This is information from the homepage of Rick Hutcheson for Palm Springs City Council. (Full disclosure, the Desert Stonewall Democrats, of which I am a member, has endorsed Hutcheson for Palm Springs City Coucil, and I have also contributed financially to his campaign.)

Palm Springs, CA, September 28, 2007 – A majority of members of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement Committee (ONIC) have endorsed City Council Candidate Rick Hutcheson — more than are supporting any other City Council candidate.

“I appreciate this broad support from my colleagues on the neighborhood board very much, since it confirms my commitment to addressing public safety and quality of life concerns at the neighborhood level,” said Hutcheson . “Improving public safety is one of our top priorities, and organized neighborhoods can help in crucial ways, including crime prevention and emergency preparedness.”

According Jim Lundin, Treasurer of ONIC, “Rick really understands our neighborhood issues. He has a deep understanding of how crime affects our neighborhoods and has creative solutions to make us safer,” Lundin, who also serves as Chair of the Deepwell Estates Neighborhood Organization, added: “Rick’s political and business background will make him a strong leader on City Council, and his dedication to Palm Springs will serve us well. Just elect him!”

David Carden, Jr., Chair of the Baristo Neighborhood Organization, is another ONIC member supporting Hutcheson. “Palm Springs needs a Council Member who is fair, thorough in his research and always listens to all sides,” said Carden. “Rick is a team player. He is not afraid of the tough decisions. Rick Hutcheson has those qualities and his enthusiasm for helping turn our city around makes him a top choice for City Council in November!”

Nick Chicola, Vice President of the Deepwell Estates Neighborhood Organization, is also supporting Hutcheson . “Anyone who has had the opportunity to observe Rick’s very active participation on the ONIC will agree that his broad experience in government, corporate and small business environments is reflected in his well-thought contributions to the team,” Chicola added. “Rick has the interpersonal skills it will take to build an effective new City Council, and is a ‘must have’ on our next City Council.”

Doug Wylie is a City of Palm Springs Conservation Resource Commissioner and owner of Warm Sands Villas , in addition to serving on ONIC. “I’m very impressed with Rick’s dedication and involvement with our city, especially through his work on the Planning Commission, the neighborhood organizations, and as a business owner. His business, like mine, is dependent on a strong tourism industry, which he is knows as well as anyone,” said Wylie.

ONIC was established in 2005 to help residents form neighborhood organizations throughout Palm Springs, to improve communication between citizens and City government, and to facilitate programs and projects of benefit to neighborhoods and the city. Representatives from each of the City’s recognized neighborhoods make up the Committee.

While ONIC as a body is not making specific endorsements, its members are free announce their individual support of candidates, and ONIC is sponsoring a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. on October 8, at the Mizell Senior Center. City Council candidates serving on ONIC include Hutcheson , Bob Mahlowitz , Roxann Ploss and John Williams .

“Everyone benefits when neighborhoods are organized, active and involved with City Hall,” Hutcheson added. “Good communication brings a quicker response to neighborhood concerns. Just as important, these organizations are a wonderful way to build friendships with one’s neighbors.” He serves on the Founding Board of his own neighborhood organization, as well as Treasurer.

Hutcheson has been endorsed by ONIC members April Hildner, who serves as Vice Chair, Catherine Marcy, David Carden, Dean Carlson, Doug Wylie, Gene Dippel, Jim Lundin, Nick Chicola, Paul Crippan, Paula Auburn, Ron Siegel, Sheila Cobrin and Sven Holm.

Rick Hutcheson is a Palm Springs planning commissioner and co-owner of Vacation Palm Springs and Greater Palm Springs Realty.

This is an email forward that I just received from the Steve Pougnet for Mayor Campaign.  (Full disclosure, the Desert Stonewall Democrats, of which I am a member, has endorsed Pougnet for Mayor of Palm Springs.

Palm Springs — In a united show of support, the City’s police and fire organizations have overwhelmingly voted to endorse Steve Pougnet for Mayor.

“One of Steve’s top priorities as Mayor will be fighting and reducing crime in our eighborhoods. As a member of the City Council he has been a stalwart supporter of law enforcement. The officers of the Palm Springs Police Department strongly endorse Steve Pougnet for Mayor,” said Troy Castillo, President of the Palm Springs Police Officers’ Association.

“Steve Pougnet is a visionary leader who has shown great courage to make the tough decisions and to tell the people the truth. The Palm Springs Fire Safety Unit Local 3601 is proud to endorse Steve for Mayor,” said Jason Loya, President of Palm Springs Fire Safety Unit
Local 3601.

“To be a truly great city, Palm Springs must keep its neighborhoods, streets and schools safe. The people of Palm Springs deserve a Mayor
who will fight to see that our police and fire departments have the resources to do the job,” said Pougnet.

September 27, 2007 – Palm Springs Village Fest

Bob Mahlowitz showed at last night’s Village Fest in Palm Springs to hand out fliers to the crowd and to meet-and-greet.  Bob was quite personable and responded favorably when I teased him about being a closeted Heterosexual (thanks for the laugh earlier this week, Beth!).

More below the flip including an informal Drinking Liberally meet.
 

The Democrats were well represented with Desert Stonewall Democrats staffing one table thanks to Bob, Randy and Dean and Democrats of the Desert staffing another thanks to Eleanor.

We also had representation from the Sen. John Edwards campaign, the consensus winner of the Democratic Candidates Forum and so-called debate at Dartmouth College last night (represented by yours truly), from the fab Sen. Hillary Clinton campaign, from the also fab Sen. Barack Obama campaign, and from Re-elect Al Gor people (petitions to circulate shortly for inclusion of Al Gore on the 2008 California Democratic Primary ballot.  Jono represented the No-on-C measure.  Several new faces staffed the tables including Charlotte Murphy, M.D. for Obama (we traded war stories on insurance reimbursement nightmares).

The Repugnant women were out in force from the convention in Palm Springs.  Little do they know that Palm Springs is 40% Democratic and with the reliable Decline to State voters far outnumber the humbled Repugnants in God’s Country.  Only one or two Repugnant women were friendly (i.e., no snears, gestures, or vitriolic verbiage.  One was from NoCal and the Sacramento Valley who apparently likes former Sen. John Edwards and will vote for him should he gain the nomination (Consensus is also that if John Edwards wins the nomination, the Repugnants are sunk…this from anonymous Obama and Gore supporters)!

Observed lots of interest in campaign buttons and fliers and bumper stickers, more so than even the previous week!  Vast crowds of people milled through Palm Canyon as a sign of the upcoming peak season in Palm Springs.  Many new registered voters once again (I did not count the number of newly registered voters this time).

We had another impromptu unofficial Drinking Liberally party at Bongo Johnny’s (thanks to the generous two-for-one drink tickets from one of the owners and the boys-in-tow) with Randy, one of the Hillary people, Bob S., Tracy (Vets for Peace, etc.), one of the Gore people, and myself, teatotalers all.  Yeah, if you believe that, I gotcha.  Dean stopped by to grace the soire but buzzed off to Hunter’s…..

Terrific news for the CA 80th Assembly District.  Voter registration figures, donations, numbers of volunteers, good issues, and an expectation to win will combine to help us say ‘Adios, Gonnie Barcia (who is termed out), and the Repugnants (who are freaked out) at last!’

Voting and voter registration figures have long been trending Democratic in the Coachella Valley.  As indicated in my earlier post, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and Coachella all gave John Kerry/John Edwards ticket majorities in 2004.  Given the mood of the electorate, it is clearly expected that these five cities, and probably more, will give the Democratic nominee a majority vote in 2008 as well.

Details below the flip…

Regarding voter registration, as of 2007, Palm Springs, now has the following voter registration figures:

• Democrats  10,406    44%
• Repugnants  8,507  36%
• Other  853  4%
• Decline to State  3,651  16%
• Total  23,417  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  60%

In addition, Cathedral City, now has the following 2007 voter registration figures:

• Democrats  6,788  38%
• Repugnants  8,049  45%
• Other  549  3%
• Decline to State  2,467  14%
• Total  17,853  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  52%

Meanwhile, Desert Hot Springs, has the following 2007 voter registration:

• Democrats  2,266  33%
• Repugnants  3,332  49%
• Other  290  4%
• Decline to State  978   14%
• Total  6,866  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  47%

Indio, has the following 2007 voter registration figures:

• Democrats  9,773  45%
• Repugnants  8,654  40%
• Other  623  3%
• Decline to State  2,724  3%
• Total  21,779  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  48%

And, finally, Coachella, has the following 2007 voter registration:

• Democrats  4,907  64%
• Repugnants  1,864  24%
• Other  147  2%
• Decline to State  709   9%
• Total  7,619  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  73%

Regarding the less Democratic cities, Rancho Mirage, has the following 2007 voter registration:

• Democrats  3,005  31%
• Repugnants  5,018  52%
• Other  261  3%
• Decline to State  1,435   15%
• Total  9,719  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  46%

La Quinta, has the following 2007 voter registration:

• Democrats  4,522  28%
• Repugnants  8,847  55%
• Other  500  3%
• Decline to State  2,164   13%
• Total  9,719  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  41%

Palm Desert, has the following 2007 voter registration:

• Democrats  6,975  30%
• Repugnants  12,104  53%
• Other  781  3%
• Decline to State  3,172   14%
• Total  9,719  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  44%

Indian Wells, has the following 2007 voter registration:

• Democrats  549  18%
• Repugnants  2,018  67%
• Other  86  3%
• Decline to State  348   12%
• Total  9,719  100%
• Total Democrats & Decline2State  30%

I have added the Democratic and the Decline to State percentages together as most Decline2Staters are presently voting Democratic and the trend is sure to continue as long as the Repugnants continue their petulance.

Information on donations, volunteers, issues, and expectations that will contribute to victory in the CA 80th Assembly Distict in November 2008 to follow.

The following is based on a news release that I received from the Greg Pettis campaign for the 80th AD.

The San Bernardino, Riverside Building Trade Council of the State Building & Construction Trades Council endorses Greg Pettis’ bid for the 80th Assembly District.

For Immediate Release:  September 24, 2007

For More Information:  Richard Oberhaus
  760-413-7938

PETTIS ENDORSED BY BUILDING TRADES

The San Bernardino, Riverside Building Trade Council, the local
  affiliate of the State Building & Construction Trades Council, represents 32 locals and over 11,000 workers
  throughout the Inland Empire and they are joined by the 198 locals
  across California with over 350,000 workers supporting Greg Pettis.

“We are pleased to support Greg Pettis for Assembly,” said Bill
  Perez, Secretary-Treasurer of the San Bernardino, Riverside Building Trade Council. “His 13-year record in Cathedral City demonstrates his
  commitment to working families.”

The local Building Trade Council joins the Riverside/San Bernardino Labor
  Council, Riverside Mayor Ronald Loveridge, Palm Springs City
  Councilmember Ginny Foat, Desert Hot Springs Mayor Alex Bias, Cathedral City
  Councilmember Paul Marchand, El Centro City Councilmember Sedalia Sanders and
  former Coachella Mayor Juan DeLara in supporting Pettis .

Pettis is considered the Democratic frontrunner in the race to replace
  Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, who will be stepping down due to term
  limits. He has raised more money and has more donors than all the other
  Democratic candidates combined based on the last filings with
  California’s Secretary of State.

He has a long list of accomplishments including making homes more
  affordable for first-time homebuyers, creating safer routes to school for
  children, negotiating the Multi-Species Habitat Program and standing up
  to Wal-Mart’s unfair labor practices.

The Coachella Valley has several local Democratic Clubs that are actively turning the Coachella Valley Blue.  More specifically, the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee lists six Coachella Valley Democratic clubs including the Democrats of the Desert, the Desert Stonewall Democrats, the Democrats in Sun City, the Palm Desert Greens Democratic Club, the Democratic Women of the Desert, and the Palm Springs Democratic Club.  In addition, the seventh club is the Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club.

Here is the contact information for each of the six Democratic Clubs in the Coachella Valley:

Democrats in Sun City
Contact: Arnie Kaminsky, President
Phone: (760) 200-5326
E-mail: [email protected]

Desert Stonewall Democrats
Contact: George Zander, Chair
Phone: (760) 320-5787
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Desert Stonewall Democrats

National Stonewall Democrats Mission
Pride in Our Country, Pride in Our Family, Pride in Our Party

Desert Stonewall Democrats Montly Meetings:
The second SATURDAY of each month
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
@ the Desert Pride Center
611 South Palm Canyon
Palm Springs
760-327-2313

Palm Desert Greens Democratic Club
Contact: Charlie Ara, President
Phone: (760) 341-4301
E-mail: [email protected]

Democratic Women of the Desert
Contact: Marlene Levine, Membership Chair
Phone: (760) 777-7440
E-mail: [email protected]

Democrats of the Desert
Contact: Elle Kurpiewski, President
Phone: (760) 328-9425
Fax: (760) 322-4785
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Democrats of the Desert

Democrats of the Desert Mission:
To advance Democratic values and to work to elect Democratic candidates at all levels of government.

Democrats of the Desert Monthly Meetings
the 3rd SATURDAY of each month
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
@ the Cathedral City Senior Center,
68-727 East Palm Canyon Drive,
Cathedral City

Palm Springs Democratic Club
Contacts: Bob Thomas, Lisa Arbelaez
Phone: (760) 409-5871
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: Palm Springs Democratic Club

Palm Springs Democratic Club Mission:
*To grow the number of Democratic registered voters in Palm Springs and to increase the number of Permanent Vote by Mail (PVBM) registered voters.
*To maximize turnout of Democratic registered voters in all elections and primaries: municipal, state and federal.
*To elect Democratic candidates.

Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club
Contacts: Will Pieper, Chuck McDaniel
Phones: 760-808-5986, 951-453-0250

Desert Hot Springs Democrats Meetings:
the 4th SATURDAY of each month
11:00 a.m.
@ Shilla Resort Hotel (formerly La Toscana Resort Hotel)
11032 Palm Drive
Desert Hot Springs
@ the Paradise Grill Restaurant

Please be gentle as this is my first post on Calitics.com.

Beth Caskie, a member of the Democrats of the Desert and a diarist on Calitics.com, with the assistance of George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democrats organized a fascinating meeting re blogging in the Coachella Valley.  Well-attended, this meeting raised awareness of the importance of blogging in turning the Coachella Valley blue.

Recent history shows that the Coachella Valley is already well on the way to becoming Blue Coachella Valley.  Zander noted that the Coachella Valley is already blue on both ends with five cities giving John Kerry their majority vote in 2004 (Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, and Cathedral City in the West Valley and Indio and Coachella in the East).

Greg Pettis reports that in 1995, Ron Oden was elected to the Palm Springs City Council as its sole Democrat.  Simultaneously, Pettis was voted to the Cathedral City City Council as its lone Democrat.  In 2003, Oden became the first African-American and first openly-gay mayor of Palm Springs.  Simultaneously, Ginny Foat and Steve Pougnet each won City Council seats as Democrats, giving the Palm Springs City Council three Democrats on the five member council!!!  Likewise, in 2004, Cathedral City elected a majority of Democrats including Pettis and Paul Marchand to its City Council.

In 2005, Foat was by far the biggest vote getter in the Palm Springs council race for a complete term and John Williams just barely lost to the Republican incumbent after a last-minute yellow journalistic assault by the local so-called newspaper (aka the Desert Scum).

For your information, in 2007, Pougnet is running to succeed Oden as mayor of Palm Springs when Oden elected to not run for re-election.  Pougnet is highly favored to become the second consecutive openly gay Democrat mayor in Palm Springs.

In addition, Rick Hutcheson, Planning Commission member, has received the endorsement of all three Palm Springs Democratic clubs including Democrats of the Desert, Desert Stonewall Democrats, and Palm Springs Democrats.  In turn, Williams has received endorsements from Desert Stonewall Democrats and Palm Springs Democrats.  On the downside, rather than endorse Williams, the Democrats of the Desert endorsed Bob Mahlowitz.  According to some this action resulted in the recent decision of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee to withhold formal endorsements for any Democrats in the Palm Springs City Council race.  However, with 40% of the Palm Springs electorate identified as members of the GLBT community, with the increasing Latino voter registration, and with Democrats far outdistancing Republicans in voter registrations in the past few years, Palm Springs is poised to have four Democrats on City Council!

Cathedral City with its two Democratic City Councilmen, Pettis and Marchand, means that Cat City will shortly follow Palm Springs into the Blue Coachella Valley.  Also, prior to his unexpected death, Gary Bosworth was the biggest vote-getter in the Desert Hot Springs city council race in 2005.  Desert Hot Springs Democrats hope to regain this seat during the current election cycle.  Residents of both Indio and Coachella in ‘Down Valley’ regularly elect progressive Democrats for mayor and city council.

So, the idea of a Blue Coachella Valley is no longer a fanciful dream, but should with the ongoing presence of strong local Democratic clubs and demonstrated Democratic unity become reality!

Thanks to soyinkafan for helping me to learn how to incorporate hypertext links into my text.  You obviously have great kharma!