And so it begins....

Well just when you thought it couldn't get any crazier in the South Bay. It did. With Bob Filner running for Mayor that left his seat open. The moment after Bob finished his sentence declaring his run for Mayor, Juan Vargas said he was running for his seat. Which was as surprising as the Sun rising in the east. I mean Vargas has run for the seat a number of times and for a long created a bitter feud in the South Bay with Filner on one hand and Vargas on the other. This feud played out in every political contest in the South Bay for years.

Now with Filner out of the way it was now Vargas to inherit the seat that he has been coveting for time immemorial. But not so fast...

With Denise Ducheny now resigning her position and declaring her intention to run for that same seat has now thrown that easy slide into office into an actual campaign. Ducheny is no wall flower and has a lot of respect and contacts throughout the state and elsewhere and Vargas knows this which is why he preempted Ducheny's annoucement with a call to abolish the State Unemployment commission and take the time to attack her personally as well.

The crazy thing is this is only Day one and Vargas knows this will be a long hard slog on a campaign which could conceivably go until November.

Potential Heavyweight Battle for Congress Brews in South Bay.

Rumor has is that former State Sen. Denise Ducheny is considering running for Filner's open Congressional seat. This would create a match up with current State Sen. Juan Vargas who has already announced that he's running for the Congressional seat.

Wednesday - Quick Hits

City Attorney Aguirre skips last night's debate, doubtful for tonight's debate. UT

Mayor Sanders seeks council approval of $574 million in capital upgrades to the city. UT

Chula Vista councilman Steve Castaneda perjury trial begins today. UT

Sen. Ducheny's attempt to gut the California Coastal Commission fails in State Senate. UT

Councilman Scott Peters seeks to table parking meters proposal for La Jolla. UT

PUC heard testimony yesterday regarding the fire danger that Sunrise Powerlink poses. UT

Housing crisis continues as March was the worst month yet for home sales in county. NCTimes

Thursday - Quick Hits

State Senator Ducheny has gone off the rials by proposing a bill that would strip the Coastal Commission of its ability to self-initiate appeals. NCTimes

City finances are getting a hard look by candidate. But is it a serious look. UT

Community of Potero trying to move past the Blackwater saga. UT

Another candidate jumps into the Acle held school board seat race. UT

D.A. will not investigate Art Madrid incident. UT

Residents taking the initiative to have their older neighborhoods designated historical districts to prevent misguided infill development. UT

Increase in home foreclosures are having a serious impact on housing market. UT

South Bay Summit

December 28, 2007

Dear Democrat:

We have a tremendous opportunity in 2008 to organize, win elections, and build a new generation of Democratic leadership in South San Diego County – if we are all united and working together to advance the values we share.

The four of us are writing to invite you to a South Bay Summit on Saturday, January 12, sponsored by the San Diego County Democratic Party.

At this event we plan to identify the significant work that needs to be done by Democrats in the South Bay, from voter registration and turnout to coalition-building and candidate development.

Most importantly, we hope to take full advantage of the energy coming out of this Presidential election year. With your help, we can unite and mobilize Democrats to make the South Bay a center of Democratic strength for San Diego County and all of California.

Invitations to the Summit are going out to elected officials, Party representatives, and other community leaders in the region. It will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Downtown Chula Vista Library (365 F Street, 91910[Map]). Light refreshments will be provided.

Please R.S.V.P. and direct any questions you might have to Julian Quinonez in the Party office at (858) 277-3367 or julian@sddemocrats.org. Thank you for joining us in this unprecedented effort.

Sincerely Yours,

Jess Durfee, Chair San Diego County Democratic Party

Hon. Bob Filner, Member of Congress 51st District-CA

Hon. Denise Moreno Ducheny, California State Senator District 40th

Hon. Mary Salas, California Assembly Member District 79th

Some End of the Week Reflections

Last night at the San Diego County Democratic Party - Central Region meeting, Both Marti Emerald in city council district 7 and Sherri Lightner in city council district 1 were recommended for early endorsement to the Central Committee meeting in January.

With the announcement earlier this week that TaxpayersAdvocate.org Scott Barnett is dropping out of the race for Mitz Lee school board seat, leaves John Lee Evans as the only announced candidate to fill the seat. The word on the street is that Barnett is going to be involved in one of the Republican campaigns for City Attorney?

Speaking of the City Attorney, I have heard this week that Mike Aguirre has retained the services of Al Ducheny, the husband of State Senator Denise Ducheny, to manager his re-election campaign.

Finally, Auday Arabo will get to face Democratic activists for the first time in January. The Chicano Democratic Association has scheduled their 78th Assembly candidate interviews for January 9th.

Don't You Just Love Mondays?

I love Mondays. I really do. My favorite part of the day is hearing the tidbits of gossip that made the rounds over the weekend. Here are some of my favorites to start the week:

1) The Republicans are trying to encourage Maxine Sherard to throw her hat in the ring for the 78th. They figure that her name recognition, as a result of the millions spent last year, would make her the front-runner for the Dem nomination. Why would they want that? She would be a much easier candidate in the general compared to a Marty Block or Arlie Ricasa. Especially now that former Police Chief David Bejerano has decided to wait it out for Sheriff instead, and all they have is their "yes man" John McCann. If the Black Caucus wants a candidate in the 78th, I doubt it will be Maxine Sherard, I would say San Diego City Councilmember Tony Young is much more likely a candidate. Although, neither have expressed much interest.

2) Republican Luis Acle, I hear, will not be running for re-election on the San Diego City Schools Board of Trustees. That will leave that position wide open for Democrat Richard Barrera.

3) Republican Shirley Horton is planning to return to Chula Vista for a City Council run against Steve Castenada. Gotta love how the Republicans eat their own. I hear she wants to set herself up for a 2012 run for Greg Cox's seat. However, Senator Denise Ducheny and Councilmember Ben Hueso have also previously expressed in interest in that seat.

4) There has been some talk about the Republican elected officials who WON'T be supporting ethically-challenged April Boling's run for District 7 City Council. Among those past and present Republican electeds who supposedly have a beef with Boling: the entire County Board of Supervisors, former Mayor Dick Murphy, former Councilwoman Judy McCarty, current Councilman Jim Madaffer, La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, County Treasurer Dan McCallister, (need I continue). I'll be interested to see if Marti can pull endorsements from any of the above, or if they will eventually fall in line with the Downtown Establishment. Seems Boling has a hard time making and keeping friends, even among her base.

Sen. Ducheny Votes Down Protection for Children and Firefighters

AB 706 was introduced and championed by Assemblyman Mark Leno and named one of the six must pass bills of this legislative session by the LA Times, yet it failed to escape the State Senate yesterday. It was supported by children's advocates and firefighters as a vital step towards eliminating dangerous fire retardants which release toxic, cancer-causing smoke during fires. The manufacturers of these fire retardants spent millions of dollars on a group they called "Californians for Fire Safety" and promptly sent out glossy mailers with pictures of firefighters but not their actual support, whipping up a veneer of false public pressure over the bill.

In the end, it was enough. Republicans in the Senate didn't even matter because so many Democrats broke ranks when push came to shove over protecting corporations that poison our children and public servants. Democratic Senators Correa (Orange County), Ducheny (San Diego), Florez (Bakersfield & Fresno), Machado (Stockton), and Vincent (LA) all voted nay, providing the razor thin 20-19 defeat (1 abstained).

This one really wasn't ever controversial. It's very basic protection for firefighters, for children, for pregnant mothers. It might not have been sexy, but it was very necessary. Senator Ducheny appears to have found the concerns and the money of the chemical manufacturing industry more compelling than public health and safety. I haven't seen or heard any statement from her or her office on this vote and can't call this morning. I welcome the Senator's explanation in any forum and would be happy to update this post, but it would have to be quite compelling to explain this away.

It's true

Based on a comment to the last post about the rumor of State Senator Denise Ducheny possibly running for Mayor, I started making some phone calls.... and YES! I have confirmed with a source in the know, that there are Dem interests pushing Ducheny to enter the race, and that she is considering it. I have to admit, she would be a great candidate. She is a business Democrat, with great appeal for small government Independents. She has a solid record on environmental issues, LGBT and civil rights issues and she is the guru of budget and finance at the State. Plus, it would be a free ride for her, as her seat is not up this year.

Only problem I see may be with labor. She voted against the hotel workers union earlier this year, but I am sure that the Tribes will remember: she definitely carried their water.

All I can say: Ducheny in '08! (Denise, of course, not Al)