Saturday, October 27, 2012

A Dozen+ Democratic Leaders to Gather for GOTV Push for Peters! 



WHEN:    
Sunday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WHAT:    
More than a dozen local Democratic leaders will gather tomorrow night for a Get Out The Vote Kick Off for Scott Peters who is running to unseat entrenched Tea Party incumbent, Brian Bilbray, in the newly drawn 52nd Congressional District.

Scott’s supporters and volunteers will gather to hear what they can do to help get Scott elected in the remaining days of the campaign. The Peters campaign has hundreds of volunteers who’ve been staffing phone banks, walking precincts, canvassing community events, and delivering yard signs every day over the past several weeks. Scott will thank them and get the troops fired up for the final push!

WHO:    
State Majority Leader Toni Atkins, Assemblymember Marty Block, Francine Busby, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Former State Sen. Denise Ducheny, San Diego County Party Chair Jess Durfee, Congressman Bob Filner, Councilmember Todd Gloria, Secretary-Treasurer of the SD Labor Council Lorena Gonzalez, San Diego Port Commissioner and Candidate for Congress Scott Peters, Deputy Mayor Dave Roberts, State Sen. Juan Vargas, Former Assemblymember Howard Wayne.

WHERE:    
Scott Peters for Congress Headquarters, 4715 Viewridge Ave., Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92123

CONTACT:

MaryAnne Pintar, 619-252-9923, maryanne@scottpeters.com

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Ethics Charge Cites Ray Ellis, Lincoln Club, Developers


Jess Durfee, Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party, today filed complaints against Republican City Council candidate Ray Ellis and an independent expenditure committee, San Diego County Voters for Progress and Reform, formed to support his and other campaigns, detailing two major violations of state laws. The complaints were filed with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the State Fair Political Practices Commission, and the City of San Diego Ethics Commission.

“San Diegans need to know that San Diego County Voters for Progress and Reform and the candidates it supports, including Ray Ellis, have chosen to violate state law," said Durfee. "This is essentially money-laundering and defrauding of the public, and it's an egregious breach of trust with voters.”

The two major violations were detailed in a press conference held on the steps of the Hall of Justice. San Diego County Voters for Progress and Reform (SDCVPR) has been funneling funds from the Lincoln Club, the Building Industry Association, and others to support various local candidates, including Ray Ellis. The committee attempted to mask the source of its funding by failing to file a disclosure form within the required period, including a major donation of $25,000 from the Building Industry Association.

Ellis and the committee also broke state campaign finance laws by illegally coordinating their activities in order to use unlimited outside contributions to fund television advertising. In April 2012, the Ellis campaign produced a series of seven videos that have been broadcast on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Mr55PDEZE0&feature=plcp).

In early October, SDCVPR produced and purchased $50,000 in air time on high profile cable TV to air a slick commercial supporting Ray Ellis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBTKTbx6Ejw). The commercial clearly uses the same raw video footage that was originally produced and paid for by the Ellis campaign. (View a side-by-side comparison at http://youtu.be/tA_NXjqSbcQ.)

“It is illegal for a candidate and an independent expenditure committee to coordinate in this way, or any way,” Durfee explained.  “No one should be able to buy an election.” Durfee called on SDCVPR and Ray Ellis to immediately cease the airing of the commercials and called on SDCVPR to release a full accounting of all donations received and expenses accrued.

“If the public can’t trust Ray Ellis and his supporters to follow the rules during a campaign, how will they be able to trust him to govern if he’s elected to the City Council?” Durfee said.

###

Bilbray No Shows -- AGAIN


San Diego – Congressman Brian Bilbray shunned the voters yet again last night when he ducked another candidate forum that had been on the calendar and publicized for weeks. With the arrogant disregard he’s displayed repeatedly during this campaign, he no-showed at a forum before the Ocean Beach Town Council after he confirmed his attendance weeks prior. Bilbray, did send a member of his staff to take video of Scott Peters, however, and after holding up the meeting awaiting Bilbray’s arrival, event organizers were pleased to give the entire time over to candidate Scott Peters.

“Mr. Bilbray has shunned requests to debate and defend his record at public forums repeatedly,” said Peters Communications Director MaryAnne Pintar. “Clearly, he is terrified of having to defend his dismal record on women’s rights and his votes to underfund veteran’s health care.”

Mr. Bilbray did rent a booth at a community fair last weekend, however, presumably to conduct direct voter outreach. Unfortunately, the event was outside of the newly drawn 52nd Congressional District, and after realizing this embarrassing mistake, the Congressman and his staff disassembled the booth and left half way through the day. 



During a recent interview with KPBS Radio, which Bilbray agreed to in lieu of a debate, he was asked about his reluctance to debate. His response was, “I have no idea.” A recent column in the San Diego Free Press also took him to task for ducking the forums.

In contrast, the Peters campaign has accepted every debate request; Bilbray has rebuffed requests from Voice of San Diego’s Politifest, the North County Chamber of Commerce, KPBS Radio, and the Green Experts Academy and Sustainability Alliance of Southern California and the Smart Vote Candidate Forum at Temple Emanu-El. 

###

San Diego Democratic Party Filing Complaints Over Campaign Violations by Republican Candidate


The Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party will be filing complaints today with the District Attorney’s office regarding violations of state and local campaign law by a Republican political candidate and an independent expenditure committee.

WHO: 
Jess Durfee, San Diego County Democratic Party Chair

WHAT: 
Filing of complaints with the District Attorney’s office regarding major campaign violations, including illegal coordination between a Republican political candidate and an independent expenditure committee, and failure of an independent expenditure committee to disclose the source of its contributions.

WHEN: 
Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Steps of the Hall of Justice, 330 W. Broadway, San Diego (92101)

WHY: 

Republican candidates and committees are attempting to deceive voters by masking the source of contributions from big developers and downtown insiders to independent expenditure committees and illegally coordinating campaign activities.

VISUALS:
Viewing of illegally coordinated campaign activities, including video documentation.


For more information, please contact Jess Durfee at (619) 750-5377 or chair@sddemocrats.org.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

State’s Highest Ranking Public Education Official Endorses Peters Over Bilbray



“Peters is the better choice by far for those who believe education is a top priority.”
~ Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction


San Diego –
The highest-ranking public education official in the state of California today endorsed San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters for Congress over 12-year incumbent Congressman Brian Bilbray. Tom Torlakson, California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, said he was backing Peters because Bilbray’s track record on standing up for students is dismal.

“Scott Peters will represent the right priorities in Washington D.C. and education is at the top of his list,” said Torlakson. “College shouldn’t only be for the wealthy; yet Brian Bilbray has voted repeatedly to slash federal aid for students who qualify while allowing loopholes for profitable corporations. His priorities could not be more backward.”

Brian Bilbray has voted to cut funds for Pell Grants, and against increased funds for student loans at a time when working families across America are struggling and sacrificing to make ends meet during a tough economic recession.

“My sisters and I all went to college and were able to build our careers because we had financial aid,” Peters said. “My dad wouldn’t have been able to put us all through college on his minister’s salary without it. I’m running to fight for every kid who deserves the same opportunity.”

Peters said voters should be particularly disappointed in Mr. Bilbray’s vote against the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 that allowed recipients of student loans to repay them in a way that reflects their post education salaries.

“By making payment schedules more in line with actual salaries, it’s easier for loan recipients to repay those loans. That means these debts are more likely to be repaid. Lowers default rates save us billions in the long run,” Peters said.

Scott Peters is running a heated challenge to Bilbray in California’s newly drawn 52nd Congressional District.

For more information about Scott’s campaign to fix Congress, go to www.scottpeters.com.

BACKGROUND

Congressman Bilbray Voted Against Making Student Loans More Affordable. In 2012, the Fountain Valley Patch reported that Clinton talked about the Student Loan Reform Act. Bilbray voted against the bill that was designed to make student loans more affordable. It was reported that “the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 would save taxpayers $68 billion in the coming years by cutting out the role of banks and lending institutions as middlemen in federally guaranteed student loans. The money is to be channeled into the Pell Grant program, invested in community colleges and historically black colleges and used to make student loans more affordable by capping repayments at 10 percent of discretionary income starting in 2014.” [H R 4872, Vote #167, 3/21/10; Washingtonpost.com, 3/30/10]

Congressman Bilbray Voted for the Ryan Budget That Jeopardized Pell Grants for Millions of Students.  In 2012, Bilbray voted for the Ryan Budget. Under this plan, 9.6 million students could see their Pell Grants fall by more than $1000 in 2014, and, over the next decade, over one million students would lose support altogether. [OMB, 3/21/12; H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12]

Congressman Bilbray Voted to Make Cuts to the Pell Grant Program. In 2011, Bilbray voted for a Republican budget which, according to data from the Department of Education, would cut 1.4 million students from being eligible for Pell Grants. According to the House Committee on Education and Labor: “Under the Republican budget, the maximum Pell Grant award would be cut by more than $2,500 for the 2012-2013 school year, bringing the maximum award to $3,040, the lowest it’s been since 1998.  New data from the Department of Education shows that the Republican budget would result in almost 1.4 million students losing eligibility for Pell grants, and all students receiving significantly reduced awards. For students, this could make college far less affordable.”  [House Committee on Education and Labor, 4/15/11 citing Estimates from the US Department of Education; H Con Res 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11]
 
Congressman Bilbray Voted for Bill that Would Have Slashed Pell Grants.
 In 2011, Bilbray voted for $61 billion in draconian cuts for a continuing resolution to finish fiscal year 2011. The bill would have slashed “the maximum Pell Grant by $845 -- from the current maximum of $5,550 to $4,705.  This GOP bill will lower the amount of aid that 9.4 million college students are projected to receive.” [HR 1, Vote #147, 2/19/11; Democratic Leader press release]

Congressman Bilbray Opposed Largest Increase in Student Aid Since the GI Bill. In 2007, Bilbray voted against legislation that provided the largest increase in student aid since the G.I. Bill. The conference report of the bill cut government subsidies to student loan firms by about $20 billion and redirected most of the money to aid for students and college graduates. It also included $750 million in federal budget deficit reduction. The maximum Pell grant award would be increased by $490 in 2008 and by $1,090 over five years. It also provided debt forgiveness to certain public-sector workers after 10 years of service, and capped student loan repayments at 15 percent of discretionary income. [HR 2669, Vote #864, 9/07/07; Reno Gazette Journal, 9/10/07]

###

California’s Highest-Ranking Public Education Official to Endorse Scott Peters for Congress This Morning


WHEN: 
TODAY, Wednesday, October 24, 2012 10:30 a.m.

WHAT: 
This morning, immediately on the heels of receiving the backing of former President Bill Clinton last night, the State of California’s highest-ranking public education official will endorse Scott Peters for Congress.

WHO:
Tom Torlakson is the state of California’s Superintendent of Public Instruction and the only statewide non-partisan office holder in California. He is backing Peters today because he knows Scott will put education first, a priority Brian Bilbray has turned his back on in the Congress.

Peters believes every student who qualifies for college should be to attend college with the assistance of low-interest federal student loans.


WHERE:    
Peters for Congress Campaign Headquarters
4715 Viewridge Ave., Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92123

CONTACT:   
MaryAnne Pintar, 619-252-9923
maryanne@scottpeters.com




Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Peters Has a Five-Point Lead Over Bilbray Heading into Home Stretch


San Diego – In the most recent pubic opinion poll conducted in the race for the newly drawn 52nd Congressional District, San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters has a five-point lead over 12-year incumbent Brian Bilbray. In a survey conducted of highly likely voters on October 19-21 Scott Peters receives 45 percent of the vote and Brian Bilbray receives 40 percent. Fifteen percent are undecided.


In a polling memo released by the campaign today (attached), Grove says Peters’ lead over Bilbray can be explained, in part, by the Congressman’s low job performance numbers. Less than one-third say he’s done a good job in Washington, D.C. Over 44 percent give him negative reviews.


“Our last poll showed a similar lead and we’ve been able to maintain it even though Brian Bilbray and the corporate special interest PACs backing him have spent millions on desperate, misleading attack ads,” said Peters Communications Director MaryAnne Pintar. "This remains a close race and our field team is working around the clock to reach out to those undecided voters. We've received tremendous support from across the political spectrum. We need our supporters to keep up the enthusiasm and do everything they can to help us get out the vote.”

The professional survey was conducted via live telephone interviews with 400 highly likely voters in the Nov. 6 General Election by national polling firm Grove Insight, headed by Lisa Grove. Grove Insight has a successful track record in San Diego, including serving as the pollster for Congresswoman Susan Davis when she defeated Bilbray in 2000. The party registration of respondents in this poll closely matched registration in the district.

For more information about Scott Peters campaign to change Congress, go to www.scottpeters.com.

###

Monday, October 22, 2012

Voters Urged to Watch KGTV Peters/Bilbray Debate Tonight



Bilbray Fails to Defend His Votes to Underfund Veterans Services/Healthcare

San Diego – During the final debate in the race for California’s newly drawn 52nd Congressional District, career politician Brian Bilbray fails to explain why he’s turned his back on our nation’s veterans multiple times throughout his career. He also doesn’t deny his 10 votes to cut Medicare, and two votes to essentially end it as part of the Ryan/Brian budget.

In the debate, which airs at 9:30 p.m. tonight on KGTV Channel 10, the candidates were invited to ask a question of one another.  Peters asked Bilbray how he could vote eight times to underfund services, benefits and health care for our war veterans.  A summary of these votes is below.

“We are losing more warriors to suicide than on the battlefield,” said Peters. “Yet Mr. Bilbray couldn’t even find $20 million in a $700 billion Pentagon budget to fund suicide prevention and PTSD treatment.”

Bilbray responded weakly and did not deny his votes or turning his back on our veterans.

“As viewers will see tonight, Scott clearly dominated the Channel 10 debate, and Brian Bilbray failed to make the case for his re-election,” said Peters Communications Director MaryAnne Pintar. “In stark contrast, Scott made a strong case for the need to change Congress by changing the people we send.”

Bilbray is facing a stiff challenge from San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters who is raking in the endorsements from several high profile Republicans who are backing him over Bilbray because they know Peters will better serve the region.

Voters are urged to tune into tonight’s debate to watch as Congressman Bilbray refuses to explain why he didn’t stand up for those who stood up for us.

For more information about Scott Peters campaign to change Congress, go to www.scottpeters.com.

Background: Examples of Brian Bilbray Turning His Back on Our Veterans

Voted Against Millions in Additional Funding for Suicide Prevention and PTSD for Veterans


In 2011, Bilbray voted against a motion which would have provided an additional $20 million for veterans’ medical service to help with post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide prevention.
According to the Watertown Daily Times, “Rep. Bill Owens offered an amendment to a military appropriations bill in the House of Representatives that would increase spending on veterans’ mental health services by $20 million.” The $20 million would be put towards better advertising the suicide prevention assistance and services offered to veterans. [Watertown Daily Times, 6/14/11; CQ Floor Vote, 6/14/11]
The motion failed 184-234. [HR 2055, Vote #417, 6/14/11]

Voted to Make Benefits for Seniors and Veterans Harder to Get

In 2011, Bilbray voted for an amendment that would make it harder for low-income veterans and Social Security recipients to retain counsel in a civil action against the United States, like when fighting for benefits.

The Lummis amendment imposed a seven-month moratorium on all legal fees paid under the Equal Access to Justice Act, a Reagan-era law designed to help people afford an attorney while suing the government.

“We’re in the middle of two wars right now and to make it harder for a veteran — fighting for his benefits — to have an attorney is a horrible thing. That’s not what this country is about,” Robert Chishold, a prominent veterans’ law attorney said. [Politico, 2/23/11]
The amendment passed, 232-197. [HR 1, Lummis amendment #195, Vote #85, 2/17/11]

Opposed Budget that Increased Veterans’ Funding by $3.7 Billion

In 2008, Bilbray voted against a conference report that would establish the congressional budget for fiscal year 2009. The report would call for $3.1 trillion in spending in fiscal year 2009 and federal revenue totaling $2.7 trillion. The spending allowed for up to $1 trillion in discretionary spending for the fiscal year, plus $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. [Congressional Quarterly]
The bill would project a $22 billion budget surplus by fiscal year 2012. Democrats argued that it would also allow the budget to remain in balance in 2013 using estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.
[CQ Today, 6/05/08; “Summary of the 2009 Budget Conference Agreement,” House Committee on the Budget, 6/04/08]

Republicans argued that the conference report for the budget was the largest tax increase in history, saying that the budget would increase taxes by at least $638 billion over the next five years. [“The Largest Tax Increase in History, However They Slice It,” Republican Caucus, The Committee on the Budget, 6/04/08]

Specifically, the budget would increase veterans’ funding for 2009 by 3.7 billion, or 8.2 percent, above existing services. Democrats argued that this would be enough to allow the Veterans Administration to treat 5.8 million patients in 2009, including 333,275 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. [“Summary of the 2009 Budget Conference Agreement,” House Committee on the Budget, 6/04/08]
The conference report passed 214-210. [S Con Res 70, Vote #382, 6/05/08]

Opposed Fiscally Responsible FY 2009 Budget with $48.1 Billion for Veterans’ Services

In 2008, Bilbray voted against a budget resolution that would establish the congressional budget for FY 2009. The resolution would call for expenditures of $3.1 trillion and would allow up to $1 trillion in discretionary spending, plus $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $5.8 billion for hurricane recovery. [CQ Floor Votes, 3/13/08; CQ Markup and Vote Coverage, 3/11/08]
The bill would also include $48.1 billion in funding for veterans’ benefits and services.
The bill passed 212-207. [H Con Res 312, Vote #141, 3/13/08]

Opposed Budget That Included Record Increase for Veterans

In 2007, Bilbray voted against the fiscal year 2008 budget conference report that began
To reverse six years of Republican fiscal mismanagement, provided for middle‐class tax relief and would return the budget to balance– reaching a surplus of $41 billion in 2012 –without raising taxes. [House Budget Committee, Overview of FY2008 Budget Conference Agreement, 5/16/07]

The budget increased funding or veterans’ health care and services by $6.7 billion (18.3 percent) above the 2007 enacted level, and $3.6 billion above the President’s budget According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the budget represented a “historic $6.7 billion increase” over the previous year’s budget.  [Veterans of Foreign Wars, Washington Weekly, 5/25/07]

Meanwhile, the American Legion wrote, “The American Legion and its 2.8 million members applaud…the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Resolution.”  [American Legion]
According to the Military Officers Association of America, “...the resolution makes a strong statement of Congress’s commitment to restoring national confidence that our wounded warriors will receive the kind of first-quality care and services that they have earned...”  [Military Officers Association of America]
The budget also saved veterans from paying increased fees totaling $355 million in 2008 and $2.3 billion over five years. The President’s budget imposed those new enrollment fees and increases co-payments on Priority 7 and 8 veterans.  [House Budget Committee, Conference Agreement on the FY 2008 Budget Resolution: Building on the “Six for ‘06, 5/24/07]
The budget passed 214-209.  [SCR 21, Vote #377 , 5/17/07]

Opposed Historic Funding Increase for Veterans Programs

In 2007, Bilbray voted against a budget that provided a $6.6 billion increase in funding for veterans programs.

However, the Veterans of Foreign Wars applauded the budget, and the House and Senate
leadership who were instrumental in the adoption of this historic increase. [VFW Washington Weekly, 4/02/07]

These additional resources would cover increases in the costs of health care, the VA’s increasing patient load, including veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and help cover the cost of forthcoming recommendations to improve military and veterans’ health care facilities and treatment. [CQ House Action Reports, No. 110-4, 3/2707]

The budget passed 216-210. [H. Con. Res. 99, Vote #212, 3/29/07]

Opposed Funding Hike for Veterans’ Travel Expenses Paid for with Cuts in VA Hospital Care

In 2007, Bilbray voted against an amendment that would add $125 million for veterans’ travel expenses related to medical services, offset by a reduction for the Veterans Affairs Department general operating expenses by the same amount.

Democrats largely opposed the amendment because it would actually be paid by cuts to staffing at VA Hospitals.

“The source of this money wouldn’t be cutting out the Washington, D.C., office staff,” Congressman Chet Edwards (D-TX) told the amendment’s sponsor, Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS). “It would be cutting out employees that are serving vital roles in our veterans hospitals in the gentleman’s home State as well as mine.” [Congressional Record, 6/15/07; Page H6546] The amendment passed 264-152.  [HR 2642, Vote #495 , 6/15/07]

Opposed Increased Funding for Veterans’ Medical Services

In 2007, Bilbray voted against an amendment to the fiscal year 2008 appropriations bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs that would increase funding for veterans’ medical services by $22 million.

It also would reduce by $50 million funding for the 1990 military base closure account.
Democrats argued that the underlying appropriations bill already provided a historic increase in funding for veterans’ medical care by $6.7 billion above 2007 and $3.8 billion over the President’s request. [Congressional Record, 6/15/07, Page: 6538]

The amendment was defeated 154-260. [HR 2642, Vote #494, 6/15/07]

Opposed Veterans’ Healthcare Funds


In 2007, Bilbray voted against legislation that provided critical funding for veterans health care, including funds to enhance medical services for active duty forces, mobilized personnel and their family members and $1.7 billion for veterans’ health care priorities including maintenance at VA health care facilities like Walter Reed.
The measure included:
• $550 million to address the maintenance backlog at VA health care facilities to prevent situations similar to those at Walter Reed;
• $250 million for medical administration to ensure sufficient personnel to address the rising number of veterans and to maintain a high level of service;
• $229 million for treating the growing number of veterans;
• $100 million to allow the VA to contract with private mental healthcare providers to offer veterans, including Guard and reserve members, quality and timely care; and,
• $62 million to speed claims processing for returning veterans. [CQ House Action Reports, No. 110-3, 3/20/07]
The measure passed 218-212. [HR 1591, Vote #186, 3/23/07]


Under Weber’s Leadership, Sharp Rise in City Contracts with Local Businesses Owned by Women, Minorities and Disabled Vets



Percentage of local small firms awarded construction projects jumps from 3% in 2009 to 26.2% in 2012

SAN DIEGO – Dr. Shirley Weber, candidate for the 79th state Assembly district and Chair of the Citizen’s Equal Opportunity Commission (CEOC), reported today that under her leadership the City of San Diego has dramatically increased the number of contracts awarded to local small businesses owned by women, minorities and disabled veterans. Weber has long been focused on supporting local businesses and creating good-paying jobs in her community.

“As we battle back from the worst recession in recent history, I am proud to report that city contracting for local small businesses is on the rise, helping to create good-paying jobs and put our friends and neighbors back to work,” Weber said. “Small businesses are engines of growth for our economy, and they create the kind of jobs that support families, send kids to college and provide for a decent retirement. As Chair of the CEOC, I made delivering for our community my first priority, and I’m proud to announce that we’ve made real progress.”

For fiscal year 2012, over $63,500,000 in construction contracts were awarded to local small, emerging, women, minority and disabled veteran owned businesses, representing 26.2% of all construction contracts awarded – a huge increase over the 3% awarded to such firms in 2009.

At a presentation to the City Council’s Rules Committee, the Commission’s work received bipartisan praise.

“Thank you for your leadership, Dr.  Weber,” said Council President Tony Young. “This is a huge win for the City of San Diego,”

Councilmember Kevin Faulconer noted that the Commission’s work was about participation and about jobs.

“To see these numbers increase is a job well done,” he said.

Since her appointment as chair the CEOC, Dr. Weber has played a pivotal role in its success. The CEOC monitors and evaluates the Equal Opportunity Program of San Diego, advises the mayor, city council and the City Services Commission, and assists the City in the recruitment of competent historically under-represented individuals/businesses and promotes the San Diego as an Equal Opportunity Employer of individuals and firms desiring to contract with the city.

About Dr. Shirley Weber
Born to sharecroppers in Hope, Arkansas, Shirley Weber has lived in California since the age of three. Educated in our state’s public schools, she received her BA, MA and PhD from UCLA by the time she was 26. A respected community advocate known for her work on closing the academic achievement gap, Dr. Weber is the former President of the San Diego School Board. She currently serves as the mayor’s appointee and Chair of the Citizens’ Equal Opportunity Commission, where she has created jobs by tripling the number of small businesses contracting with the city of San Diego. Dr. Weber is also a professor at SDSU, and has lived in the 79th Assembly District for over 30 years. 
To learn more, visit http://www.drweber4assembly.com.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

LGBT Weekly: U-T San Diego publishes questionable mayoral poll


The net of all this is simply that Doug Manchester and the U-T are trying to build a narrative that DeMaio is in the lead. Okay. Thanks Doug, Filner supporters are more motivated than ever. I am sure Filner will use your data to ensure that his supporters vote early and often. In the end, the U-T will be totally discredited.  Already those who are progressive in our community have stopped paying any attention to the U-T editorial pages. Is Manchester trying to drive the U-T out of business to develop the land its offices sit upon? This questionable poll definitely moves Manchester closer to that goal.

Read the article here.

Chairman John Burton on the Passing of Senator George McGovern


We are deeply saddened by the passing of American luminary and former Democratic Presidential nominee George McGovern. George was a personal friend who inspired action and reform. In 1972, I co-chaired his California delegation to the DNC with Dolores Huerta and Willie Brown.

George was a bona fide war hero and decorated bomber pilot during World War II. He was an early and vocal opponent of the war in Vietnam and fought, as early as the 1960s, for the U.S. to transition from a wartime economy to a peacetime economy.

Finally, George is the one person most responsible for reforms to the delegate selection process to the Democratic National Convention. Before 1968, delegates were picked two to three years in advance of the convention. Now, all rank and file Democrats have a voice in electing theirdelegation to the DNC.

George was a warrior for peace, an unmatched intellect and a great American. Our thoughts and our hearts go out to his three daughters: Ann, Susan and Mary and their children.

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Recent Poll Shows Filner Lead Over DeMaio By Three Points


Congressman has a slight lead (44% to 41%) in the vote question and is more popular than this Republican opponent

San Diego, CA -- (Sunday, October 21, 2012) – A recent poll conducted of likely San Diego voters shows Congressman Bob Filner leading Councilman Carl DeMaio 44 to 41.

In a representative sample of 400 likely voters were surveyed within the last week, Filner led DeMaio in a head-to-head match-up in the mayor’s race and was the more popular candidate in this contest.

For Filner, 40 percent of the respondents hold a favorable view of the Congressman with only 31 percent viewing him unfavorably. DeMaio is viewed favorably by 36 percent of the respondents while 36 percent offer unfavorable ratings.

The poll sheds a very different perspective than the results of a survey published recently in U-T San Diego. The newspaper has unapologetically boosted the mayoral aspirations of Republican candidate DeMaio, who has enjoyed lavish praise in the newspaper’s pages and benefited from the financial support of its publisher and downtown developer, Papa Doug Manchester.

“The poll clearly shows voters recognize that DeMaio’s extreme agenda is the wrong way for San Diego and that Bob Filner is an effective fighter for the middle class who shares the city’s priorities and values. He’ll get San Diego working again and change our city for the better,” said Evan McLaughlin, spokesman for the San Diegans for Bob Filner for Mayor 2012 committee. “The results also suggest that DeMaio has hit a ceiling and Filner isn’t close to hitting his.”

The Grove Insight survey was conducted using professional interviews and the respondents closely mirror the San Diego electorate in terms of gender, party registration, race and ethnicity and geography.

For more information or to interview Lisa Grove of Grove Insight, please contact San Diegans for Bob Filner for Mayor 2012 spokesman Evan McLaughlin at (619) 850-2790 or SanDiegansForBobFilner@gmail.com.



Questions, as they were posed in the Grove Insight survey, are below:
Dates: Oct. 14-17, 2012
N=400

If the November 6th, 2012 General Election for San Diego Mayor were held today and the candidates were:
[ROTATE NAMES]
__ Carl DeMaio [duh-MY-oh], Businessman, City Councilmember
__ Bob Filner, U.S. Congressman, Educator
for whom would you vote or are you undecided? [IF CANDIDATE IS NAMED, ASK:] Would you say you support
[NAME OF CANDIDATE] strongly or not so strongly? [IF UNDECIDED, ASK:] If you had to vote today, toward
whom would you lean?

DeMaio, strongly .........................................................32       --> 41
DeMaio, not strongly ....................................................5
Undecided, lean DeMaio ..............................................4
Undecided ...................................................................15
Undecided, lean Filner .................................................4
Filner, not strongly .......................................................8
Filner, strongly .............................................................32      --> 44

I’m going to read you a list of people and groups. After each, please tell me overall, do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, neutral, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression of ….

Candidate      Very Fav  Swhat Fav  Neutral Swhat Unfav  Very Unfav  No Opinion  Never
Carl DeMaio       21            15               10             12                 24                 14              5
Bob Filner           24            16               10             14                 17                 15              4

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