Election Day

Apr 11, 2006

Today's the first significant election day in the 2006 cycle, with voters going to the polls in San Diego County for the 50th congressional district and in Orange County for the 35th senate district. In the race to replace disgraced Congressman Duke Cunningham, the biggest question is how close Democrat Francine Busby can get to the 50% threshold to outright win the GOP-leaning seat as the Republicans duke it out, so to speak.

Meanwhile, in the 35th, Diane Harkey will be hoping her personal investment of $470,000 pays off as she battles Tom Harman for the seat left vacant by John Campbell's elevation to congress.

AP reports "the race to fill a vacant state Senate seat in Orange County could turn on the issue of illegal immigration in the traditionally conservative 35th District, experts said Monday."

"The race may turn on the question of illegal immigration in a county where the co-founder of the civilian border patrol group known as the Minuteman Project got 25 percent of the vote in last year's congressional election. Republicans outnumber Democrats two-to-one in the district about 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

Both GOP candidates -- Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey and Assemblyman Tom Harman -- oppose a guest worker program, support a state border patrol and oppose tax-funded services for illegal immigrants.

But Harkey, 54, has painted Harman as soft on illegal immigrants in nearly two-dozen campaign mailers that she published with more than a half-million dollars of her own money."

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Monday in seven northern and central California counties, a move aimed at putting more resources into protecting the state’s waterlogged levy system."

"The governor’s declaration said that with more rain expected after the rainiest March on record, people and property are in "extreme peril." State water officials fear the heavy rain could weaken some levees to the point of failure. They took advantage of a weekend lull in the storms to patch some weak spots in the system but were still concerned."



"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will announce his support for a strategy to combat global warming that has drawn criticism from Republicans and business leaders, aides said Monday," report Janet Wilson and Marc Lifsher in the Times.

"The market-based approach would include controversial 'cap-and-trade' requirements mandating greenhouse gas producers who exceed certain tonnages of harmful emissions to buy credits from other companies that have lowered emissions."

"Schwarzenegger is expected to make the announcement, endorsing major components of his climate action team's plan, at a summit he has convened in San Francisco this afternoon bringing together economists, investors, business executives, environmentalists and lawmakers."

The Merc News' Edwin Garcia takes a look at the Democratric gubernataorial primary and finds "[Steve] Westly and [Phil] Angelides have so much in common -- starting with the fact that most voters don't know who they are -- that it may come down to which of the two self-made millionaires does the best job of redefining the other."

In other words, let's get ready to rumble!

"Both gubernatorial candidates have been campaigning for months -- on their 30-second television biographical bits, meeting and greeting folks in small cities, and sniping at each other in press releases. The tone has become progressively less civil as polls show that not only do most voters not know the candidates, but as many as six in 10 likely Democratic voters are undecided."

"'Neither has captured the public's imagination,' said veteran Democratic strategist Susan Estrich, a professor of law and politics at the University of Southern California."

"'We haven't even gotten to the heart of the Democratic primary yet,' said Kevin Spillane, a Republican consultant. 'There's going to be a lot of blood on the floor.'"

Meanwhile, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign has picked up a $44,600 donation from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg."

Dan Walters takes a look at the plans of the three major candidates for governor to fix the state's chronic budget deficit, and isn't impressed. "All three candidates are multimillionaires who were very successful businessmen before running for office. We shouldn't allow them to feed us more voodoo economics."

Dan Weintraub reviews the education spending proposals of the gubernatorial candidates.

From our If at First You Don't Succeed Files, "a committee of Orange County Republican leaders voted Monday to give Sheriff Michael S. Carona one more chance to win the party's endorsement," reports Jean Pasco in the Times.

"Carona barely missed being endorsed by the local GOP last month after his reelection was opposed by several party members. They argued in favor of sheriff's Lt. Bill Hunt, a rival candidate endorsed by the county deputies union."

If you thought our gubernatorial candidates lacked a pulse, check out the mayor's race in New Orleans. "Ernie K-Doe has some big hurdles to overcome to win his bid for mayor of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans: he lacks the political experience and financial clout of many of his rivals.

He's also been dead for almost five years.

"He's the only one qualified -- that's my opinion," [his widow] Antoinette K-Doe said on Saturday at a rally outside the Mother-in-Law Lounge, the nightclub that bears the name of K-Doe's biggest hit song.


Where the Candidates Are

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will unveil his plan to combat global warming in San Francisco at the Climate Action Summit. 2 p.m., San Francisco City Hall

Phil Angelides and Steve Westly have nothing public scheduled.