Friday, June 19, 2009

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

DISTRICT 6
Stephen Hadley
Howard Wayne

DISTRICT 8
David Alvarez
Remy Bermudez
Joseph Brown
Tim Gomez
Lincoln Picard

This list is far from complete as people will enter and drop out but this is where the field stands.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

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 City Hall. He knows the workings of legislation, is wickedly smart and wonkish enough to engage activists and professionals on policy issues and politics. He has done a lot just below the radar with a lot of people in a positive way that will help him in his run. His old Assembly District never really was part of the 6th but his work in the community is real for a long term resident of the district

Steve Hadley

Unlike Frye’s Chief of Staff who recently sold his home in San Marcos to move into this district in order to run for his boss’s seat. The scuttlebutt was that Frye had to talk him into it. Hadley seems like a nice guy but will need to put together one heck of a campaign operation, which may be difficult if Frye runs for Supervisor, in order to overcome the carpetbagger tag. Should Frye run both she and Hadley will be pulling from the same groups of volunteers and resources.

Laurie Zaph
Which won’t be a problem if you’re the token Republican in this race. Word is that Zaph is getting pressure to run so the “usual suspects” have someone to throw their money at. The problem is, especially the City Council level, you really have to want it because of the grueling pace it will put you and your family through. She has a family that she would like to spend time with but the party is knocking.

Bill Sheffler
And if Zaph says no, then Sheffler may get the nod. There is a website under development stating “Bill Sheffler is a small businessman who is running for City Council because he wants city government to work for you again!” He didn’t get reappointed to the San Diego pension board and this looks like as good an outlet as any.


Conclusion

If no candidate grabs an early fundraising / endorsement / local buzz lead, which looks likely, then I think you’ll see a repeat of the last District 2 race in terms of the blood to be shed and money to be spent. The Republicans aren’t going to let this one slide and they will pour money that won’t be going into Districts 2, 4, and 8, into 6 thereby forcing the local Dems to ante up with either Wayne or Hadley. Time will tell.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

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 today suggests that he has other plans.

In the mayors' national convention in Providence, Villaraigosa was elected as the organization's second vice-president for 2009-2010. Under the guidelines of the Conference, he would then become first vice-president in 2010-2011 and president of the organization in 2011-2012.

"Everybody understands that once you get elected, you automatically move up," said Elena Temple, communications director for the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

And

There may still be time for Villaraigosa to bolt the gig. But some political consultants privately suggest that Villaraigosa has already waited too long to raise enough money to kick off a gubernatorial run. His election by Conference of Mayors will only increase talk that he is not interested in moving up in California.


The biggest hurdle for Villaraigosa has been if he can emerge from Los Angeles relatively unscathed or at least with an issue or two he could claim as his own to increase his name identity out side of southern California.

However, Villaraigosa has always been a labor man and labor is currently engaged in trench warfare within Sacramento. The capital has become a poster child for adult dysfunction and Los Angles is not far behind. Vested interests are vesting for themselves and this does not bode well for any real compromise, let alone progress..

Villaraigosa may be looking at Sacramento but not with the eagerness he once did. By remaining in Los Angeles, he can work on the basic issues of economics, quality of life, and the environment in a dynamic city that does reward success.

Which is more than can be said about Sacramento.

Monday, June 15, 2009

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 that could be wrought by new offshore drilling isn’t worth it. And the financial benefits from it would do little to nothing to solve California’s current or systemic fiscal problems.

Putting the state’s precious coastline in jeopardy while padding the pockets of an oil company is no way for California to put its fiscal house in order. California’s coast cannot be up for sale to the oil industry.

The current proposal to drill new wells just beyond state waters off the Santa Barbara coast should appall anyone who lived through the devastating 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara’s coast.

I urge the Legislature to reject any such proposal.

Peace and friendship,

John