One last analysis on last evening's debate between incumbent San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman and his lone opponent Marianne Milligan. Penman and Milligan face each other in the November 2007 municipal election.

Earlier, Red County Joseph Turner offered his thoughts on the forum here. The San Bernardino Sun's weblog devoted to political developments in the city of San Bernardino, SB Now, has extensive coverage here, here, and here.

Kudos to Joseph Turner for offering his candid observation on the Penman-Milligan debate, which he viewed on a live television broadcast. Turner, who has had a legal issue involving the office of City Attorney Jim Penman regarding his candidate statement, and a political disagreement  with Penman's lead political strategist, nevertheless offered thoughts that were, surprisingly, very flattering of the 20-year incumbent.

In politics, it is often rare for a public figure to provide a complimentary analysis of a figure in which a dispute was involved. Turner, once again, never fails to surprise.

That said, the "SB insider" agrees wholeheartedly with Turner's analysis. The debate was not even close; Jim Penman outshined his neophyte opponent by nearly every standard of measure. The SB Insider witnessed the debate as an audience spectator.

Case in point: As Penman launched into political attacks on Milligan's record as an city-employed attorney for her previous employer, the wealthy Orange County coastal city of Costa Mesa, Milligan failed to specifically address any point raised by her opponent. When her commitment to ethics were directly challenged on a judicial ruling that disqualified significant portions Milligan's candidate statement in the official voter ballot guide, Milligan left Penman's pointed criticism unchecked.

Milligan did, however, say that Penman's line of attacks were "not true." However, no specific statements or documents refuting Penman's attacks were offered by the first-time candidate.

On issues where Milligan tried to discuss her positive attributes, she fell short of her goal. As Turner reported, Milligan is taking the lofty position of being "an independent, non-political city attorney" who will not become involved in political campaigns. Yet, contrary to that end, documents would later prove she is an active financial donor to a citywide election contest.

Further, another heightened priority for Marianne Milligan, is to bring the office of San Bernardino's city attorney "into the 21st century," where, she alleges, it currently is not. Milligan stated she wants to see a greater expansion of electronic telecommunications services, such as phones, voicemail, and e-mail, and internet services offered to city residents who communicate with the office.

An agenda of improvements in supposed technological deficiencies in the city attorney's office do not match the candidate's commitment to her own campaign, where her website is on par with that of an effort circa 1992. Now, campaign and political websites do not at all suggest how a candidate will perform in office. Yet for Milligan to raise the theme of "modernization" and improving methods of technology in the office she seeks to serve- such as a presence on the World Wide web - " she has failed miserably by producing an incredibly sophomoric internet site.

Jim Penman's performance in one debate has been widely covered, and the consensus appears to be that the legal and political veteran performed up to expectations, if not better. Penman's political challenges lie not with Milligan directly, but with those championing her candidacy.

Marianne Milligan's saving grace in this election is her powerful friends and allies who are supporting her candidacy, such as former mayor Judith Valles and current popular Mayor Pat Morris. In Morris' case, besides assisting Milligan with staff aides, supporters and attracting much-needed financial resources, the popular Morris is publicly making far more compelling cases, speeches and appeals for Milligan's election than is Marianne Milligan.