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…..

Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court

I commend President Obama’s historic nomination today of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Judge Sotomayor’s story is one that many Californians can relate to. She is the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants raised in a housing project in the South Bronx. Judge Sotomayor’s mother, a widow, worked two jobs and scrimped to send Sonia and her brother to Catholic schools.

Sonia Sotomayor earned a scholarship to Princeton, graduating second in her class, and went on to Yale Law School where she edited the Yale Law Journal. Her legal and judicial experience is vast and varied.

When confirmed, Judge Sotomayor will be the first Latina to serve on the United States Supreme Court and only the third female justice ever.

STATEMENT OF SENATOR BARBARA BOXER ON CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION

Unfortunately, with this decision, I am concerned that we are back to square one on the issue of equal rights for same-sex couples.

This ruling sets up a very unfair reality in California where some same-sex couples will have their marriages affirmed, while many more will be denied their fundamental rights.

I remain committed to working actively with people across the state to make sure that same-sex couples have equal rights under the law.

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Statement of Senator Feinstein on the California Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Proposition 8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, May 26, 2009

"I know today’s decision is a tremendous disappointment for many people. But I also know that the opinions of Californians are changing on this issue, and I believe that equal marriage rights will one day be the law in this state. This is already the case in Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont. So, I believe this issue will come before the voters again, and I am very hopeful that the result will be different next time.


Today's State Supreme Court ruling also declares that the 18,000 same-sex marriages that have already taken place in California are valid, and I believe these marriages will allow people to see for themselves that marriage equality is a step forward for California and not a step back."

# # #

Statement from California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton on today's California Supreme Court ruling on Proposition 8

Today's decision, while heartbreaking, doesn't end the historic struggle for marriage equality. It renews our dedication to making sure all California families can again enjoy the dignity, commitment and responsibility of marriage.

I commend the California Supreme Court for validating the rights of the 18,000 lesbian and gay couples who married last year before Proposition 8 passed. These couples and their children will continue to enjoy the full security and legal protection of marriage.

Within the next few years, I know California will restore legal, civil marriages for gay and lesbian couples. The California Democratic Party will play a leading role in ending marriage discrimination in California and I look forward to the day when that happens.

Prop 8: Join us

Unite for Equality at 5pm at 6th and Laurel in Balboa Park tonight.

Port Commission: The Vote

Here’s my prediction on how the vote for San Diego Port Commissioner will go down.


Round 1: Everyone sticks to their nominees

Hueso – Burdick
Young – Burdick
DeMaio – Burdick
Gloria – Takvorian
Frye – Takvorian
Emerald – Evans
Faulconer - Evans
Lightner – Merrifield


Round 2: Decisions
I predict that Lightner lets Marshall go and sides with Burdick. Burdick has ties to Peters and Lightner fancies herself a moderate.

I also predict that Gloria and Frye stick to their guns. They have little to lose by doing so.

So who throws Evans under the bus? My gut says Faulconer. This is a guy who, like Mayor Sanders, would rather kick hard choices down the road until someone else can deal with them or has no choice but to act at which point he will then dive headlong with the prevailing winds. I say he’s the 5th vote.

Leaving Emerald. Does she stay or go with Evans? This will be telling. I give her a 60% chance that she’ll screw Labor out of pride and go for Burdick. She put the progressive community on notice with her choice and won’t back off from the ledge she has placed herself on. The justification will be that Burdick is a Democrat.

Hueso – Burdick
Young – Burdick
DeMaio – Burdick
Gloria – Takvorian
Frye – Takvorian
Emerald – Burdick (?)
Faulconer - Burdick
Lightner – Burdick

Either way, Burdick gets a jump start on her political career in the pockets of others.


The Spin
That the Takvorian nomination was ideologically extreme so it forced a moderate to be drafted to balance the competing interests on the Port Commission.

The thing is, if Hueso and his staff weren’t so blinded by their hatred of the Environmental Health Coalition, a true progressive could have been selected.

There is still time, but as it stands right now, this is how I see the vote.

Port Commission: It’s on!

The Voice of San Diego is reporting that Lee Burdick has been nominated by Councilmembers Hueso, Young and DeMaio.

What does this mean?

First of all, Burdick is an attorney looking for a public office. Her run for City Attorney never made sense in that she couldn’t come up with a solid reason as to why she was running other than she wasn’t Aguirre. Her performance was awkward and it felt like she had been talked into being a stalking horse. She has business ties and is in need of a leg up politically. This nomination could be payback because she’s been “a good sport” in the past.

It’s convenient for everyone involved: Hueso because Burdick doesn't hurt him in the South Bay, Young can show he’s nobody’s puppet, and DeMaio can act bi-partisan in supporting a pro business Democrat. In this sense, she is a consensus builder. At least she admits she’s not anybody’s best candidate.

Emerald’s play at being the bridge between the Republicans and Democrats on the City Council gets blown up. Her slap at Labor in nominating Bill Evans was noticed and we’ll see if this nutty play earns her any chits on the other side.

But would Emerald come home and support Diane Takvorian? Should she break free of the leash her COS has her on, I think she just might. Gloria and Frye have done this region a service in nominating an outstanding candidate for the position. It’s unfortunate that her qualities are trashed for the personal ambitions of others but this was not going to be easy.

Leaving Lightner and Faulconer. I will pray that both of them can put aside the false “business vs environment” argument that is so 20th century and join the 21st in supporting Diane.

We’ll see. Given the circus in Chula Vista after Najera's resignation, we need some adults on the Port Commission who are more concerned with the port and less with their political futures.

California Community College Leaders React to Election

From a press release sent over last night:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 19, 2009

California Community College Leaders React to Election
Cuts to community college budget will limit access for neediest Californians


SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Now that it seems certain the ballot propositions have gone down in defeat, California Community College leaders are predicting students and the state’s economic recovery efforts will face dire consequences. Jointly, they have released the following statements -

California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott – “Our community colleges are on the front lines providing real time solutions for millions of Californians. Many of our students are reeling from the shockwaves resulting from the global financial meltdown, high unemployment rates and a difficult job market. We’ve added more than 150,000 additional students this year alone and are serving 140,000 of them without any additional funding. As the chancellor leading our 110 colleges, it is my job to inform state leaders we simply cannot continue to be an effective safety net for displaced workers, train our nation’s nurses and firefighters and retool workers to serve in green jobs if the proposed cuts are enacted. As it stands now, our classrooms are full, waiting lists to get into classes are long and many students cannot access the courses they need to progress.

“Having worked in and around community colleges most of my life, I fear students will find themselves without options and ill prepared to meet our state’s current and emerging workforce needs.”

Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Marshall Drummond -- “The recent preview of proposed budget cuts landed a devastating blow to the community colleges. The idea that the community colleges can cut $85 million from our current budget, weeks prior to the fiscal year ending, is not realistic. Extrapolating from the governor's numbers, the Los Angeles community colleges could lose up to $80 million, the equivalent of the entire operating budgets of two of our smaller colleges. It is simply not possible to dismantle our many contractual and institutional obligations in such a short period of time, while staying in line with state law and mandates.

“The amount of proposed cuts to programs such as student counseling, assessment and placement and career technical education would almost certainly eliminate opportunities for disadvantaged students and place them at an even greater risk. The ultimate result of these actions will be a lower quality of life in our most challenged neighborhoods and a severe decline in a well trained workforce.”

Los Rios Community College District Chancellor Brice Harris -- “We are very concerned for our students and our community. The proposed budget cuts for community colleges are the worst we have ever seen and would severely limit our ability to meet the educational and workforce needs of our region.”

San Diego Community College District Chancellor Constance Carroll -- “San Diego is bracing to make additional cuts of enormous magnitude. Due to poor policy decisions made at the state level, we will be forced to consider reducing student access and the number of classes we offer our students, continuing our current hiring freeze, and making a wide range of reductions. I personally view this as tragic. This is a time when we should be expanding opportunities to assist putting people back to work and training students for a new economy and emerging vocations.”

City College of San Francisco Chancellor Don Griffin – “Today’s election results will make it impossible for City College of San Francisco to maintain its current levels of services and student access. Our district serves 105,000 students and if the budget scenarios recently unveiled are enacted our summer school enrollment will be reduced by up to 85 percent and our student services programs will be dramatically cut by as much as 50 percent. These services include admissions and enrollment, and disabled student programs. Major reductions in course offerings will also result in a loss of access for 10,000 students in our district. We will be forced to reduce our hours of operation and there will also be a 15 percent loss of part-time faculty and administrative positions.”



The California Community Colleges is the largest higher educational system in the nation comprised of 72 districts and 110 colleges with more than 2.7 million students per year. Community colleges are the largest workforce provider in the state and offer more than 175 degree and certificate programs in hundreds of fields such as, advance manufacturing, biotechnology, business and computer science. The system trains more than 70 percent of nurses and 80 percent of the fire, law enforcement and emergency medical technicians in California. The Chancellor’s Office provides leadership, advocacy and support under the direction of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. For more information about the community colleges, please visit www.cccco.edu.

###

Thoughts about Yesterday’s Wipeout

"Obviously, it's disappointing, but I think the voters are sending a message that they believe the budget is the job of the governor and Legislature. We probably need to go back and do our job." - Noreen Evans, Chairwoman of the Assembly Budget Committee


If there was more evidence necessary to prove the disconnect between Sacramento and the state, yesterday provided it. All of the propositions went down except for the punitive 1F.

• An upshot of this taxpayer-funded debacle has been the focus on the Governor and his lack of leadership. Coming from a party that preaches responsibility, his flight to Washington was cowardly at best. Rather than working to cobble together a middle way, he too often has relied on his star status and its inability to motivate voters this time has been telegraphed throughout the world with the failure of these propositions.

• Predictably, the anti-tax factions and the State Republicans will claim victory for having pushed the state over the cliff. Predictably as well, they will overplay their hand (as they always do) when their ideology again crashes into reality. They don’t have real solutions and don’t know what to do if their base isn’t motivated by anger directed at their opposition.

• This time, I think being part of the problem will break the back of the California Republicans. Unless a gubernatorial candidate can shift this, the Republicans in office are part of the same legislature that facilitated this mess and will be recognized for their efforts in the “throw the bums out” sentiment I predict shall occur in 2010.

• And the Democrats won’t be immune. The inability of the majority party to create the conditions necessary to change the 2/3rd majority required for budget passage is an expected result of term limits and a weak speaker. The fact that they were held hostage and then went forth to sell this mess to the public is FUBAR. A mediocre governor has played the opposition party and this has awakened a public that would rather watch American Idol than do the job the legislature was elected to do.

• Public anger is seething and this will only get worse with the cuts that the governor will make.

Take a day off, California, because there is going to be a long tough slog in the months ahead.

Vote!

Another election is upon us and it is time for you to exercise your right to vote. Let’s see if we can make it over 20% of the electorate today.

Hueso vs. Takvorian?

The Environmental Health Coalition has been a thorn in the side of development in the South Bay for quite some time. The Inzunzas were never fans and, it appears, neither is Hueso. Word is that Ben is looking for an alternative to Takvorian who is a bit more “business” friendly on the Port Commission.

If Hueso is going to be so pro-development, then he should fit right into the 79th Assemblymember mold created by Vargas and continued by Salas.

Mayberry Machiavelli, Chula Vista Style

From Monday’s Union Tribune:

CHULA VISTA – Mayor Cheryl Cox abruptly canceled a discussion Tuesday night about whether to replace Chula Vista Port Commissioner Mike Najera.

Officials were set to talk about his position on the San Diego UnifiedPort District board of directors, a week after Cox asked him to resign. Dozens of Najera's supporters packed the council chambers in anticipation of the discussion.

But Cox called for a closed session two hours into the ongoing City Council meeting, and emerged 20 minutes later to say the item had been pulled from the agenda.

Cox did not give a reason and did not say why the council went into the sudden closed session.

Perhaps this is why:

An attorney for Najera had urged Cox “to use great caution in seeking to remove” the commissioner during the meeting.

“To date, you have failed to provide Commissioner Najera with a good cause basis to remove him from his position,” Joseph Casas wrote in a letter dated May 11. Casas wrote an earlier letter to Cox last week asking her to stop trying to oust Najera from the port board.

This on the heels of the Voice article about Cox’s tenure:

The same day, Port Commissioner Mike Najera went public with the news that Cox had demanded his resignation from the commission. Najera refused to budge and his fellow commissioners supported him, demanding an explanation from Cox -- who didn't produce one. The affair was a public blow to the mayor's political credibility that only became more embarrassing when Najera revealed he had recently held a fundraiser for her political nemesis, Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Castaneda. Najera suggested political revenge -- an accusation Cox has had levied at her before.

And

The rookie mayor, whose political experience prior to her election was limited to serving on the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Trustees, has also found herself alienated on the city's five-member City Council, two of whose members are widely considered to be priming themselves for a run against her in 2010 (she said she will run for reelection). One of her colleagues, Councilman John McCann, has used Cox's failures with the Chargers and the sales tax increase to curry favor with local Republicans, who have not been shy in expressing their support for him.
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And Cox has had to contend with the accusations of political vengeance. Castaneda, who ran against Cox in 2006, has accused her of conspiring with her husband, County Supervisor Greg Cox, and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, to have him investigated for corruption three times. Cox dismisses the claims as ridiculous, but the latest mishaps, including Najera's dig, have added fuel to the fire of Cox's detractors.

And

Castaneda said the Chargers letter wasn't the only time that Cox's involvement in a city issue has done more harm than good.

The Democratic city councilman, who came third in Chula Vista's 2006 mayoral primary election, has been a vocal critic of Cox. He said the mayor's failure to coordinate the city's waterfront development and the withdrawal of Gaylord Entertainment Co. as a potential developer of the site, is clear evidence that the city needs new leadership.

"Cheryl Cox decided that she wanted to insert herself in the process," Castaneda said. "None of us on the council were asked for our opinions, none of us were privy to what she was doing or how she was meddling and, essentially, this thing fell apart not just because of the economy, but because of the lack of leadership that has emanated from her office."

Whatever the truth may be, it appears that Mayor Cox is wielding power in a manner that betrays a lack of experience. When the criticism comes, the wagons are circled and the only beneficiaries are your opponents.

Chula Vista deserves better than this.

SDCDP supports Takvorian for Port Commission, for now

At the Central Committee meeting last night, the local Democratic Party took the position of supporting Diane Takvorian for Port Commission so long as she remains the only Democrat put forth. In a politically structured way, the motion that passed said that should another Democratic candidate be put forth, then the SDCDP shall support them also. Until then, Takvorian is the one.

There were a few voices from the floor that the SDCDP put all of its chips on Takvorian, but the Chair noted that because the Central Committee won’t meet again until July, there wasn’t going to be another chance at expressing support, or a preference, for whomever is nominated and that this route was the safest.

San Diego Port Commission: Marti, what are you doing?

Because this was so much fun last time, with Scott Peters getting the nod over Laurie Black and then Laurie getting a seat later anyway.

Now Black is stepping off the board and here are the contenders so far as identified by CityBeat:

Marshall Merrifield
Name put forward by Sherri Lightener. It is a nice thing to do for a vanquished foe that can sing show tunes but he won’t get far given the other names in the mix.

Diane Takvorian of the Environmental Health Coalition
Recently endorsed for the open Port seat by the League of Conservation voters and put forward by both Todd Gloria and Donna Frye she seems like a great choice. Her name is well known in the political and activist communities The Port needs help and as an Executive Director she has the chops for the position; dealing with selfish cities and stubborn interests.

Bill Evans
WTF? Why is Marti Emerald putting the name of an anti-union insider up for the port? Is she on crack? Where’s the CLC on this?

My opinion; this is a brazen and crass attempt to position herself as accommodating to the Republican establishment in the (faint) hopes that she can get their support for a mayoral run or to be seen as the bridge between the Republicans on the City Council because Hueso is losing clout by running for the 79th.

With Labor being seen as on the ropes after the 8-0 vote weks ago, this is not the way to support your friends. The crazy thing is that I can see DeMaio and Faulcaner joining her in this leaving Tony Young and Ben Hueso as the deciders.

What is bothersome is that there is a fabulous progressive up for the seat and she could lose it because of a positioning move by a councilmember.

Marti, what are you doing?

SD 40: Spring Predictions

Because it’s never too early to spitball:


Mary Salas
This district requires a lot of travel and basic name ID given how poor voter turnout is. That said, Salas is in a good position already representing half of the district. With Ducheny aiming for Cox’s seat on the Board of Supervisors, the field is open for a newbie to take the helm. By all appearances, Salas seems to enjoy the Sacramento thing and this extension of her career gives her a chance to do more of what she has been doing.

Juan Vargas
Which is why she and Juan have more in common that you would think; they’ve both represented the 79th AD, there’re both more pro-business that they should be given the district, and they both love “serving the public.”

Vargas has been rumored for Mayor (wanted the Democrats to ask him to do it), for County Supervisor to replace Ron Roberts (Republicans want a Democrat they can do business with but nobody wants to hire Ron should he step down) and the 79th AD (why go back when you can move up and run every four years instead of two?).

For a guy who said he wasn’t going to work for the insurance industry, then does just that once out of office, a run at State Senate makes sense. He has latent name ID from representing the 79th and running against Filner. Republicans view him as a DINO and Salas is not as solid as she should be.


Conclusion
Salas may be the “incumbent “ but Juan can pick deeper pockets on both sides of the aisle and has done more of the district, geographically speaking, than she has. On the flip side, Salas is a current elected, has support from Filner, Ducheny, Kehoe, Block, Frye, Hueso, Castaneda, Bensoussan, and whole host of other electeds, and can challenge Juan in the 80th AD half of the 40th SD.

The 40th SD favors Salas but Juan can easily make this competitive.

The Propositions

The budget deal was wrong on so many levels but until the 2/3rd majority rule is dealt with we are stuck with a state held hostage by an atavistic minority lost in the last century.

1A- Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Fund
CDP: No by 58% (need 60% to pass)
Field Poll: N-49%, Y-40%, U-11%
The battle on the floor of the CDP was hot if the web uploads were accurate. It is unfortunate that Labor decided to fight via delegates but the end result settled nothing and satisfied most; a majority approved but not enough to do anything about it.

1B – Education Funding
CDP endorsed via visual vote
Field Poll: N-49%, Y-40%, U-11%
An easy sell for Democrats but coming on the heels of 1A makes the substance suspect.

1C – Lottery Modernization
CDP endorsed 67%
Field Poll: N-59%, Y-32%, U-9%
SEIU is going to have to work more overtime than they already do to pass this. The Convention floor was easy but the ballot box is what matters. The need to explain how this temporary fix won’t become a permanent liability has yet to be made.

1D – Children’s Services Funding
CDP takes a neutral position (52%)
Field Poll: N-49%, Y-40%, U-11%
Kids are an easy sell with the rank and file Democrats except when asked to take money from them because the adults can’t balance the budget.

1E - Mental Health Funding
CDP takes a neutral position (50.1%)
Field Poll: N-51%, Y-40%, U-9%
Again the idea of taking money from those who need it in order to balance the books is just wrong even though most people will take from the mentally ill rather then the children

1F- Elected Official’s Salaries
CDP endorsed via visual vote
Field Poll: Y-71%, N-24%, U-5%
Even though I personally believe that we don’t pay our elected officials enough, I do agree that something must be done for them to put the functioning of the state above their employment after they are term-limited from office.


Conclusion
Sacramento leadership was pushing for a Yes on all to validate the deal. The CDP splits with a No on 1A, 1D, and 1E and a Yes on 1B, 1C, and 1F. The CRP says No on everything and the Field Poll agrees except for 1F.

I predict Republicans will crow about this success in checking the spending Democrats as state offices close in the middle of a recession.

I also predict a Prop. 13 like movement to reform the California Government but it remains to be seen if the Sacramento establishment will wake up to this mob coming up Interstate 5 or if they will act in their own self interest and barricade the doors.

Either way, this election should have never happened, but it will and that will change everything.

San Diego Democrats Attend State Party Convention in Sacramento.

Democrats from San Diego spent last weekend in Sacramento for the 2009 California Democratic Party convention. Party regulars, labor activists, candidates, and Young Democrats all represented San Diego.

Local Young Democrats made big contributions to this year’s convention. Locals Jonathan Goetz and Allan Acevedo were elected to positions on the California Young Democrats board. The San Diego County Young Democrats club received the “Outstanding Project” award from CYD for their “Farewell to W at the W” inauguration night celebration. That event attracted more than 1500 revelers and is largely responsible for the recent explosion of Young Dems membership in San Diego.

Despite the unity and pride Democrats feel for electing Obama to the White House, this convention was starkly divided on a number of issues. Delegates bucked their legislative leaders and voted to stay neutral on about half of the upcoming May 19th special election provisions, including Prop. 1A, and voted to support the other half, including Prop. 1B. Party rules require 60% to endorse ballot initiatives, and only half of the propositions could muster that kind of support.

The state-wide California Young Democrats had a fierce leadership fight, with Sacramento’s Alissa Ko being elected as President over Los Angeles area David Phelps. The San Diego area Young Democrat chapters, including those from UCSD and SDSU, largely supported Ko.

The convention also served as an early battleground between the gubernatorial ambitions of Attorney General Jerry Brown and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. Both gave speeches to the assembled delegates, and were ubiquitous faces in the hallways and hospitality suites. They smiled and shook hands with potential supporters from around the state.

The most stark contrast between their campaigns, as has been described elsewhere, was their different approaches to parties for the Party. At these conventions, candidates routinely throw parties for conventioneers, and the higher the office, the more elaborate the soirée. Brown offered a tame afternoon “Recession Reception,” at the historic Governor’s Mansion. Some 800 people attended, though I wasn’t one of them. We did a drive-by, but the line was too long, to his credit.

Newsom hosted a nighttime block party at a fenced in area in downtown Sacramento. While Brown’s party featured his 1974 Plymouth, Newsom hosted a concert with Wyclef Jean, and a near endorsement by former NBA star and current Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson who referred to Newsom as the “next Governor of California”. About 3000 people attended the concert, and subsequent after-party at the swank Lounge on 20.

The two campaigns presented clear and different versions of themselves. Brown was the experienced, steady former governor. Newsom was the exciting fresh face of the future.

What about likely gubernatorial candidate Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa? He stayed in L.A. With Newsom presenting himself as the forward looking New Democrat, and Brown posturing as a stark contrast, it didn’t leave Villaraigosa much room to distinguish himself to delegates. Though one wonders: if Villaraigosa can’t come up with a compelling narrative for a few thousand conventioneers, what can he say to inspire the millions of primary voters?

[Cross-Posted on NBC San Diego.]

CDP Convention: New Leadership

Chair John Burton
His victory was never in question but his opponent Chris Finnie’s 24% of the vote is eyebrow raising. Torres never seemed to care about implementing a 58 county strategy nor breaking the CDP from its Sacramento stranglehold. After 14 years there was plenty of frustration building and Finnie’s results show that Burton has to produce in ways Torres neither could or would.

First Vice Chair Alex Rooker
She defeated Alicia Wong with 67% of the vote. She is in a unique position to unify the labor branch of the party and may become a real player in the 2010 cycle. Torres never seemed to delegate activity to his Vice-Chairs. I don’t envision Burton doing the same thereby giving Alex a great platform to run after Burton leaves the CDP

Second Vice Chair Eric Bauman
I mention the next race for CDP chair because Bauman has been telling some on the Westside of LA that Burton will only serve until Boxer gets re-elected. If this is so, then Eric can run for the position that he has coveted for over a decade. He is the chair of the LA Central Committee and can manage a mob. He has credibility with the grassroots for his work with the Organization and Development Committee. The fight that almost happened between these two this year may happen in a few.

Secretary Reginald Jones-Sawyer
Ran unopposed.

Controller Hillary Crosby
She won 54% - 46%. Not a blowout but not a hard positive. Bradley found his footing too late and Crosby, once she found victory a possibility, immediately toned down her rhetoric. Unlike the folks over at Caltics, I don’t see her win as a positive for the grassroots. The position is one of management and trust. As a newbie to the CDP financial world, she has a steep learning curve and will probably be captured by the machine she ran against. The “grassroots” are notorious for not following up and supporting their causes. Rather, they flit about chasing after that which is current at the time. It is unfortunate because, if they ever got their act together, they could change the party.


Early Analysis
Burton will be a fun spokesperson, so long as he doesn’t get embroiled in some scandal. That which the Bay Area will tolerate is not a method by which to measure the state. And he will eat Nehring alive.

Rooker and Bauman will jockey for position the second Burton steps aside and Crosby’s inexperience will place the onus on fundraising more on the Chair that he would probably like.

Garamendi makes it official