Chris Emami

Audra Strickland Pulls Off Minor Coup in Secretary of State Race

By Chris Emami | 08/13/09

I was browsing through the campaign finance reports at some of the statewide races and was shocked to see that Republican Assemblywoman Audra Strickland had outraised incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Debra Bowen in the race for Secretary of State.  While the amount the two of them raised would be paltry in an Assembly race (and in some counties' Supervisor races), it is definitely interesting to... read more »

Orange County Clerk-Recorder Update

By Chris Emami | 08/12/09

I have also taken the time to look at the Orange County Clerk-Recorder race, and this thing looks like it is over before it has even started. The numbers don't lie, and they are very one-sided:   Norby Clerk Norby Supe Nguyen Contributions* 79,100 -1,550 4,390 ... read more »

Board of Supervisors - 4th District Update

By Chris Emami | 08/12/09

I have seen a number of posts on this but wanted to give my take on this race. In order to provide full disclosure, I was the contact person for one of Harry Sidhu's fundraisers, however at this time I am not a consultant or any other part of his campaign team. The key to this race is going to be the money, and there have been many posts on the topic, but none have done a clear comparison between all the candidates, so I have done... read more »

George Runner Looking Strong in His Race for Board of Equalization

By Chris Emami | 08/12/09

This press release came to me a few days ago and I had a chance to analyze it today and can honestly say that George Runner looks like he is off to an early lead: Runner Raises Most/Spends Least in BOE Race SACRAMENTO—Senator and Taxpayer Advocate George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) ended the first financial disclosure period of 2009 reporting $250,872 cash on hand for his Board of Equalization campaign. In addition to a $55,365 cash on... read more »

Sheriff McGinness Retires - Legislative Race in the Works?

By Chris Emami | 08/04/09

Sacramento Sheriff John McGinness announced today that he would not seek a second term as sheriff in 2010.  Elk Grove Councilman and Sheriff's Captain Jim Cooper quickly announced thereafter that he would seek to succeed McGinness. The Sheriff's retirement announcement will surely fuel the rumors that McGinness will seek a seat in the Legislature in spite of recent rumors to the contrary. McGinness lives in the Fifth... read more »

Why Letting Prisoners Out Is A Bad Idea

By Chris Emami | 07/31/09

I just got this in an e-mail from a friend: California’s Willie Horton? Charlie Samuel: Petty Thief or Murderer?   The shocking daylight carjacking murder of teenager Lily Burk has appalled millions of Californians and frightened parents in communities throughout the state.  Inevitably, as the profile of the alleged murderer, Charlie Samuel, is revealed, California’s state and local law enforcement will be asked,... read more »

California Taxpayers' Association Backs Jerome Horton Appointment to BOE

By Chris Emami | 07/28/09

The morning after Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed moderate former Assemblyman Jerome Horton to the very liberal District 4 seat on the Board of Equalization (which I blogged about here), the California Taxpayers' Association sent a letter to the Governor praising the appointment. The California Taxpayers' Association cited Horton's his years of BOE staff experience (except for his six years in the Assembly, he spent his... read more »

Assembly Passes Budget to Governor's Desk

By Chris Emami | 07/24/09

This afternoon, the Assembly has passed most of the budget bills that the Senate passed last night/this morning, except for the local gas tax taking and the oil drilling provisions. Now it's up to the Governor to determine the fate of the rest of this budget. read more »

CTA's Incompetence Knows No Bounds

By Chris Emami | 07/24/09

Even though the budget passed the Senate early this morning and is in the Assembly, my friends in the Senate indicate that they're receiving numerous phone calls from CTA requesting pro-CTA votes on the budget.  They should be calling the Assembly not the Senate.  Idiots! read more »

Senate Passes Budget; Now Assembly to Take Action

By Chris Emami | 07/24/09

I was awaken by a text message from the Capitol.  Apparently, the Senate has passed most of the budget deal, which now goes to the Assembly.  Now, back to bed... read more »