate the [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 7:45am EDT
  

• ‘Steinberg v. Schwarzenegger’ Constitutional Lawsuit to be Filed Next Week

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  August 7, 2009
  
  
  ‘Steinberg v. Schwarzenegger’ Constitutional Lawsuit to be Filed Next Week
  
  
  SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) today announced that he will file a lawsuit against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger early next week that contends the Governor violated [...]
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  Posted: August 08, 2009, 8:05am EDT
  

• I am running for Chula Vista City Council

  PERAZA FOR CITY COUNCIL
  
  For Immediate Release
  August 6, 2009
  
  HUMBERTO PERAZA DECLARES CANDIDACY FOR CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL
  
  Humberto Peraza announced today that he has formed a campaign committee to run for Chula Vista City Council.
  
  “As a young father, I want to do [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 8:13am EDT
  

• Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51) draws a line in the sand

  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 2:31pm EDT
  

• Quick Hits

  I leave town for a bit and all the good stuff happens. I’m citing articles that have been piling up in my inbox:
  
  
  Candidates Fundraising Prowess (SDUT 8/3/09)
  Kevin leads all with $72K. No surprise here. Wayne is in 2nd with $26,542 minus 5K he lent himself which [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 2:13pm EDT
  

• Saldaña is in!

  According to the San Diego News Network, Lori Saldaña is in the race for the seat currently held by Ron Roberts (#4) on the County Board of Supervisors.
  
  So how does this change things? A lot.
  
  Saldaña
  Has good name recognition and already represents most of the [...]
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  Posted: July 29, 2009, 2:46pm EDT
  

• Let the Seals Stay

  This La Jolla thing has been batty from the start, so let me make the point that it hurts San Diego more to get rid of the seals than to let them have the Children’s Pool.
  
  There are valid health reasons for getting rid of them but the truth [...]
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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 10:05am EDT
  

• Say NO to New Offshore Drilling

  From the CDP:
  
  
  
  As you may have heard, legislative leaders and the governor have reached a tentative budget deal that the Senate and Assembly could vote on as soon as tomorrow.
  
  One part of the package is a Republican-written bill that would allow offshore drilling in [...]
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  Posted: July 22, 2009, 4:08pm EDT
  

• Kehoe issues statement on judge's order to disperse La Jolla seals

  From a press release dated today:
  
  
  SAN DIEGO – SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) issued the following statement today after Superior Court Judge Yuri Hofmann ordered the City of San Diego to begin dispersing the seals from The Children's Pool beach in La Jolla within' [...]
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  Posted: July 20, 2009, 3:20pm EDT
  

• County Employees Call for Term Limits

  From an SEIU Press Release:
  
  
  San Diego- San Diego County employees today held a press conference at the County Administration Center to call for term limits for the San Diego County Supervisors. Margaret Johnson, a long-term County employee, filed an initiative with the San Diego Registrar of Voters [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 8:35am EDT
  

• Stop another bad GOP appointment

  From the San Diego County Democratic Party:
  
  On Tuesday, July 14, the San Diego City Council will be voting on the Mayor's appointment of John Davies to the San Diego Airport Authority. Currently, the Airport Authority has 8 Republicans and only 1 Democrat.
  
  We need our Democratic Council' [...]
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  Posted: July 13, 2009, 8:37am EDT
  

• News Flash! DeMaio plans to be in his own district!

  Shocking I know, but bear with me.
  
  After hosting a small business roundtable in the 3rd (!), Carl has decided to do something in his district other than vote from there.
  
  From a flyer I was sent:
  
  
  Join Councilmember DeMaio as he reports to his constituents [...]
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  Posted: July 10, 2009, 8:51am EDT
  

• The SDUT is right, in this case

  I blame this on last night’s lunar eclipse and that the SDUT is suffering the same fate as other outlets in getting information from the Sanders Administration.
  
  In today’s editorial section the SDUT takes on Jerry and his promises of transparency in the context of the California Public [...]
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  Posted: July 09, 2009, 7:54am EDT
  

• Sacramento Today

  [...]
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  Posted: July 08, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
  

• Thank Karen Bass

  From the CDP Chairman John Burton:
  
  
  Yesterday, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass did something bold: She stood up to the governor and refused to participate in fruitless budget negotiations with him.
  
  That’s because the governor has moved away from solving the real problem – closing the state’s multibillion-dollar [...]
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  Posted: July 08, 2009, 7:24am EDT
  

• Lightner and Sewage

  FACT: San Diego is a desert
  FACT: San Diego is facing a water crisis
  FACT; The City Council voted in March to approve a contract to examine recycled sewage as a possible source for drinking water.
  
  And
  FACT: According to the Voice, Councilwoman Sherri Lightner has asked [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 8:37am EDT
  

• Burton responds to the Governor

  From the CDP:
  
  In Sunday's New York Times Magazine, Governor Schwarzenegger said he was "'perfectly fine' despite the fiscal debacle and personal heartsickness all around him. 'Someone else might walk out of here every day depressed, but I don't walk out of here depressed,' Schwarzenegger said. Whatever happens, 'I" [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 7:29am EDT
  

• Transparency for Everyone Else

  According to yesterday's SDUT, San Diego City Councilmembers have a slush fund similar to the County Supervisors. Called “infrastructure improvement funds,” these monies are leftovers in the budget from years past that they can spend as they wish.
  
  
  Lani Lutar, president of the San Diego County Taxpayers [...]
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  Posted: July 06, 2009, 9:13am EDT
  

• Statement of Kevin Keenan, Executive Director, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties Regarding Sheriff’s Department Handling of Cardiff House Party fo

  
  Statement of Kevin Keenan, Executive Director, ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties Regarding Sheriff’s Department Handling of Cardiff House Party for Congressional Candidate Francine Busby
  
  On Friday, June 26, 2009, according to press reports and witness statements, a San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy, responding to a [...]
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  Posted: July 02, 2009, 5:51pm EDT
  

• Brown to (in a few months) Officially Announce Candidacy for Governor

  Brown’s candidacy has been about not if he would run for Governor, but when he would make it official. According to Fog Street Journal:
  
  
  “Now that Antonio Villaraigosa’s out of the race for governor, are you getting any closer to officially declaring your candidacy?” Fog City Journal [...]
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  Posted: June 30, 2009, 8:01am EDT
  

• Press Release: Assembly Committee passes Kehoe's Seals bill

  The question remains if this bill supersedes the ruling of the court.
  
  
  
  Tue at 10:50am
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  June 23, 2009
  
  
  SAN DIEGO – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced today that her legislation giving the City of San Diego final say about seals at [...]
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  Posted: June 25, 2009, 10:22am EDT
  

• And then there were two

  Villaraigosa has removed himself from the 2010 gubernatorial field citing the numerous issues that bedevil Los Angeles. His own issues involving any signature accomplishments, his inability to elect his own supporters to the city council, and his dating life were hobbling any effort to run for Governor. As such, Jerry [...]
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  Posted: June 24, 2009, 9:28am EDT
  

• San Diego for Newsom Mixer

  When: June 25, 6-8 pm
  Where: Universal Hillcrest, 1202 University Ave, San Diego, CA
  Info: Colin Parent (colin.parent@dlapiper.com)
  
  Join local supporters of Gavin Newsom’s campaign for governor. We’ll give a brief campaign update, and folks will get a chance to meet and mingle [...]
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  Posted: June 22, 2009, 11:17am EDT
  

• Actual Candidate Filings

  Speculation on a blog site is all well and good, but here is a list of those who have actually filed to run for City Council in San Diego:
  
  
  DISTRICT 2
  Kevin Faulconer
  Patrick Finucane
  Ian Trowbridge
  
  DISTRICT 4
  No one yet
  [...]
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  Posted: June 19, 2009, 7:11am EDT
  

• District 6

  Donna Frye is termed out of her City Council seat leaving an opening that could really mold the future of San Diego. Names that have emerged as possible successors:
  
  
  Howard Wayne
  An attorney and a former legislator, this guy has the chops to really make a difference at [...]
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  Posted: June 18, 2009, 6:50am EDT
  

• Villaraigosa staying put?

  The Sac Bee announced that Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa may not be up for the Governor’s race:
  
  
  Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may be unwilling to totally kill off speculation he is going to run for governor. But a vote by the United States Conference of Mayors [...]
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  Posted: June 16, 2009, 7:17am EDT
  

• Chairman Burton on Offshore Oil Drilling

  From the CDP: My opposition to new offshore drilling
  
  
  Dear fellow activists,
  
  I oppose any statute that would make it easier to approve oil-drilling leases off California’s coast – opening the coastline to new drilling for the first time in 40 years.
  
  The potential environmental damage [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2009, 7:07am EDT
  

• Young Democrats in San Diego

  Locally, a lot of people think of the Young Democrats as the group that put on the largest Obama inauguration night in San Diego (cleverly titled “Farewell to W at the W”).
  
  But the Young Democrats are more than just a social club for [...]
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  Posted: June 10, 2009, 3:29pm EDT
  

• Port Commission: It’s Burdick

  How it went down:
  
  Hueso – Burdick
  Young – Burdick
  DeMaio – Burdick
  Gloria – Takvorian
  Frye – Takvorian
  Emerald – Burdick
  Faulconer - Burdick
  Lightner – Takvorian
  
  Observations:
  • The Lightener switch was a pleasant surprise
  
  • SDUT editorial was a mixed bag. Saying [...]
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  Posted: June 09, 2009, 9:14am EDT
  

• City Council's Port Appointment

  From UnionYes:
  
  Join us this Monday as we show our SUPPORT FOR DIANE TAKVORIAN and our OPPOSITION TO BILL EVANS, as the San Diego City Council picks our next Port Commissioner.
  
  
  What: Port Commissioner Hearing
  When: Monday, June 8 at 2 p.m.
  Where: City Hall Council Chambers, [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2009, 3:24pm EDT
  

• Port Commission: Final Countdown

  Last week, I predicted that the vote for San Diego Port Commissioner would be as follows:
  
  Hueso – Burdick
  Young – Burdick
  DeMaio – Burdick
  Gloria – Takvorian
  Frye – Takvorian
  Emerald – Burdick
  Faulconer - Burdick
  Lightner – Burdick
  
  
  Labor is doing a final push [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2009, 7:49am EDT
  

• Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on the Proposed May Revise

  Cruel doesn’t even begin to describe the cuts proposed in the revised May budget to eliminate California’s $24-billion budget deficit.

  Nearly two million Californians will lose health insurance if the Healthy Families program for children is eliminated and Medi-Cal is cut by $1 billion. More than 1 million women and [...]

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  Posted: June 04, 2009, 8:11am EDT
  

• Sheriff Candidates

  This race has been seen as a Republican sandlot. Given the candidates this time around, the playground may be the most apt metaphor for this race.
  
  
  William Gore
  Bill Kolender decided to retire and circumvent the will of the people and the political process by giving a leg [...]
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  Posted: June 02, 2009, 7:59am EDT
  

• Yesterday’s march: No Carl or Bonnie?

  Unless anyone else saw them, there was no sighting of Councilmember DeMaio nor San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis at the Prop 8 yesterday.
  
  Marching may be beneath them but they could have shown up at the end.
  
  Hmmm….. [...]
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  Posted: May 27, 2009, 12:18pm EDT