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SAN DIEGO

1. San Diego News Roundup - May 16, 2008

Posted by Mighty Thor

05/16/2008 8:27 AM

3 Comment(s)

Today's top stories from sunny San Diego:

Court overturns ban on same-sex marriage -- NCT & SDUT
The state Supreme Court decision striking down California laws banning same-sex marriage was an epic legal victory for gay and lesbian civil rights advocates that capped a four-year legal battle.

Gay marriage opponents vow to fight Calif. ruling -- NCT
Even as same-sex couples across California begin making plans to tie the knot, opponents are redoubling their efforts to make sure wedding bells never ring for gay couples in the nation's most populous state.

Sanders Goes to Wall Street -- VoSD & SDUT
The 13th floor in City Hall just wasn't good enough for this announcement. On Harbor Island, with San Diego's skyline as his backdrop, Mayor Jerry Sanders officially announced that San Diego was back on Wall Street.

Elephant Fight! -- VoSD
City attorney candidate Brian Maienschein just upped the ante in the increasingly heated race for city attorney.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Steve Francis

05/15/2008 6:33 PM

1 Comment(s)

From the Steve Francis for Mayor Campaign:

The PDF Version.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: April Boling, Marti Emerald

05/15/2008 6:24 PM

1 Comment(s)

In the mail from the Republican Party of San Diego:

The PDF Version.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Dianne Jacob

05/15/2008 6:20 PM

0 Comment(s)

In the mail from Friends of Dianne Jacob:

The PDF Version.
Supervisor Jacob's Website

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Duncan D. Hunter

05/15/2008 6:14 PM

0 Comment(s)

From the Duncan D. Hunter for Congress Campaign:

The PDF Version.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Nathan Fletcher

05/15/2008 6:09 PM

0 Comment(s)

From the Nathan Fletcher for State Assembly Campaign:

The PDF Version.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, California Politics, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Duncan D. Hunter

05/15/2008 5:29 PM

34 Comment(s)

From the Duncan D. Hunter for Congress Campaign:

Duncan D. Hunter Condemns California Supreme Court For Overturning Proposition 22

Within minutes of the California Supreme Court's ruling today overturning Proposition 22, the Defense of Marriage Initiative, Republican Congressional candidate Duncan D. Hunter condemned the court's ruling and vowed to work to pass a constitutional amendment ballot measure in November to reaffirm that marriage in California should be between one man and one woman.

"Families are under assault by out of control liberal judges," said Hunter. "The Court brazenly disregarded the will of the people and sent California down a road that will destroy traditional family values. I am committed to working to make sure this decision is overturned and that these liberal judges understand the gravity of what they have done."

Hunter is a husband, father of three, and Marine Corps Reserve Captain running for Congress in the 52nd District.

Posted by Mighty Thor

05/15/2008 4:02 PM

0 Comment(s)

From The New York Times:

Harry S. Dent Sr., who helped devise the "Southern strategy" that was crucial to Richard M. Nixon's winning the White House, died on Friday in Columbia, S.C. He was 77 .

The cause was complications of Alzheimer's disease, his daughter Ginny Brant said.

In the 1950s, Mr. Dent joined the staff of Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who was then a Democrat and had run for president as a segregationist Dixiecrat in 1948.

When President Lyndon B. Johnson championed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, some Republican strategists saw a potential bonanza in the South. They thought their party could reap the votes of white people uneasy with Democrats, or downright hostile to them, for advancing the cause of black people.

Mr. Thurmond became a Republican and campaigned for his new party's presidential candidate, Barry Goldwater, in 1964. Goldwater was beaten overwhelmingly by Johnson, but he did carry five states in the Deep South. He had campaigned in part on "states' rights," and he had voted against civil rights legislation, facts not lost on vote-counters in either party.

Posted by Barry Jantz

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Brian Maienschein, Republican Party of San Diego County, Scott Barnett

05/15/2008 4:02 PM

8 Comment(s)

As a counter to the mail in the boxes today (see prior post), the Maienschein campaign is doing robo-calls as we "speak," as follows:

Hello. This is Scott Barnett, President of TaxpayersAdvocate.org.

You may have received a vicious and misleading mailer that attacks Brian Maienschein.

Don't be fooled by the smear campaign.

When the City faced a fiscal crisis, Brian Maienschein led efforts to create an Independent Budget Analyst to make sure our city's finances are secure.

Brian voted to create an ethics commission and a committee on open government to defend taxpayers.

On behalf of taxpayers across our city, I urge you to reject the negative smear campaign against the taxpayer's choice for City Attorney - Brian Maienschein.

This is Scott Barnett, President of the TaxpayersAdvocate.org and thanks for listening.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, California Politics, Making of the President

TAGS: Barack Obama, Brian Bilbray, George Bush, John Kerry, John McCain, Nick Leibham

05/15/2008 12:06 PM

0 Comment(s)

From The Assembly Republican Caucus Office of Strategic Information Services:

This Office of Strategic Information Services report analyzes the results of the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll as well as a survey of voters in San Diego County's 50th Congressional District.

Eighty-two percent of the nation's voters think the country is on the wrong track, according to the ABC News/Washington Post, and CD 50 GOP Congressman Brian Bilbray leads a potential Democrat opponent 52% to 34%, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner.

Key Findings

Eighty-two percent of the public believes the country is on the wrong track; only 16% believe the country is on the right track, according to the latest figures from the ABC News/Washington Post poll. The poll was conducted May 8 thru 11. Additional findings include:

George W. Bush's job approval rating is 31% approve to 66% disapprove.

The public trusts Democrats more than Republicans to solve the country's problems by a margin of 53% to 32%. This percentage is virtually the same as it was just prior the 2006 mid-term elections (then it was 54% Democrat to 35% Republican).

In a general election match-up, Barack Obama leads John McCain 51%...

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: San Diego Politics

05/15/2008 11:51 AM

1 Comment(s)

From The "No On Proposition E" Campaign:

The PDF Version.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: California Politics

05/15/2008 11:46 AM

5 Comment(s)

From The San Diego Union-Tribune:

State Ban On Gay Marriage Overturned

The state Supreme Court struck down California's law banning same sex couples from getting married, in a historic decision Thursday that declared the law unconstitutional discrimination.

The decision will surely touch off an impassioned political fight.

The 4-3 opinion is the high court's most important civil rights decision in more than a decade, and it is an epic legal victory for same-sex marriage advocates. California is now the second state in the nation to allow gays and lesbians to be legally married.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: San Diego Politics

TAGS: Bill Horn

05/15/2008 10:52 AM

0 Comment(s)

A Word From Supervisor Bill Horn:

Report from Washington, D.C.

During my 13 years as your Fifth District Supervisor, I've learned that having positive working relationships with people in Washington, D.C. is invaluable in carrying out the task of serving my constituents here on the home front.

Continuing contacts with elected representatives, their staff members, and key decision-makers in the capital bureaucracy is essential to making sure our County receives its fair share of federal dollars and support for programs that are vital to our way of life.

On Sunday, April 28, 2008, my staff land policy advisor, Dustin Steiner and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for three days of meetings with people ranging from a U.S. Senator, to members of our San Diego Congressional delegation, and top officials in government agencies. Also with us was Dan Silver, Executive Director of the Endangered Habitats League. Based on the issues we were presenting, especially the one dealing with North County's Rancho Guejito; I felt it was productive to have a respected member of the environmental community and outside of government at our side.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Brian Maienschein, Jerry Sanders, Marti Emerald, Phil Thalheimer

05/15/2008 10:27 AM

0 Comment(s)

From The National Electrical Contractors Association:

The National Electrical Contractors Association has reviewed the June 2008 Primary Election local ballot measures A,B and C and have concluded that each set of charter amendments provides the balanced approach to city government needed to move our City forward. We recommend a "Yes" vote on each.

Proposition A, City of San Diego Charter Amendment - Managed Competition Exemption for Public Safety Services: Will provide a more efficient and a better economic approach to city services while protecting against the outsourcing of police, fire and lifeguards. Yes

Proposition B, City of San Diego Charter Amendment - Strong Mayor on 2010 Ballot: Will provide that the public will make the final decision on the future of the Strong Mayor System in 2010, fulfilling the promise made to the voters in 2006. Yes

Proposition C, City of San Diego Charter Amendment - Financial Officers and Responsibilities: Places the needed checks and balances into the City Charter. Yes

In addition, the San Diego Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association has also made the following endorsements for City of San Diego races:

Mayor: Jerry Sanders

City Attorney: Brian...

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: California Politics

TAGS: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mark Wyland

05/15/2008 10:01 AM

0 Comment(s)

Senator Mark Wyland issued the following statement on the Governor's May Revision of the California Budget:

"I applaud the Governor's use of a 'rainy day' fund, an approach I've supported for years, to protect Californians during tough economic times. I also agree with fully funding education, a plan that Senate and Assembly Republicans recently proposed. However, I do not support a tax increase when we have failed to reduce wasteful spending. It's unacceptable to punish California families, who are already paying too much in taxes, for the unwillingness of Democrats to control their addiction to spending. I hope the majority party realizes soon enough that the first step toward controlling addiction is admitting that you have problem."

Senator Mark Wyland represents the 38th Senate District, which includes cities in north San Diego County and south Orange County.

Posted by Mighty Thor

CATEGORY: News Roundup -- 2008

05/15/2008 8:45 AM

0 Comment(s)

Today's top stories from sunny San Diego:

Lawmakers take aim at budget -- SDUT
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to use money from an expanded lottery to plug a big state budget hole is not looking like a winning ticket.

City to use state bond funds for street repairs -- SDUT
San Diegans fed up with the sorry condition of city streets may soon get some relief. The city expects to get an estimated $21 million in state bond money for the current fiscal year ending June 30 to spend on road improvements. Next fiscal year, the state is expected to allocate an additional $20 million to San Diego for similar projects.

The Politics of Seal Poop -- VoSD
In San Diego's City Council District 1, the political winds blow through the whiskers of about 100 harbor seals.

Ready on Day One -- VoSD
The 7th City Council District is fortunate to have someone with the fiscal experience, personal integrity and strong community planning background of longtime civic and community activist April Boling as a candidate. Her integrity, no-nonsense approach to fiscal analysis and financial management and ability to make tough decisions...

Posted by Barry Jantz

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: Brian Maienschein, Republican Party of San Diego County

05/15/2008 6:28 AM

28 Comment(s)

The Republican Party of SD could have done a "No, he's not endorsed by us" mailer, which simply would have left people saying "Who cares?" Instead, whereas Brian Maienschein implied he is the GOP candidate of choice, the Party doesn't imply anything. The use of facts is often the most compelling.

Hitting mailboxes today...

Click on the images for a larger version.

Posted by Barry Jantz

CATEGORY: San Diego Politics

TAGS: Del Mar School Board, Doug Perkins

05/14/2008 1:51 PM

1 Comment(s)

With the scramble down the stretch to election day, sometimes "good stuff" like this gets missed....

Last Wednesday night (5/7/08), longtime local businessman and Republican activist Doug Perkins was appointed to fill the vacant seat on Del Mar Union School District's Board of Trustees. The decision was made after two and a half hours of debate by a unanimous (4-0) vote of the sitting Trustees.

Perkins founded Pacific Gateway Group, a highly successful full service consulting firm based in San Diego, as a partnership in 1985 with then future San Diego City Councilmember Byron Wear and attorney Bonnie Kane (also Duncan Hunter's sister). Perkins has solely run the company since 1989.

Over the years, Perkins has run San Diego City Council campaigns for Byron Wear and Judy McCarty, as well as the Jeff Marston for Assembly race.

Doug has been a political appointee under Senator and Governor Pete Wilson. He is a 15 year member and volunteer of the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. He holds a Masters in Education from the University of Maryland.

"I'm very honored to have received the support of the District and Board," he told...

Posted by Vito Andolini

CATEGORY: San Diego Politics

TAGS: Republican Party of San Diego County

05/14/2008 10:40 AM

3 Comment(s)

Tuesday night, the Republican Party of San Diego County held its annual major fundraiser at the Town & Country Hotel and Resort in Mission Valley. After a beautiful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner by the Heritage Kids choir, and some red, white and blue "party poppers," the event was in full swing.

An Invocation by Rev. Dwight Johnson was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Local radio show how Mark Larson, from San Diego 1700 AM, was the Emcee of the evening, and did a great moving things along, whilst making a plug for his radio show every so often.

As is custom at these dinners, awards were given out in the following categories:

The Local Elected Official of the Year Award went to San Diego councilman Kevin Faulconer, and was presented by (appropriately) San Diego mayor Jerry Sanders.

The Wendell Cutting award for Legislative Staff Member of the Year went to Collin McGlashen, and was presented by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (who flew down from Sacramento just for the event, and just happens to be Collin's employer).

The Newt Gingrich Award for Best Campaign went to...

Posted by Hugh Akston

CATEGORY: 2008 Campaigns, San Diego Politics

TAGS: AD78, Arlie Ricasa, Auday Arabo, Marty Block, Maxine Sherard

05/14/2008 8:31 AM

4 Comment(s)

I was forwarded this poll by a few friends in Sacramento over the last couple of days. It is a poll on the Democratic Primary in the 78th Assembly District. Here are the numbers are laid out in the poll:

May 2008
Maxine Sherrard - 22%
Auday Arabo - 14%
Marty Block - 13%
Arlie Ricasa - 6%
Don't Know - 45%

February 2008
Maxine Sherrard - 17%
Auday Arabo - 8%
Marty Block - 16%
Arlie Ricasa - 6%
Don't Know - 53%

You can read the summary of the poll from the Arabo campaign HERE

Arabo's campaign boasts about being in second place, while dismissing Sherrard's vote as "tied to remaining name identification from her loss in 2006 and with nominal campaign spending to date, seems unlikely to grow appreciably." While I am not going to argue that Sherrard's showing is due to residual name ID from 2006, I will say that Maxine has an obvious significant floor of support in AD78, and in a four-way primary, it will take a campaign with its act together to catch-up.