Last night Michael Wray, Democratic candidate in CA-50, came out to introduce himself to the Rancho North Coast Democratic Club. This was his first “official” foray as a candidate into the Busby-Bilbray battleground district, and the response he got from the crowd was enthusiastic. Attendance was much higher than usual for the club, packing the room with veteran Democrats and Busby volunteers from campaigns past- a crowd that definitely knows the district inside and out. They kept him on his toes all night, asking questions about his personal story, Iraq, health care, Bilbray's record, immigration and disloyal democrats. Eventually he was called back up by popular demand to field more questions as the club members really got into it with him. On the flip, my clumsy recounting of what he delivered much better.

(As mentioned further down, I haven't yet had the chance to see the other Democratic candidates in person, but when I do, I'll recap them as well)

He started out by introducing himself and how he arrived at this point. He discussed his service in the navy and ensuing experience working on alternative energy fusion programs that were ultimately cut by the government and how rewarding it was for him to work on something that could change the world. He spoke about getting deeply involved in the Dean campaign, traveling to Iowa to walk and freeze leading up to the 2004 caucus and about how he was in the room for the “Scream” speech. He explained that his experience with Howard Dean led him to be a founding member of the Black Mountain Democratic Club. Finally, he talked about searching for people who can inspire hope, and realizing at some point that you are the person you've been waiting for. You have to be the one to stand up and fight for what's right.

 He discussed Brian Bilbray's vulnerability and the unfortunate overinfluence of beltway folks in Busby's campaign last year. He suggested that Bilbray's big issue was immigration, and that going after him on immigration would nullify the issue and level the playing field. Clear that issue off the table and we have an opportunity to talk about clean water, universal health care (he likes single payer, for children at minimum), Iraq, and seeking out constructive, peaceful solutions in general.

The next question asked point blank how he would have voted on Iraq funding, and he said flat out that he would not have voted to fund the war. He spoke about the U.S.'s responsibility to engage in nation-building if we'll be in the business of nation-destruction, and lamented that too much of recent foreign policy has been predicated on war being lucrative. He also encouraged more veterans to speak out for peace and against the idea of Republicans as the party that supports the troops.

After a brief break for club business and general technical malfunctions, Wray was brought back up to field more questions. He was asked about his relative youth and whether that would be an issue in the campaign which he didn't see as a concern. He spoke about poverty, health care and similar issues as being moral, not political questions. He said that there are times when serving in Congress that you have to vote for what's right even if it may mean that you lose re-election, because if you don't do what's right, then you shouldn't be there anyways.

There was concern voiced from the audience about electing Democrats who are only marginally better than Republicans, which gave Wray an opportunity to talk about his support for publicly financed elections (noting their success in Arizona), and also speak eloquently about the capacity of the grassroots to influence their representatives. A lot of pressure can be brought to bear by an active and committed group of activists, and he squarely put himself in the bottom-up change camp to fight against the entrenched interests that often undermine progressivism.

*breath*

All-in-all a very well received introduction to a very savvy, very angry, and very ready-to-be-mobilized group of Democratic activists. My very unscientific sampling of crowd reactions found that people were very impressed by him. I haven't yet seen the other two Democratic candidates in person (Nick Liebham and John Lee Evans), but all three will be appearing next week at another local club and hopefully I'll be able to start drawing some distinctions between the contenders in the 50th. Brian Bilbray is very bad news and while it's an uphill fight, it's one that we can and will win.

Here in San Diego over the next several weeks, dozens of candidates for 2008 will be introducing themselves to voters.  In the 50th congressional district, all three democratic candidates (John Lee Evans, Nick Leibham, Michael Wray) will be appearing together at the Black Mountain Dem Club on 21 June.  So I started doing some background research and came up with this OpEd from John Lee Evans written April 20 which opens by asking “[w]here are all of these illegals?”  And it only gets worse.

John Lee Evans, it would seem, equates any brown-skinned person speaking spanish with “illegals:”

I had a new spa delivered to my house by a reputable local company. Setting it into the right spot was backbreaking work. None of the workers spoke English.

A licensed painting contractor sent over painters. They said they were from a Latin American country.

A middle-aged man who meticulously dried off my car at the car wash practically kissed my feet when I gave him a small tip. He was probably a descendant of the Mayas.

I drove behind a battered old car belting out exhaust on Interstate 5. I wondered if it was insured.

I walked into a hospital and there were women on the night shift mopping the floors as they spoke to each other in Spanish.

Then I went to a restaurant with the kitchen in full view. The hardworking staff all appeared to be Hispanic and they were speaking Spanish.

As a patron of all these businesses, how am I to know whether they are in this country legally or not? They may all be legal, but I doubt it.

Apparently, Dr. Evans is singularly able to judge a book by its cover.  I wonder whether, if he overheard me speaking French, he would start getting nervous about all the illegal immigrants from Quebec.  I wonder whether he presumes that any enthusiastic member of the service industry is reflecting a lack of citizenship.  But mostly, I wonder how it is that he manages to, essentially, declare an entire race to be illegal.

Dr. Evans takes Brian Bilbray to task for encouraging a climate of racial fear and overexaggerating the dangers of illegal immigration.  On these points he is correct; Bilbray has done those things and it has been ridiculous.  But Dr. Evans doesn’t actually have a different perspective on the issue.  Rather, he takes Bilbray to task over a matter of degrees.  He rightly points out that illegal latino immigrants aren’t terrorists, but that doesn’t address the crux of anti-immigrant fear mongers whose point is that if it’s so easy to get across the border, then terrorists can do it also.  Instead, all he manages to do is reinforce the notion that, while they may not be terrorists, all latinos should be eyed warily.

Dr. Evans prevails on Bilbray to address the issue of immigration in a “calm and rational manner,” without scapegoating.  But by dehumanizing an entire race and culture, Dr. Evans does no favors to those of us who oppose Brian Bilbray’s fear campaign.  As Democrats, or simply as people, no person can be considered illegal.  No language or skin color or country of origin or level of car maintenance can determine a person’s worth or legitimately bring suspicion on their right to live and work in this country.  To suggest otherwise is entirely unacceptable and, at the very least, John Lee Evans has a lot of explaining to do if he expects to be a Democratic nominee for Congress.

SoCal grocery workers have set a June 21 deadline for contract negotiations. They can always use more support.

The California Supreme Court has ruled that cities and counties DO have the right to ban big-box stores such as Wal Mart superstores.  Yet another step towards San Diego getting the ban finalized.

Drought related disaster has been declared in 23 California counties by the Dept. of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration, making low-interest loans available to recoup damages.  It’s something.

Tonight I’m feeling indie and reflective, so let’s just run with it shall we?  Minus The Bear – Pachuca Sunrise

“Is it possible to put this night to tune, and move it to you?”

Next year, half of San Diego’s eight city council members will be termed out, leaving open seats across town after what has been a tumultuous several years of city government.  Bribery, pension crises, “strong mayor” government, death, shady fundraising, service cuts, union strife, budget shortfalls and oh yeah- a city to run.  As the city council and the mayor continue to battle over just how much power a “strong mayor” should have, the shape of the city council is about to change in a major way.  The ramifications could dictate the fundamental course of San Diego government for quite some time.

Mayor Sanders was elected into office on a platform which called for much more power to be given to the mayor and, by extention, removed from the city council.  In the wake of the City Council missing the pension crisis and the resignations of Acting Mayor Michael Zucchet and Councilman Ralph Inzunza because of federal corruption charges, this was perhaps a natural reaction the failures of the City Council.  But in a micro version of the Bush power grab, Mayor Sanders has done everything he can to give himself complete control over the city’s budget and operation.

The city council, until recently, has been generally willing to acquiesce on these power grabs, but has begun to show some life recently.  It’s fought back over pay raises for police and fire personnel and on cuts to civic services.  It’s a toe in the water, and hopefully the beginning of better progress.  So why is this important?  Well, San Diego is the second-largest city in California, and it’s on the verge of becoming effectively autocratic.  With half the city council coming open, this is the opportunity for San Diego to decide what direction it will send its government.  For those of us who would like checks, balances, and some form of representative government, the stakes are high.  We need a city council that will keep the Mayor in control and a city council that will get San Diego on track (it is most certainly NOT currently on track).

Earlier this week, Voice of San Diego ran a great roundup of the candidates declared or mulling runs for city council districts 1 (Scott Peters), 3 (Toni Atkins), 5 (Brian Maienschein), and 7 (Jim Madaffer).  These races have already added more candidates since Monday, and the first candidate forums will be coming up later in the month.  I strongly encourage San Diegans to check the candidates and keep an eye on this.  The stakes are high and there’s tremendous opportunity to have an impact in this election for both sides.  Make sure good government wins out.

Just to keep things exciting, it’s local brew night at your friendly neighborhood Open Thread.  The Calitics Event Calendar has been stocked with all sorts of delicious June activities, including the roll out of multiple San Diego candidates for office.  CA-50 candidate Michael Wray will rock the Rancho North County Dem Club next week, and then be part of a candidate’s forum on the 21st with fellow candidates John Lee Evans and Nick Leibham.

Candidate for AD 78 Marty Block kicks off his campaign on the 18th.  $100 a pop unless you can sweet talk Francine Busby :).

San Diego’s 3rd city council district will be open next year.  Dem clubs will be gathering on the 28th for an endorsement forum.  The district already has a crackpot conservative running who’s running against “special interest gays and lesbians” in the district known for its large gay and lesbian population.  Why not right?

Anyways. We’ll ice the “All San Diego All the Time” open thread with some local tunes.  Because it’s an election special, and because I’m going to the Air Conditioned Lounge tonight and Wesley once had a regular DJ gig there (maybe still does?), San Diego superstars: Bloody Hollies – Satanic Satellite

“You better start running… running… running… RUNNING”

UPDATE: Yup, he’s still there.

Back from Vegas with lighter pockets and ready to rock.  Turns out though that the real action is in California Indian Casinos which pulled in $25 billion last year and are growing faster than Las Vegas.  Sure, but are their prostitutes health screened?

Meanwhile, San Diego’s City Council got it right today, affirming their previous vote to ban big-box stores within the city.  Mayor Sanders is whining that it’s anti-business to ban things that are bad for business, but if the current 5-3 vote stands up, his veto is irrelevant.  Story comments are predictably ill-informed for the most part, but probably several are legitimate candidates for the U-T editorial staff.

And continuing on the “reality is whatever I tell you” road, Mayor Sanders is defending his cuts of city services by saying that funding cuts don’t mean service cuts.  He decided that firefighters didn’t deserve a cost of living raise because not enough of them were leaving, then boasted that, while opening several new branches of the library, he wasn’t reducing net hours.  Currently, the city has two fire hazard compliance officers.  I sure hope that there isn’t a really dry fire season or anything.

But anyways. I got my ticket today to see The National at the end of the month and I’m really quite delighted.  On that note (ah ha!), The National – Mistaken For Strangers

“surprise, surprise they wouldn’t wannna watch
another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults”