Cross posted from The Progressive Connection

Seems like it’s about time for Ellen Tauscher to check herself into Interfering Politician Rehab. You might have thought that after last year’s Steve Filson debacle in the CA-11 primary, she’d have gotten the message that Democratic voters are perfectly capable of choosing their own candidates. But nooooo, the woman is out of control.

With Guy Houston being termed out of his AD-15 seat, there are presently five Democrats vying to replace him:

• retired airline pilot Steve Filson
• electrician Steve Thomas
• retired entrepreneur Fred Klaske
• small businessman Davies Ononiwu and
• high school principal Chris Van Schaack

So you might look at this group and ask yourself, “Exactly what’s missing from the mix; what more do we need?” And the answer would be — why, it’s the Ellen Tauscher Seal of Approval™. Apparently, Filson has fallen out of favor; I’m guessing that Tauscher feels like he let her down in CA-11, rather than the more obvious alternative: that, just maybe, Democratic voters resent Tauscher’s interference in their elections.

So meet the new, sixth candidate in AD-15, Joan Buchanan. A 17-year member of the school board in San Ramon and generous contributor to Tauscher’s past campaigns, Buchanan appears poised to catapult to front-runner status based on her powerful political connections to Friends of Ellen and her prodigious fundraising potential. Sound eerily familiar?

What is Tauscher thinking? Isn’t there anybody who can stop her before she hurts someone? K-Fed? Anyone?

While most of the 2008 races are really going to be in the (poorly attended) June primary, at least one race will actually be a race in November.  The AD-15 seat has been held by Guy Houston since 2002.  The 2002 race was decided by less than ten points, when Houston beat a strong Dem candidate in Donna Gerber. 2008 is shaping up to a more Democratic year, so AD-15 should be a race to the finish.

The first Democratic candidate to announce is Fred Klaske, an environmental entrepeneur (remind you of anybody else??). His announcement press release is over the flip.

For Immediate Release Press Contact: Jim Ross
February 12, 2007 415-824-0582

Environmental Entrepreneur Fred Klaske Announces Intent To Run For 15th Assembly District Seat
Files necessary paperwork with State agencies for assembly bid.

San Ramon- Fred Klaske today filed the necessary paper work to run for the California State Assembly in the 15th District.

Klaske, a Democrat and an Environmental Entrepreneur said about his up-coming campaign “I am going to work tirelessly to represent the residents of the 15th Assembly District and California as we take on the very serious problems that face our state.” He went on to say; “My campaign will focus on the issues that directly affect each of us, I believe that we must focus on finding solutions to our most difficult problems, not on making excuses.”

Klaske has already taken significant steps toward building an effective campaign. His campaign has retained Jim Ross Political Consulting, the law firm of Remcho, Johansen & Purcell, and ML Associates to handle financial reporting.

Fred Klaske is the founder of a highly successful business focusing on the use of innovative, environmentally sustainable, technologies like solar electric power. Fred devotes time, expertise, personal resources and hands-on assistance to providing needy families with affordable and energy-efficient housing through Bay Area chapters of Habitat for Humanity and GRID Alternatives. He has been named a Coro Foundation Community Leader for his work with Habitat and renewable energy.

As the proud product of public K-12 education, he was able to work his way through Yale University, as a member of the United Auto Workers, and participated in UC Berkeley’s MBA program. Fred Klaske is the devoted husband of a cancer survivor who benefited personally from advanced, experimental treatment that would not be possible without government assistance.

The 15th Assembly District – currently represented by Guy Houston, R- San Ramon who must leave office due to term limits – sprawls across parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, and San Joaquin counties, including the communities of Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Walnut Creek, Brentwood, Oakley, Mountain House, Galt and Elk Grove.

More information about Fred and his campaign can be found at www.fredklaske.com.