Chris Emami

Duvall Scandal Update: Scrutinizing Jeff Miller

By Chris Emami | 09/11/09

The latest news in the Duvall scandal seems to be causing additional scrutiny of Assemblyman Jeff Miller, as Miller was the person Mike Duvall was telling his story to in the infamous video tape of the July 8 Appropriations hearing. Democrat Assembly Speaker Karen Bass removed Miller from the Assembly Ethics Committee, as The Fly reported here on Red County.  Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-San... read more »

Jerome Horton Wins Unanimous Vote for BOE Seat from Senate

By Chris Emami | 09/10/09

Former Assemblyman Jerome Horton has been confirmed for the vacant BOE-4 seat unanimously by the Senate.  Horton still needs to be confirmed by the Assembly, but it is expected they will do so shortly.  Horton is the best Democrat taxpayers could hope for in LA County's ultra-liberal BOE-4 seat.  If we couldn't get a Republican, Horton's the best Democrat we could have gotten in that district. He'll presumably be reelected... read more »

Duvall Stalling Resignation, Interfering with Special Election Timing, Continuing to Receive Paycheck

By Chris Emami | 09/10/09

In this article about Jeff Miller, there's an interesting sentence about Mike Duvall in the third paragraph: "As of 10 a.m. Thursday morning, a resignation letter had not been received..." You may be wondering, "What is the big deal about Duvall stalling on the resignation letter?"  Well, until the letter is submitted, he has not legally and officially resigned.  Until his resignation is legal and... read more »

Duvall Denies Affair; Claims He was "Story-Telling"

By Chris Emami | 09/10/09

Sometime this evening, this statement was placed on Mike Duvall's campaign web site: Assemblyman Duvall Denies Reports that he Had Affair "I want to make it clear that my decision to resign is in no way an admission that I had an affair or affairs. My offense was engaging in inappropriate story-telling and I regret my language and choice of words. The resulting media coverage was proving to be an unneeded distraction to my colleagues and... read more »

Chris Norby, Shawn Nelson, and Harry Sidhu Dominoes

By Chris Emami | 09/09/09

I have been contemplating the dominoes and what would be best for the Republican Party in terms of candidates running and where. The fact of the matter is the brutal attacks that occur in some of these primaries need to stop and by having less big fights in these races it would be good for the party. I have thus drawn out the following plan for what would be best for each of the above mentioned candidates and the Republican Party in... read more »

Duvall Resigns

By Chris Emami | 09/09/09

The Orange County Register reports that Assemblyman Mike Duvall has resigned in this story. The Register quotes Duvall's statement: "I am deeply saddened that my inappropriate comments have become a major distraction for my colleagues in the Assembly, who are working hard on the very serious problems facing our state. I have come to the conclusion that it would not be fair to my family, my constituents or to my friends on both sides of... read more »

Filling the Lieutenant Governor Vacancy

By Chris Emami | 09/08/09

In light of Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi’s victory in the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional district last Tuesday, speculation is rampant as to who Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will appoint to replace Garamendi, who is widely expected to win the November 3 runoff election.   If the Governor picks a current elected official, the appointment will set off a round of political dominoes in at least one region or... read more »

How a Riverside County Supervisor’s Resignation Could Affect Orange or San Diego County Politics

By Chris Emami | 08/27/09

I had written this post last night and learned this morning that Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson passed away last night.  My prayers are with the Wilson family. I am not familiar with his record, but I believe he was a highly respected public servant in Riverside County, as there was near universal praise of Wilson in the wake of his resignation on Friday.  Wilson had also recommended the selection of Senator John J. Benoit... read more »

Ted Kennedy Passes Away at 77

By Chris Emami | 08/26/09

Just two weeks after the passing of his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, US Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died of cancer at the age of 77.  The youngest Kennedy brother, he won a special election at the age of 30 in 1962 to fill the remainder of the term for the US Senate seat his brother, John, vacated when he became President. Regardless of what you feel about about the man's policies, he served for an... read more »

Roy Ashburn and Barbara Alby: Down and Out in BOE 2? Or Just Down?

By Chris Emami | 08/18/09

On Sunday, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported on a dual endorsement in the race for Board of Equalization District 2 (it's about half way down in the article I've linked). What's significant isn't the endorsement, but what the Riverside Press-Enterprise said about the race: "...Bill Leonard has represented the Board of Equalization's huge 2nd District since 2002. The GOP primary race to succeed him in 2010 has narrowed down to... read more »