Again, I question the value of newspaper endorsements, but the LAT has chosen for the first time in a very, very long time. And they “strongly endorsed” Barack Obama.
With two candidates so closely aligned on the issues, we look to their abilities and potential as leaders, and their record of action in service of their stated ideals. Clinton is an accomplished public servant whose election would provide familiarity and, most important, competence in the White House, when for seven years it has been lacking. But experience has value only if it is accompanied by courage and leads to judgment.
Nowhere was that judgment more needed than in 2003, when Congress was called upon to accept or reject the disastrous Iraq invasion. Clinton faced a test and failed, joining the stampede as Congress voted to authorize war. At last week’s debate and in previous such sessions, Clinton blamed Bush for abusing the authority she helped to give him, and she has made much of the fact that Obama was not yet in the Senate and didn’t face the same test. But Obama was in public life, saw the danger of the invasion and the consequences of occupation, and he said so. He was right.
Obama demonstrates as well that he is open-eyed about the terrorist threat posed to the nation, and would not shrink from military action where it is warranted. He does not oppose all wars, he has famously stated, but rather “dumb wars.” He also has the edge in economic policy, less because of particular planks in his platform than because of his understanding that some liberal orthodoxies developed during the last 40 years have been overtaken by history. He offers leadership on education, technology policy and environmental protection unfettered by the positions of previous administrations.
Go read the whole thing. It should be noted that, due to budget cuts, the LA Times Sunday Opinion section is kind of hidden. It’s in tabloid format and tacked on to half of the Book Review section. Because of the significance, it’s possible they will put it in a more prominent place.
UPDATE: Obama has left the state (for good, apparently) while Hillary continues to hold events here until Sunday, I believe. On Sunday Oprah Winfrey will come back out on the campaign trail, rallying in LA with Michelle Obama.
La Opinion is the major Spanish-language weekly daily in Los Angeles. And they’re talking about endorsing in the Democratic primary for the first time ever. Obama has done well in Spanish media (like El Cucuy), and there’s enough to suggest that this could be the direction they’re leaning in:
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s differing tones on immigration policy are said to be key to the editorial board’s decision, which I’d guess bodes well for Obama. Clinton has earned more support from the Latino political class, and Bill Clinton’s administration was known for promoting Latino leadership. But in recent weeks Obama has reached out to grassroots immigrants-rights organizations, speaking about his record of using progressive economic politics to bring Chicago’s African American and Latino communities together.
I honestly don’t know what newspaper endorsements really do anymore (and the Los Angeles Times is still out, so a split between the two is possible), but if Obama were to get the La Opinion endorsement, it could move enough votes in Latino-heavy Congressional districts in Southern California to have a legitimate impact, due to the peculiar math of the delegate selection process.
Of the remaining 370 delegates that will be allocated by voters, 241 will be divided among the state’s 53 congressional districts and allocated to candidates based on the vote they receive.
But not all congressional districts are equal. Some will have as few as three delegates, some as many as six. The number depends on how heavily Democrats have turned out in the past.
In one peculiarity of the process, a candidate who wins by a big margin in one district could end up with fewer delegates than a candidate who wins by a narrow margin in another.
For example, in a district with four delegates, a candidate who wins 62% of the vote would get two delegates — so would a candidate who wins 38% of the vote.
Obama could keep close and basically split those high-turnout districts (and I’m guessing that the heavily Latino districts are among them) and try for a majority and a win in the 3-delegate districts. They’re already thinking along those lines:
Mitchell Schwartz, California campaign director for Obama, said he has a map on his wall of the state’s 53 districts and has selected about 20 where he thinks the Illinois senator could pick up an extra delegate.
Schwartz said the campaign has “shifted resources in the field” to try to capitalize on the quirks in the rules. “It’s different from winner take all,” he said. “You can lose a state and still pick up a bunch of delegates.”
I’d love to see a list of delegates by district if anyone could dig that up.
UPDATE: OK, Bob was nice enough to respond to my bleg and dig up a delegate list. The LA Times article is a little off. There are only two districts with 3 delegates, CA-20 (Costa) and CA-47 (Loretta Sanchez). Thanks so much for being such stalwart Democrats and getting people out to vote, you wonderful Bush Dogs!
The target should really be those districts with 5 delegates, as well as playing for a draw in the 4-delegate districts. The heavily Latino SoCal districts run down this way:
CA-31 (Becerra): 4
CA-32 (Solis): 4
CA-34 (Roybal-Allard): 4
CA-38 (Napolitano): 4
CA-39 (Linda Sanchez): 4
Obama should be able to play for a draw there.
The 5-delegate seats are all over the map (a lot in the SF Valley, where I’m guessing Clinton could be strong; Harman and Laura Richardson’s seats in the South Bay; CA-50 and CA-53 in the San Diego area, Maxine Waters’ and Diane Watson’s seats in South LA; CA-23 and CA-24 in the Santa Barbara region; Sam Farr’s seat, CA-17, in Monterey; a smattering of seats in the Bay Area (Stark, Tauscher, Miller, Matsui, Honda), and even John Doolittle and Mike Thompson’s seats.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter and friend of Greg Pettis for Assembly.
According to Richard Oberhaus, Campaign Director for the Greg Pettis for 80th Assembly District Campaign, as of yesterday, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 440 has now endorsed Pettis in his race to replace Bonnie Garcia. IBEW Local 440 has long been active in Coachella Valley politics and Progressive Democratic circles.
Chuck McDaniel, a IBEW Local 440 leader and activist, is also a co-leader of the newly formed Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club, is a member of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee, and attended the recent Pettis Campaign for 80th AD website preview.
Garcia, aka Barfcia due to her various verbal indiscretions and embarrassments to the District, is currently termed out and, pending defeat of the proposed ballot initiative to extend term limits, cannot again run for re-election.
The good news for Proud Progressive Democrats is that the Coachella Valley is trending blue with recent wins by Steve Pougnet for Mayor of Palm Springs, by Rick Hutcheson in the Palm Springs City Council, by Karl Baker in the Desert Hot Springs City Council, by Greg Pettis in the Cathedral City City Council, by Craig Ewing in the Desert Water Agency, and No on C. Garcia barely won re-election in the last race against a little-known candidate, Steve Clute, who did not have the backing of all of the Democratic clubs because of his opposition to Marriage Equality.
In addition, Democrats now out-register Repugnants by 9% of the voters, i.e., 13,000 votes! The voter registration figures are also trending Democratic across the district from Desert Hot Springs, Palm Springs, and Cathedral City in the West Valley to Indio, Coachella, and even Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, and Palm Desert in Down Valley.
Pettis has a well-funded, well-oiled candidacy and has already outraised all of his competitors combined in FundRace 2008! In addition, Pettis already has endorsements from four of the local Democratic clubs, including the Pass Democratic Club, Desert Stonewall Democrats, Inland Stonewall Democrats, and San Diego Democratic Club.
Other labor organizations already endorsing Pettis include Building Trades of California, Cathedral City Professional Firefighters, and San Bernardino/Riverside Central Labor Council.
The following is a partial list of Steve Pougnet’s endorsments for Mayor of Palm Springs.
In its ringing endorsement of Pougnet, The Desert Sun stated:
“Steven Pougnet captured Palm Springs’ attention in 2003 when he was elected to City Council and through hard work and strategic thinking, he has held it ever since…
“…The lack of several strong, experienced competitors, or even another clearly prominent challenger, indicates voters tend to be comfortable with the leadership Pougnet has demonstrated on the council.
“We believe his best is yet to come, and we urge Palm Springs voters to elect Pougnet mayor and allow him to continue to revitalize Palm Springs and protect its quality of life.
“Pougnet’s challenges as mayor will be to continue to resolve downtown development issues and be innovative in planning for future development citywide.
“The Fashion Plaza will likely be one of the greatest issues facing the next mayor because it’s tied to so much of the city’s planned future growth. Palm Springs needs a mayor who has the type of experience Pougnet has in working with developer John Wessman. If development stalls, Pougnet also will need to be able to recognize when it’s time to consider other options. He has said he is willing set a deadline and is not afraid to mention eminent domain, though we are not sure that makes sense.
“No doubt he has the experience and leadership to face those challenges and more. Bottom line: He would make a great mayor.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter of Steve Pougnet for Mayor of Palm Springs City Council
More below the flip…
The following is a partial list of more of Steve Pougnet’s endorsments for Mayor of Palm Springs:
The Palm Springs Fire Safety Unit Local 3601
Palm Springs Police Officers’ Association
The Palm Springs Fire Management Association
Building Industry Association Desert Chapter
Desert Stonewall Democrats Democratic Club
Palm Springs Democrats Democratic Club
Riverside County Democratic Central Committee
The Victory Fund
Remember to either deliver your Vote By Mail to your local voting precinct on Election Day, November 6, 2007, or vote in person at your precinct (it is now too late to snail mail your ballot in order to have it arrive in time to be counted on Election Day).
Below is a partial listing of associations, business and community leaders who have endorsed Williams for City Council.
Palm Springs Police Officers Association
Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA), Desert Chapter
San Bernardino/Riverside County Central Labor Council
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) /United Healthcare Workers West
Palm Springs Democratic Club
Desert Stonewall Democrats Democratic Club
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontboyz is a supporter of the John Williams for Palm Springs City Council Campaign.
More below the flip…
Below is a partial listing of associations, business and community leaders who have endorsed John Williams for City Council.
Sidney Williams, Chair Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board
Michael Stern, Chair Palm Springs Public Arts Commission
Robert Elsner, Chair Palm Springs Airport Commission
Barbara Barrett, Palm Springs Human Rights Commission
Sidney Craig, Palm Springs Human Rights Commission
Bill Scott, Palm Springs Planning Commission
Leo Cohen, Palm Springs Planning Commission
Doug Hudson, Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee
Lance O’Donnell, Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee
Christopher Sahlin, Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee
Ed Torres, President Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation
Lawrence Rael, Developer of Port Lawrence Project
Mike Hutchison, Owner Contempo Homes
Joy Meredith, President Mainstreet Downtown Merchants Association
Michael C. Green, President Palm Springs Hospitality Association
Aftab Dada, General Manager Hilton Palm Springs
Duane Rohrbaugh, General Manager Wyndham Hotel Palm Springs
Tim Ellis, General Manager Palm Mountain Resort & Spa
Dania Duke, General Manager Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs
Craig Blau, Owner Chase Hotel
Larry Pilcher, Owner Old Ranch Inn
Maurice Minno and Jim Moje, Owners of Hacienda Warm Sands
Matthew Lund and Doug Wylie, Owners of Warm Sands Villas
Ricardo Gomez, President of the Desert Gay Tourism Guild
Rick Erwin, Owner R&R Menswear
Aimee Lockwood, Owner Palm Springs General Store
Keith McCormick, Owner Palm Springs Exotic Car Auctions
Michael Estrada, Partner Falls Steakhouse and Matchbox Restaurant
Don Hill, Owner of Barber Don’s
William Robinson, Owner of Palm Canyon Insurance
Ian Danielski, Owner of Cafe 285
Wesley Cole, Owner of www.experiencegreen.com
Frank Tysen, Owner Casa Cody Hotel
April Hildner, Vice-chair of Tahquitz River Estates Neighborhood Organization
Catherine Marcy, Chair of Warm Sands Neighborhood Organization
Peter Moruzzi, Chair of Palm Springs Modern Committee
William Kopelk, Chair of Palm Springs Preservation Foundation
Claire Jordan-Grant, Community Activist
Jeanne Bourgeois, Community Activist
Carol and Mike Balasa, Co-chairs of PFLAG
Randy Roy, Owner Zephyr Real Estate
Andy Linsky, Windermere Real Estate
Sven Vennen, Windermere Real Estate
Ginny Foat, Palm Springs City Council Member
Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Council Member
Paul Marchand, Cathedral City Council Member
Just received this press release from the Greg Pettis for Assembly campaign. Pettis is Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City and is running for the CA 80th Assembly District. He announced endorsements from California’s top elected financial leaders this week, including Former State Controller Steve Westly, State Controller John Chiang, Board of Equalization member Judy Chu, and Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee Mark Leno.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a financial supporter to the Greg Pettis for Assembly campaign.
More below the flip…
The text of the press release is as follows:
“Democratic candidate for Assembly Greg Pettis announced the endorsements from California’s top elected financial leaders this week.
“Among Pettis’ newest endorsements include Former State Controller Steve Westly, current State Controller John Chiang, Board of Equalization member, Judy Chu, and Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Mark Leno.
“”Greg has a track record of making the tough choices to balance Cathedral City’s budget as well as creating thousands of new jobs to increase city revenues to pay for public services,” said Chiang.
“”With health care looming as such a big issue, Greg’s financial acumen will help our State Assembly put together a common sense plan for all Californians,” said Westly.
“”I am pleased to have this endorsement from theses well known financial leaders,” Pettis said. “They know my qualifications, and know I will hit the ground running in bringing the people of the 80th Assembly District progress on issues like affordable health care, good paying jobs and protecting our environment.”
Pettis has served on the City Council of Cathedral City for the last 13 years. During that time, Pettis has helped change the city into destination where 50,000 people work, shop and live their dreams.
In addition to Pettis’ duties on City Council, he has worked on a wide range of committees designed to improve the lives of Californians.
Pettis has dealt successfully with environmental issues from Salton Sea restoration to serving on the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Board to helping to negotiate the Multi Species Habitat Act which will guide future growth in the Coachella Valley in a more sustainable way.
Pettis has been working on transportation issues through the Riverside County Transportation Commission and the National League of Cities Transportation Policy Committee, working to come up with mass transit solutions that will help combat climate change.
Pettis was the first openly gay elected official in Riverside County, and he has worked to bridge the gap between communities and to provide leadership to other gay candidates who had the desire to serve in public office but needed encouragement and mentorship.
Pettis has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Azusa Pacific University and recently completed the Senior Executive Program in State and Municipal Government from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Pettis’ goals for a healthy California include:
(1) Creating a truly universal health care system in California that can be the model for the rest of the nation that has been mired in this debate for too long.
(2) Public eduction–For our state to continue to be one of the largest economic engines in the world, we need to educate kids who are ready to compete in the global economy. While California has made great strides in funding public education (mainly by popular ballot measures) we need to eliminate the achievement gap that is plaguing so many communities, especially in my district.
(3) Environmental protection–Simply put, the rest of the nation looks to California for leadership on this issue. I have the background working on land use, building codes and air and water quality issues to make it happen. It is my goal to have California meet the Kyoto standard of reducing carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.”
Pettis sees the primary issues as being universal health care, quality public education across the state, and reducing our carbon footprint.
“I have a long progressive record in office that is also been fiscally responsible,” said Pettis.
President Bush plans to play the part of the hero by visiting California, now ravaged by fire. But on this issue he’s the villain — it’s two years after Hurricane Katrina and the only progress he’s made is actually acknowledging that global warming exists. If we’re going to avoid tragedies like this in the future, we must take the long-term view. On this point, the science is clear: global warming has already led to increased wildfire activity in the U.S., and if we don’t dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the near future, the problem is going to get much worse.
More than ever, we need a president committed to making real and deep change in how we treat the planet.
“After 7 years of George Bush – the worst, most destructive environmental president in modern history – it is definitely time for change, and that change starts by electing John Edwards as President.”
Come around after the fold with me for Part II of my interview with Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Earth Action.
This week, I interviewed Brent Blackwelder, President of Friends of the Earth and FOE Action, via email about the FoE Action endorsement of John Edwards.
FOE Action provides political muscle on legislative battles in the U.S. for its sister organization, Friends of the Earth, which is part of a network of affiliates in over 70 nations around the world. On October 14, FOE Action became the first major environmental organization to endorse a candidate for president, and they endorsed John Edwards:
“Friends of the Earth Action enthusiastically endorses John Edwards for President,” said Brent Blackwelder, president of FOE Action.
FoE Action well understands that you cannot sit down at the table with the corporate polluters and their lobbyists, and then expect them to treat the planet right. As John Edwards has said, if you sit down at the table with them, they’ll eat your lunch. You’ve got to beat them:
Q: You have been President of Friends of the Earth and Friends of the Earth Action since 1994. In that time, you have witnessed the buying of the American government by corporate power and their lobbyists. How important is John Edwards’ willingness to take on these entrenched interests to you in making your endorsement?
A: This played a big part in our decision. John Edwards has taken a stand against the lobbyists and special interests that have so driven environmental policies in the Bush Administration. Only when candidates refuse to take money from the lobbyists for big oil and big coal can they pursue the kind of environmental polices that protect health and safety of our families. Of all the leading candidates running, we believe John Edwards has the greatest potential to stand up to corporate special interests in the White House.
We also talked about John Edwards’ plan to address global warming:
Q: At present, part of the costs of global warming are externalized on all of us. Does Edwards favor measures to auction polluter permits to, at least in part, ensure that part of the cost of global warming goes back to where it belongs – on the actual product?
A: Yes, polluter permits are an important component of Edwards’ plan. He would require polluters to pay for their global warming pollution, a portion of which will raise $10 billion a year for a New Energy Economy Fund to jumpstart clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies and create 1 million jobs.
Q: What is Edwards’ position on the annual taxpayer funded subsidies that currently exist for oil companies?
A: Edwards calls for eliminating $3 billion in annual government subsidies to oil companies. He even says he is “very open to the possibility of an excess profits tax” on oil companies. We feel this is a crucial first step in getting our country back on the right track with its energy policy.
I don’t know about you, but I agree with Brent Blackwelder and John Edwards about building new nuclear power plants: don’t do it! This is a clear distinction between John Edwards and the other two major candidates: Clinton and Obama:
Q. Senators Clinton and Obama have joined one of the top Republicans in the race, Senator McCain of Arizona, to sponsor the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007. The measure includes more than $3.6 billion in funding and loan guarantees for the planning and construction of nuclear plants using new reactor designs. Does FOE Action oppose the use of taxpayer money to subsidize the nuclear power industry? What is your position on this bill?
A. Friends of the Earth wholeheartedly opposes the construction and development of nuclear power in the United States. Edwards is on the same page, here. He believes nuclear power is too costly, too dangerous, and too vulnerable to attack by our nation’s enemies. New Hampshire, where FOE Action announced its endorsement of Edwards, has the unfortunate distinction of being home to the last-constructed nuclear power plant in the country, Seabrook Station nuclear power plant. The plant places great environmental and health risks on the areas around it, and if constructing a nuclear power was a bad idea 30 years ago, it’s an even worse idea now, particularly given the new realities we face in terms of national security. Nuclear power simply isn’t worth it’s risks, when accidents can have environmental implications that last for generations. And John Edwards is the only candidate to unambiguously say no to nuclear power.
And what about Coal to Liquid? I’m with Edwards and FoE Action on this.
Q: What is your position on Coal to Liquid technology? One Democratic presidential candidate cosponsored a bill to provide taxpayer subsidies for this technology. Edwards opposes CtL. What does using, let alone subsidizing, CtL really mean for our environment?
A: Liquid coal is a bad idea for our country and planet. It contributes twice the amount of carbon emissions to our atmosphere that petroleum does, consuming an inordinate amount of water per unit of fuel, and requiring the expansion of ecologically and socially disastrous mining practices. Unlike Clinton and Obama, Edwards is the only leading candidate to oppose coal-to-liquid technology.
That’s right: “Liquid coal is a bad idea for our country and planet.”
We need a green president now, if we are to survive:
Q: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a President that actually enforced the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and other environmental laws?
A: After 7 years of George Bush – the worst, most destructive environmental president in modern history – it is definitely time for change, and that change starts by electing John Edwards as President.
A final word from FoE Action President, Brent Blackwelder regarding what they and we can do to help elect a green president:
We plan to be especially active in New Hampshire, establishing an independent campaign and organization to carry the message about John Edwards’ global warming plan and his vision for a healthy environment. There is a powerful, untapped environmental constituency out there that is up for grabs in this country and we are here to lend our voice to push that constituency toward Edwards. We believe he has the right vision and record to tap that constituency.
In New Hampshire, there are a lot of Democratic primary voters who care deeply about the quality of their environment and cite it as a top concern when choosing a nominee for president. In particular, voters in the Granite State are looking for real action to combat global warming. We plan to spend the next 3 months letting these voters know that John Edwards is the candidate best qualified and most committed to help achieve this big and bold goal.
Please visit the FoE Action website to find out how you can get involved in our campaign to elect John Edwards as president: FoE Action (www.foeaction.org)
Help FoE Action to elect our first green president: John Edwards.
Friends of the Earth Action endorse John Edwards’ candidacy for President on October 14, 2007, in New Hampshire:
“I am extremely pleased to receive the endorsement of the Sierra Club. The endorsement was announced on Sunday, October 21st. The letter going to Sierra Club members states On Tuesday, November 6 Sierra Club strongly urges you to vote:
“John Williams for City Council!
“Being a successful hotelier himself, John understands what brings people to Palm Springs,” states Joan Taylor, Conservation Chair of Sierra Club. “Clearly, sprawling development on our scenic hillside backdrop is not good for tourism or our quality of life. John supports conservation of water and energy and clean air. With John on the City Council, the environment will have a friend at City Hall.”
“As a long time supporter of the environment and clean water and air, I respect the Sierra Club and the great work they have done to help California and the rest of the country maintain our planet. We all have to work together to curb global warming, and the Sierra Club is taking the lead.
“A Note To My Supporters: This week is your last chance to write a letter to The Desert Sun; Friday is the deadline. These letters are literally read by thousands of people. PLEASE write a letter to the Desert Sun on my behalf, if you have the time. Your support is greatly appreciated! Simple go to www.mydesert.com and click on “Get Published”, then click on “Letters to the Editor” and follow the instructions. It is really easy. Please remember there is a 250 word limit on your letter submissions.
Remember to Vote on November 6, 2007
Friends of John Williams for Palm Springs City Council,
P.O.Box 1611,
Palm Springs, CA 92263,
United States,
(760) 416-8848
Email: [email protected]
Previously, Williams was endorsed by the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club and the Palm Springs Democratic Club. In addition, he has received numerous other endorsements from community leaders, civic and business organizations, and political leaders in Palm Springs and in the Coachella Valley.
Democratic candidate for California 80th Assembly District, Greg Pettis, received the sole endorsement of the National group Democracy for America on October 15, 2007.
The organization, which was started by former Vermont Governor Howard Dean in 2004, is a grassroots network dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government.
“Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government-from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics.”
DFA Executive Director Thomas Hughes said:
“Greg Pettis has been building Cathedral City one block at a time. His sound financial management has led to thousands of new jobs and increased revenue for the city. His conscience has led to progressive solutions like a first-time homebuyer program, cleaning up Salton Sea and protecting open space for generations to come.
“We are confident he will continue this record of success in Sacramento to find solutions to improve California’s health care system and combat global warming.”
Pettis said he was thrilled to have DFA’s support.
“DFA is a group that not only supports fiscally responsible and socially progressive candidates, but they do so from the ground up. Like me, DFA believes you win elections one vote at a time, sharing your ideas and committing your neighbors to help. That’s been my record on the City Council and that’s how I’m going to win this election.”
DFA joins a long list of endorsements for Pettis including the California Building Trades Council, Riverside/San Bernardino Labor Council, Victory Fund, Riverside Mayor Ronald Loveridge, Palm Springs City Councilmember Ginny Foat, Cathedral City Councilmember Paul Marchand, El Centro City Councilmember Sedalia Sanders and former Coachella Mayor Juan DeLara.
Pettis is considered the Democratic frontrunner in the race to replace Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, who will be stepping down due to term limits. His status has been determined in that 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.
Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is an financial supporter of Pettis.
In a press release dated October 4, 2007, Greg Pettis announced that the Victory Fund has endorsed his campaign for the CA 80th Assembly District which is held by the termed-limited Bonnie Garcia, R-CA.
The Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender candidates and their political campaigns. The Victory Fund staff helps to recruit, screen and train qualified candidates and to assist them in raising the necessary funds required to run for political office.
Re full disclosure, BBBz is an enthusiastic supporter of the Pettis campaign for the CA 80th Assembly District.
More below the flip…
Pettis ran for and won a seat on the Cathedral City City Council in 1994. Since he was sworn in, Greg has helped build an economically vibrant community with strong neighborhoods with a long list of legislative accomplishments including:
(1) Creating a first-time home-buyer program
(2) Instituting the Safe Routes to School Program
(3) Working with the Police Department and social service agencies to combat methamphetamine addiction
(4) Completing the Cathedral City Library
(5) Bringing Big League Dreams to Cathedral City
(6) Revitalizing Cathedral City’s downtown
Pettis has served as the Executive Director of the Palm Springs Youth Center, President of Cathedral City Rotary Club , President of the Desert Business Association and boardmember of United Cerebral Palsy of the Desert and boardmember of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy.
Although The Victory Fund has not yet posted its endorsement of Greg Pettis on its website, they have endorsed Pettis as candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District. In 2006, 67 Victory Fund-endorsed candidates were elected to political office.
Chuck Wolfe, President and CEO of the Victory Fund said:
“Greg Pettis is a qualified and proven leader who has stood up against discrimination and for the rights of all people. We are proud to endorse him and look forward to his service in the California State Assembly.”
Pettis has also been endorsed by the predominantly gay San Diego Democratic Club and the California Building Trades Council and the San Bernardino and Riverside County Labor Council.
Pettis said:
“We’re building a strong base of support throughout California because my track record over many years is a good indicator that I’ll be able to help break the logjam in Sacramento on crucial issues like health care, economic development and protecting our environment.
“With the support of groups like The Victory Fund, I’ll be able to take my message for a healthy California to all corners of this district.”
