XPosted 4/6/2008 10:15 AM PDT on MyDesert.com

Yesterday, Democrats of the Desert had its annual awards banquet to honor Life-Time Achievement Awardee Sonja Marchand and Activist of the Year Rosalie Zwain at the Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Rancho Mirage.  Speakers included Stephanie Miller and Jim Ward, “Stars of Progressive Talk Radio” at AirAmerica.

Democratic officeholders in attendance included Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-tem of Cathedral City and Candidate for the 80th Assembly District, Paul Marchand, Cathedral City City Councilman, Pat Hammers, Cathedral City Clerk, Ron Oden, former-Mayor of Palm Springs, Rick Hutcheson, Palm Springs City Council, Shari Stewart, Board President, and Justin Blake Board Member of the Palm Springs Unified School District, and Rob Simmons, Palm Springs Airport Commission.

Attending Democratic candidates included Julie Bornstein, Candidate for the 45th Congressional District, Pettis, Candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District, Rick Gonzalez, Candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District, Paul Marchand, Candidate for Mayor of Cathedral City, Greg Rodriguez, Candidate for the Board of the Palm Springs Unified School District, and Kira Klatchko, former-candidate for the Palm Springs Unified School District.  Amalia Deaztlan, campaign manager for the Victor Manuel Perez for the 80th Assembly, also attended.  

Union activists in attendance that I recognized included Chuck McDaniel, IBEW Local 440, Juan Carlos Sanchez, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, and others.

Many Coachella Valley Democratic Party activists were also in attendance, including Elle Kurpiewski, Chair, Beth Caskie, Vice President Programs and reknowned blogger, and Carole Sumner Krechman, Vice President & Chair Fund Raising, Chris Escobedo, Vice President – Political Action, each of the Democrats of the Desert, Chuck McDaniel, Co-Chair of the Desert Hot Springs Democrats, George Zander, Chair and blogger, Bob Silverman, Treasurer, James Reynolds, Esq., Secretary of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, Desert Stonewall Democrats Steering Committee members Donald W. Grimm, Ph.D., Richard Oberhaus, and Simmons, Sandy Eldridge and David Pye, Co-Chairs of the Palm Springs Democratic Club, and Jackie Atwood, President, Betty McMillan, 1st Vice President, Robert Atwood, Treasurer, each of the Pass Democratic Club.

Sonja Marchand was accompanied by her husband, Robert, and her son, Paul.  She rendered a stirring speech about Democratic activism, the failures of the Bush Administration over the past seven years including the ‘massive mess in Mesopotamia,’ and the need for Democratic Party unity this coming November (sorry for mangling the alliteration, but that was what I could recall early this a.m.).

Of local mydesert.com readership interest, it seems that the identity of the people behind the Pettis files will soon be known.  The blogger and/or his financial backing had taken out advertisements in the media which require campaign finance reporting.  As a result, the identities should be known shortly.  The noose tightens and scandal is abrewing!

Well, it has come to this.  Local progressive Democratic activists have for years attempted to work with The Desert Sun, aka The Pro Bono Sun, and, more recently, mydesert.com, to have more accurate and fair reporting on local politics.  But, the Pro Bono Sun and mydesert.com has been oblivious to the changing demographics in the Coachella Valley and continues to inaccurately and unfairly represent local Democrats.

Case in point, the recent article which listed the four Democratic candidates for the CA 80th Assembly District that listed only three of the candidates and omitted the name of Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-tem of Cathdral City and Candidate for the 80th AD.  Inaccuracy at its worst, or prejudice at its best.

More below the flip…

Last week, the Pro Bono Sun and mydesert.com corrupted an article on the ineffectual representation of Rep. Mary Bono Baxely Mack (R-CA) in the 45th Congressional District.  The Gannett news empire, of which TDS is apparently a not-so-integral part, posted an amazing story about Mack ranking 309 out of 425 Congressmen and Congresswomen in the current Congress re power and legislative skill.  Scathing journalism, truth to power.  TDS however watered down the article, incorporating the two powerful U.S. Senators in CA, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), and reworded the title of the article and the text to mask Bono’s ineptitude.

Must be nice to be a friend of TDS (was that the picture of the TDS hierarchy at Mack’s wedding?  Talk about conflict of interest).

The Pro Bono Sun is oblivious to the fact that the Coachella Valley is changing and the progression is probably irreversible.  During Election 2004, Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Coachella, and Indio all voted a majority for Kerry/Edwards over Bush/Cheney.  In 2000, when the CA 80th Assembly District was formed, Republicans held an advantage over Dems.  Now, as of February 2008, Democrats outnumber Republicans by almost 15,500!  Together, Democrats and Decline to State voters amount to 51% of the voters in the 45th Congressional District where Rep. Mary Bono Baxely Mack holds onto the district by the tips of her French nails.

Last Saturday, representatives from the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club, the Palm Springs Democratic Club, the Democrats of the Desert, and the Palm Springs Democratic Women have launched a media watch group for the most egregious news media venture in the Coachella Valley: The Desert Sun (aka, The Pro Bono Sun).  These clubs plan to also include the other Democratic clubs and our allies in the Coachella Valley in our efforts to track the inaccuracies and bias of The Pro Bono Sun and mydesert.com.

(Remember the Democratic Unity Rally for the New Hampshire primary where 75-100 activists gathered at the Look Patio Bar & Restaurant and where the Republicans had nothing scheduled?  The Pro Bono Sun took quotes from Democratic Rally organizers Greg Rodriguez and Rob Simmons for sure.  But, even without any event, The Pro Bono Sun tracked down three, count them, three Republicans to counter.  No Republican party, three quotes.  Democratic Unity Rally, two quotes.  Interesting.)

The Times, er, The Sun, it will be achanging.  Otherwise, the media watch wars begin.

(Xposted from www.mydesert.com)

January 10, 2008 – Palm Springs Village Fest Voter Registration and Presidential Candidate Information Tabling at Palm Canyon & Arenas, Palm Springs, CA, Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Adult beverages enjoyed thereafter at the local pubs).

A cool desert night saw multitudes of proud, progressive, Democrats and throngs of supportive locals, visitors, and prospective voters.  The trend is clear…red-to-purple-to-blue.

The Democratic clubs were represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democratic Club (DSD) staffing the tables thanks to George Zander, President of DSD, and Bob Silverman, Treasurer of DSD.  Remember, the montly meeting of the DSD Democratic Club occurs on Saturday, January 12, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Desert Pride Center, 611 S. Palm Canyon, Palm Springs.  Re full disclosure, BluePalmSpringsBoyz iz a member of DSD.  Eleanor Jackson staffed the Democrats of the Desert Democratic Club table.

More below the flip…

Paul Clay, teacher and an announced candidate for the CA 45th Congressional District to replace Mary Bono Baxely Mack, absentee Congresswoman, R-CA, discussed his congressional campaign and recent progress towards the party nomination.

Proud progressive Democrats discussed the recent victory in the New Hampshire primary of Sen. Hillary Clinton.  The excitement was tangible as activists discussed the pros and cons of the Clinton, Sen. Barack Obama and former-Sen. John Edwards campaigns for President.  Activists also discussed the absence of Gary Jeandron, candidate for the Republican nomination for the CA 80th Assembly District from the dedication of the Cathedral City monument to its soldier fallen in Iraq yesterday.  Interesting.

Back to Village Fest. Tracy Turner, Vets for Peace, helped stir the discussion concerning Mary Bono Baxely Mack’s (R-CA) support for Pres. Bush’s failed Iraq occupation policies. He discussed the Vets for Peace plans for ongoing vigils and marches. More on anti-occupation efforts as information becomes available.

Gene Stillman and others staffed the John Edwards for President table (re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz iz a John Edwards for President supporter).  They distributed position papers from the John Edwards for President campaign, provided campaign buttons and bumper stickers, signed up volunteers for the Edwards for President Campaign, and solicited voters to register to vote.  They discussed Edward’s strong standing in the delegate counts thus far (see CNN.com for totals including the Super Delegates).  Other Democratic Party activists staffed tables for the Hillary Clinton campaign (Wayne and Frank, Greg Rodriguez and his sons) and the Barack Obama campaign (Ed Grubman, Charlotte Murphy, M.D., and others).  Zander noted that at one time, 41 people surrounded the DSD, DoD, Edwards, Clinton, Obama, and Kucinich tables while only two women sat lonely and despairing at the Republican booth.  So very sad, and telling, indeed.

We registered eighteen voters last night, including one change of party affiliation from the darkside to the Democratic party and two changes from the Libertarian party to the Democratic party and Decline to State.  Moderate and progressive Independents and Republicans continue to express their distaste for the callous disregard for the U.S. Constitution of the Bush cabal, the failing occupation effort in Afghanistan and in Iraq, the war profiteering of the Bush cronies in business and industry, the regressive social policies of the Bush/Cheney administration, the faltering economy, and the drain on the Federal treasury as the Bush/Cheney miscreants funnel funds to their cronies in big business, especially to the oil and gas, insurance, defense, and pharmaceutical industies. Now Independents and Republicans are voting with their feet by moving quickly to the Democratic Party!

Zander, Silverman, Turner, Murphy, and yours truly attended the Unofficial Drinking Liberally (UODL) after-party at Bongo Johnny’s on Arenas in Palm Springs! Ever celebrating the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs turning deeper shades of purple and blue!  But, still, beware the dying beast.

Received an email from Sen. Barbara Boxer and her staff in Cathedral City.  Given the strength of the GLBT community in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Indio, and elsewhere in the West and East Valleys, I thought that I would share it here:

Dear Friend:

I am pleased to let you know that I am an original cosponsor of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007.  This legislation would allow Federal employees who have domestic partners to be entitled to the same employment benefits that are available to married federal employees and their spouses.  Likewise, Federal employees and their domestic partners would also be subject to the same employment-related obligations that are currently imposed on married employees and their spouses.

Under provisions of this legislation, Federal employees and their domestic partners would be entitled to employee health benefits; retirement and disability plans; family, medical, and emergency leave; group life and long-term care insurance; compensation for work injuries; death, disability, and similar benefits; and relocation, travel, and related expenses.  Any natural or adopted child of the domestic partner will be treated as a stepchild of the employee.  Employees and their domestic partners would also become subject to anti-nepotism rules and financial disclosure requirements.  

This legislation is an important step in providing full benefits to members of domestic partnerships.  You can count on me to work to pass this legislation and for similar efforts in the future.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer

United States Senator

December 13, 2007 – Palm Springs Village Fest Voter Registration and Candidate Information Tabling at Palm Canyon & Arenas, Palm Springs, CA, Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Adult beverages enjoyed thereafter at the local pubs).

Very chilly desert nights and very hot progressive Democrats feted throngs of locals, visitors, and prospective voters.

The Democratic clubs were represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democrats (DSD) staffing one table thanks to George Zander, President of DSD, Bob Silverman, Treasurer of DSD, and Tracy Turner, Vets for Peace.  (Full disclosure: BlueBeaumontBoyz iz a member of DSD.)  Eleanor Jackson staffed the table of the Democrats of the Desert.

Greg Rodriguez made an unexpected visit to the Registration and Candidate Information tabling with his two boys in tow.  Rodriguez is an activist with the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Yes on Measure E School Bond Issue, and is expected to run for school board in the Palm Springs Unified School District.  But, more importantly, the boys were a hit as usual with the Democrats.  One wanted to know why the stop lights were not functioning on Palm Canyon.  BlueBeaumontBoyz suggested that he bring it up to Caltrans and to the local Department of Transportation (the lights are non-functioning during Village Fest).  Rodriguez overheard and cautioned that the boys were likely to vocalize their concerns at the next City Council meeting.  Two more articulate and victorious Democratic candidates in the making, we are sure.

Rob Simmons, member of the Palm Springs Airport Commission and an activist with the Barack Obama for President campaign also joined the DSD attendees in a spirited discussion re the current Presidential campaign and the early caucus and primary states.  Richard Oberhaus, campaign manager of the Greg Pettis for 80th Assembly District campaign discussed the progress of the campaign, upcoming endorsements, and Pettis’ amazing 50th Birthday celebration on Sunday in Cathedral City.

Rodriguez, Simmons, and Oberhaus discussed the upcoming January 3, 2008, Iowa Caucus viewing party planned for Look in Palm Springs.  More details to follow.

More exciting below the flip…

Turner, Vets for Peace, discussed Thursday’s demonstration against the ongoing occupation of Iraq and the petitions that Vets for Peace and others delivered to the office of Mary Bono, absentee Congresswoman in the 45th Congressional District.  Activists discussed Bono’s penchant for social climbing and manipulation in quickly transitioning from one significant to the next as the situation demanded.  Yours truly identified and related Bono’s apparent agenda.  (1) Continue to date Rep. Connie Mack, R-FL.  (2) Marry Rep. Mack.  (3) Encourage Mack to run for Sen. Bob Graham’s seat when he retires (bear in mind that Mack’s father was a Senator in FL and has great name recognition in FL and in the US).  (4) Encourage Sen. Mack to run for the Presidency.  (5) Become First Lady.  Just sayin’.

Bob Morris and yours truly, staffed the John Edwards for President table for the Palm Springs for Edwards One Corps Chapter.  We distributed position papers from the John Edwards for President campaign, provided campaign buttons and bumper stickers, signed up volunteers for the Edwards for President Campaign, and solicited voters to register to vote.  We discussed Edward’s strong grassroots support in Iowa and expectations for a surprisingly strong showing on January 3.

Other Democratic Party activists staffed tables for the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Barack Obama campaign.  One of the Obama volunteers was Dave Hunsicker, candidate for the CA-45 Congressional seat now held by Rep. Mary Bozo.  Hunsicker discussed Bono’s status as carpetbagger Congresswoman as her loyalties now clearly lie in Florida rather than in the Coachella Valley.

We registered two more voters last night!  Two more dents in the discredited and crumbling theofascist regime in mid-Riverside County.  Remember, Democrats already outnumber Repugnants in the CA 80th Assembly District by 13,000.  And, Bonnie Garcia barely beat a poorly organized, poorly funded opponent in the last election.  And, now she is termed out.

Zander, Silverman, Turner, Oberhaus, and yours truly attended the Unofficial Drinking Liberally (UODL) after-party at Bongo Johnny’s, Hunter’s Video Bar, and Street Bar!  Douglas, aka Eve when perpetually surfing Arenas as a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, animatedly discussed her plans to upgrade the wine menu at BJ’s.  Very hot bartender Paul and equally hot, off-duty bartender, Frank, beckoned and entertained us on the patio of Street Bar.  George and yours truly just had to purchase the new Street Bar 2008 Calendar with pictures of the hot, local bartenders including Frank.  Frank graceously signed each purchase.  Oh, be Frank with me.  Oh, that we were single.  Troy, barback at Hunter’s discussed the developing gay scene in Beaumont and Banning and the San Gorgoino Pass.  Speaking of passes.  The evils of UODL Thursday nights.  Just ask the rest of the revellers.

Ever celebrating the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs turning deeper shades of blue!

George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, ran a great meeting today.  The montly DSD meeting took place at the Desert Pride Center and had between 45 and 50 progressive Democratic political activists in attendance.

Those in attendance included Bob Thomas, Co-Chair of the Palm Springs Democratic Club, Steve Pougnet, newly-elected mayor of Palm Springs, Ginny Foat, Palm Springs City Councilwoman, elected last week as Palm Springs Mayor Pro-Tem, and Palm Springs power-broker, Rick Hutcheson newly-elected Palm Springs City Councilman, Craig Ewing, Palm Springs Planning Director and newly-elected boardmember of the Desert Water Agency, and April Hildner from No on C.  John Williams, an appointed Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation boardmember and defeated candidate for Palm Springs City Council, Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City and candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District to replace the termed out Bonnie Garcia, Richard Oberhaus, Pettis’ Campaign Manager, Paul Marchand, Cathedral City Councilmember, Greg Rodriguez from Yes on Measure E and the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Robert Simmons, Palm Springs Airport Commissioner and supporter of the Barack Obama for President campaign, and Paul Clay and David Hunsicker, candidates for the CA 45th Congressional District to replace Mary Bono also attended.

More below the flip…

Thomas, co-chair of the Palm Springs Democratic Club, provided a thoughtful powerpoint presentation on the figures from the November election.  Democrats turned out in greater numbers than did the disillusioned Republican voters.  In addition, DSD voters turned out at an amazing 70%!  DSD clearly represents an important voting block for all progressive Democratic candidates.  Thomas attributed Williams’ loss by only 76 votes to the division of the vote between Hutchesion, Bob Mahlowitz, and Williams.  On the other hand, voter turn out may have been greater due to the interest in the hotly contested races.

Pougnet, recently elected as Mayor of Palm Springs, with his twins in tow, spoke elequently regarding his vision for the future of Palm Springs.  He thanked his supporters who lived in Palm Springs as well as his supporters, yours truly included, who did not.  Pougnet noted that downtown Palm Springs is important not only to residents of Palm Springs, but also to the entire Coachella Valley.

Hutcheson, recently elected to his first term as Palm Springs City Councilman, gave brief comments and thanked his supporters and the DSD and PSD Democratic Clubs for their support.  Hutcheson also noted that with the changing demographics of the Palm Springs area, it is important to continue to build the local Democratic Party from the grassroots level on up.  Hutcheson made a special effort to thank Williams for running such an outstanding campaign.

Foat, elected last week as Mayor Pro-Tem of Palm Springs, discussed the need for ongoing activism and a better approach to handling the negative campaigning of the Repugnant Party (my phrase, not hers) in the Coachella Valley.  Foat indicated that given the Repugnant behavior Nationwide, we should have expected that they would go negative here as well.  But the viciousness of the attacks against Williams and Hutcheson and the collusion of The Desert Sun was never anticipated.  I say, “Fool me once…”

Ewing, Palm Springs City Planning Director and recently elected to the Desert Water Agency, delivered a short statement and focused on what his own election means for the future of the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley Democratic Party.  Ewing noted that his was a breakthrough election and succeeded in part due to the complacency of the opposition.  He duly noted that in the next election, three of the Desert Water Agency seats will be up for election.  He expects that Democrats will continue to make gains on the DWA.

April Hildner of No on C discussed the resounding win.  No on C succeeded with 60% of the vote.  Hildner hoped that this will bring to an end the efforts of developers in the community to ravage the Chino Cone with unrestricted and unnecessary development.

Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City and candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District, discussed his recent efforts to reach out to the Asian-Pacific Islander caucus in the California State Assembly.  With the most recent endorsements, Pettis is poised to receive endorsements from the entire caucus!  Pettis has also been actively seeking the support of labor and discussed his recent endorsement by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 440.  Other union endorsements are apparently coming down the pike.  And, next weekend, Pettis celebrates his 50th Birthday Party.  We expect that Pettis will fete us at Johnny Pasta’s in Cathedral City in a fashion to which we became accustomed with Hillary Clinton’s 50th birthday soiree.   Lol.

Greg Rodriguez discussed the importance of Measure E.  The Measure will assist in upgrading and renovating existing existing schools, making health and safety upgrades, constructing new schools, and constructing permanent classrooms at the elementary schools to replace portable classrooms.  Pougnet discussed his involvement with the Palm Springs Unified School District and his support for Measure E.  Pougnet also noted that much of the construction mandated by Measure E would take place in Desert Hot Springs and not in Palm Springs.  After a notably civil debate and discussion, DSD members voted to endorse Yes on Measure E by a vote of 20 yea, 6 nay, and an uncounted number of abstentions.

Clay and Hunsicker each individually discussed his candidacy for the CA 45th Congressional District.  Either way, it will be great to have a Representative who comes to the 45th CD for more than just fundraising and photo-ops (Bono is notorious for missing important votes on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.)  Clay and Hunsicker were well received, especially with their positive stands re Marriage Equality, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), Sentate Bill 777, and the Hate Crimes Bill.

Turner discussed the activism of Vets for Peace and their petition to deter the warmongering Bush Administration from any military action against Iran.  (Yes, even though the war effort in Afghanistan is suffering from lack of soldiers and lack of equipment, and though the occupation effort in Iraq is faltering with more and more civilian and military casualties, this Administration is obviously considering military action against a Nation so much larger than Afghanistan and Iraq combined.  In area and in population.  

All-in-all, a great meeting.  Please join us at the next meeting on January 12, 2008.  In the meantime, Zander requested additional assistance for the DSD Voter Registration and Candidate Information tables at Palm Springs Village Fest.  Village Fests in December are scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 20, and 27, 2007.  

And, now the race for the CA 80th Assembly District and for the CA 45th Congressional District are in full swing.  Keep turning the Coachella Valley Blue!!!

December 6, 2007 – Palm Springs Village Fest Voter Registration and Candidate Information Tabling at Palm Canyon & Arenas, Palm Springs, CA, Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Adult beverages enjoyed thereafter at the local pubs).

Chilly desert nights and progressive, Support-the-Troops/Stop-the-Insanity Democrats joined by throngs of locals, visitors, and prospective voters.

The Democratic clubs were represented as usual with Desert Stonewall Democrats (DSD) staffing the tables thanks to George Zander, President of DSD, Bob Silverman, Treasurer of DSD, and Bill Gonzales.  Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz iz a member of DSD.

Greg Rodriguez made a visit to the Registration and Candidate Information tabling with his two young children in tow.  Rodriguez is an activist with the Hillary Clinton for President campaign and in the local schools.  Rumor is that Rodriguez is running for a seat on the Palm Springs Unified School District school board.

More exciting details about Palm Springs Village Fest below the flip…

Proud progressive Democrats were celebrating the swearing in of Steve Pougnet as Mayor of Palm Springs, Rick Hutcheson as Palm Springs City Councilman, Karl Baker as Desert Hot Springs City Councilman, and Craig Ewing as member of the Desert Water Agency last night at Palm Springs City Hall.

Pougnet, attending the ceremony with his domestic partner and their two children, gave an empassioned speech concerning Palm Springs and his family.  Hutcheson also attended with his domestic partner.

Back to Village Fest.  Tracy Turner, Vets for Peace, helped stoke the fires of intelligent discussion and activism.  He discussed the Vets for Peace plans for an uncoming holiday vigil.  More on anti-occupation efforts as information becomes available.

Yours truly, Captain of the Palm Springs for Edwards One Corps Chapter, staffed the John Edwards for President table.  I distributed position papers from the John Edwards for President campaign, provided campaign buttons and bumper stickers, signed up volunteers for the Edwards for President Campaign, and solicited voters to register to vote.  We discussed Edward’s current strong standing in the Iowa caucus polls and his strengths in the recent candidate forums.

Other Democratic Party activists staffed tables for the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Barack Obama campaign.  One of the Obama volunteers was Dave Hunsicker, candidate for the CA-45 Congressional seat now held tenuously by Mary Bono.  A leader of the local Obama effort reported that he expected Clinton to continue to falter in Iowa with Edwards and Obama finishing one-two in either order in the January 3 Iowa Caucuses.

We registered voters last night, including additional changes of party affiliation.  Moderate and progressive Republicans continue to express their distain for the incompetence, ineptitude, and callous disregard for the truth of the Bush Administration.  Now they are voting with their feet by moving quickly to the Democratic Party!

Zander and his friend, Renee, Silverman, Turner (Vets for Peace), Gonzales, and yours truly attended the Unofficial Drinking Liberally (UODL) after-party at Bongo Johnny’s!  Ever celebrating the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs turning deeper shades of blue!

Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter of Greg Pettis’ amazing campaign for the CA-80 Assembly District seat.

I received this Press Release from the Greg Pettis for CA-80 Assembly District, a seat occupied by the termed-out potty mouth Repugnant Bonnie Garcia.

For Immediate Release  November 27, 2007
For More Information  Richard Oberhaus 760-413-7938

PETTIS LAUNCHES BID FOR ASSEMBLY WITH DISTRICT-WIDE TOUR AND WEB LAUNCH

El Centro – Veteran Cathedral City Councilmember Greg Pettis officially kicked off his campaign for the open 80th Assembly District seat today, surrounded by supporters in front of the El Centro Regional Medical Center and Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.

Pettis pledged to use his two decades of experience, building relationships and working on issues that benefit families to create a healthier California.

“I’m launching my campaign in front of a hospital because it is the symbol of hope for a better tomorrow. It’s time to extend that hope to the 6.5 million uninsured Californians as well as individuals and businesses who are struggling each week with the high cost of health care,” Pettis said.

Pettis’s Press Release continues:

“A healthy California doesn’t stop with just the health care issue,” Pettis added, “but also a healthy economy and environment and schools that give our children the opportunity to live their dreams close to their roots.”

Pettis’ campaign launch coincided with the launch of his campaign website at www.gregpettis.com, where viewers can view videos and read about the Pettis Plan for Progress.

“Over the last 10 years, I’ve been working with Greg in Sacramento to improve Imperial County’s transportation system. As a member of the Assembly, I know he’ll give the Valley the priority we deserve,” said El Centro City Councilmember Sedalia Sanders.

“From his 13-years on the City Council in Cathedral City to his work on the Salton Sea Authority to building new parks for our kids, he brings a reservoir of practical experience making government work for our corner of the state, said Palm Springs City Councilmember Ginny Foat.

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 hand has more donors than all the other Democratic candidates combined based on the last filings with California’s Secretary of State.

He has also won the endorsements of the San Bernardino/Riverside County Central Labor Council, Building Trades of California, Democracy for America, Victory Fund, Desert Stonewall Democrats, Cathedral City Professional Firefighters; State Controller John Chiang and former State Controller Steve Westly; State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu; State Senators Carol Migden, Christine Kehoe, Sheila Kuehl and Darrell Steinberg; and Assembly members John Laird Lloyd Levine and Mark Leno.

Democrats now outnumber Republicans by 9%, i.e., 13,000 voters in the 80th AD.  This district, with its open-seated status, will be in the top-two most contested seats in the State in the General Election.

Re full disclosure, BlueBeaumontBoyz is a supporter of Greg Pettis for CA 80th Assembly District and blogs under the nom de plume BluePalmSpringsBoyz in mydesert.com.

Tonight, at the Campaign Kick-Off tonight, the Greg Pettis campaign for the CA-80 Assembly District previewed its new website at www.gregpettis.com which will be officially launched tomorrow, November 27, 2007.  Then, Cathedral City Council veteran and Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Pettis officially launches his bid for the 80th State Assembly District seat.  The CA-80th AD seat is currently held by Repugnant Bonnie Garcia.

The Campaign Kick-Off Event tonight at the Cathedral City Public Library was extremely well-attended and included presentations by Pettis, Richard Oberhaus, Campaign Director, and Pettis’ campaign consultant.  Those in attendance included elected officials, political activists, media representatives, and campaign volunteers.

Elected officials in attendance, included Ginny “Ma” Foat, Palm Springs City Councilwoman, Paul Marchand, Cathedral City City Councilman, Pat Hammer, Cathedral City City Clerk, and Karl Baker, Desert Hot Springs City Councilman-elect.  Political activists in attendance included George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, Bob Silverman, Treasurer of the Desert Stonewall Democrats, and Chuck McDaniel, President of the Desert Hot Springs Democratic Club.  Other political activists included Bob Mahlowitz, Chair of the Palm Springs Office of Neighborhoods, Robert Marchand, Chair of the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission, Sonia Marchand, Jono Hildner of the victorious No on C pro-environment campaign, Roger Tansy, Bill Cain-Gonzalez, and many others.

Media representatives included a reporter from The Desert Sun, The Observer and BluePalmSpringsBoyz, bloggers from mydesert.com, and BlueBeaumontBoyz.

Pettis discussed the strengths of his campaign, including strong financial backing, sizable electoral base, significant relevant experience, and support in the Hispanic and Latino communities.  Pettis reported that his campaign has already raised more monies than that raised by all of his Democratic opponents combined!  Pettis also reported significant electoral support in each of his election campaigns in Cathedral City, one of the largest cities in the 80th AD.  Amazingly, Pettis garnered even more support in the Hispanic and Latino communities during his last re-election campaign than he did in the Anglo community!  Pettis reviewed his primary campaign themes including:

• Health Care: Affordable and Accessible Medical Coverage for All Californians
• Economy: Good-paying Jobs and Opportunities for All Californians
• Clean and Safe Environment

Regarding health care, Pettis said:

“It’s time to extend the hope of affordable and accessible health care to the 6.5 million uninsured Californians as well as to individuals and businesses who are struggling each week with the high cost of health care.  California also requires a vibrant economy, clean and safe environment, and superior schools that give all of our children the opportunity to live their dreams.”

More below the flip…

Pettis has already won the endorsements of the San Bernardino/Riverside County Central Labor Council, Building Trades of California, Democracy for America, Victory Fund, Desert Stonewall Democrats, Cathedral City Professional Firefighters; State Controller John Chiang, former State Controller Steve Westly; State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu; State Senator Carol Migden, State Senator Christine Kehoe, State Senator Sheila Kuehl, State Senator Darrell Steinberg; and Assemblyman John Laird, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine and Assemblyman Mark Leno, Palm Springs City Councilwoman Ginny “Ma” Foat, Cathedral City Councilman Paul Marchand, Desert Hot Springs City Councilman-elect Karl Baker amongst many others.

In a related event, a Media Advisory from the Greg Pettis Campaign indicated that the official announcement of Pettis’ candidacy for the CA 80th AD will occur in two stages, one in El Centro tomorrow morning and the second in Palm Springs in the afternoon.

DATE:  November 27th, 2007
TIME:  10:00 AM
LOCATION:  1318 South Imperial Ave., El Centro (across from El Centro Regional Medical Center)

TIME:  2:30 PM
LOCATION:  E Tachevah Dr & N Avenida Olivos, Palm Springs (Outside of Desert Regional Medical Center)

Greg Pettis will officially launch his bid for the open 80th Assembly District seat. Pettis is a Democrat who has served 13 years on the City Council in Cathedral City. He will be joined by 80th District leaders and supporters.

The 80th Assembly District encompasses eastern Riverside County and all of Imperial County including the communities of Blythe, Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Springs, and Westmorland.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Campaign Manager Richard Oberhaus

760-413-7938

Kakie Urch, reporter from The Desert Sun, indicated today that

Cathedral City Council veteran Greg Pettis on Tuesday will officially launch his bid for the 80th State Assembly District seat currently held by Bonnie Garcia.

Pettis and his campaign plan two events, one in El Centro and one in Palm Springs, to kick off the campaign for the Democrat who has been on Cathedral City Council for 13 years.

In Palm Springs, Pettis will make his announcement at 2:30 p.m. outside to Desert Regional Medical Center at E. Tachevah Drive and North Avenida Olivos.

In El Centro, the announcement will be across from El Centro Regional Medical Center at 1318 South Imperial Ave.

Garcia, a Republican cannot run for re-election to the Assembly seat because of statewide term limits.

The following is based on a Reader-submitted opinion to The Desert Sun at mydesert.com by Kurt Barrie, Democratic activist.

With the election victories of openly-gay Steve Pougnet, Palm Springs Mayor-Elect, and of Rick Hutcheson to the City Council, they join Councilwoman Ginny Foat to make a majority on the Palm Springs City Council.  All three are openly-gay Democrats and are strongly supported by the local Desert Stonewall Democrats Democratic Club (DSD).  DSD is a local branch of the National Stonewall Democrats.  In addition, openly-gay Democrat, Craig Ewing, unseated a Repugnant incumbant in the Desert Water Agency race.  These elections are only a few of the many in the Desert that prove changing demographics and voter participation have occurred in this once conservative hold.

In Desert Hot Springs openly-gay Democrat Karl Baker secured a seat on the City Council and in Cathedral City two openly-gay Democrats serve, including Mayor Pro-Tem Greg Pettis and Paul Marchand (the third gay Council member, a Repugnant, Chuck Vasquez, is only openly-gay north of CA-111 in the predominantly gay Cove area of Cathedral City and is in the closet in the rest of Cathedral City).

More below the flip…

These victories by openly-gay Democrats are due in part by the influx of Gays and Lesbians that have been moving to the Desert over the past several years.  One of the reasons this has made a difference here, is that 82% of those in the Gay and Lesbian Community who are registered to vote are Democrats.  This is mirrored by national trends that show the same numbers for Gays and Lesbians who are aligned with the Democratic Party which has been at the forefront of change for gays and lesbians on issues of Marriage Equality, Civil Rights, Hate Crimes, and other legislation.  This margin of Democratic voter registration has produced victories for those running for local, State, and National seats on City Councils, the State Assembly, State Senate, U.S. Congess and the U.S. Senate.

What does all this mean locally?  Well, take Shadowrock Development for instance, not long ago Shadowrock would not have had a problem passing because the demographics were much more conservative and supportive of development in general.  Having a Democratic majority now, you will see that conservation issues, preservation issues and Democratic Party platform issues will predominate.  Mayor-Elect Pougnet has promised a Green symposium, and Councilman-Elect Rick Hutcheson has made it clear that he too will agressively pursue green technology and eco-friendly and new energy sources in Palm Springs.  All three openly-gay Democrats opposed Shadowrock, which means that it would not have been approved by our new City Council.  This is significant since Democrats pulled out the votes in this election and is in part why Shadowrock failed on the ballot in a landslide victory by the No on C campaign.

Democrats in the Desert are celebrating victories and are promising change.  In the future we can expect more conservation, more preservation and more focus on eco-sensitive, green development, as well as more of a focus on changing business patterns in the Coachella Valley.  However, with a few victories of Repugnants in the Coachella Valley, including Weigel’s election to the City Council, edging out openly-gay John Williams by a mere 104 votes, and the various homophobic stances of the Desert Sun, it keeps the Repugnants in the game.  The Repugnants were also succesful in keeping one incumbent on the Desert Water Agency and had a few victories in Desert Hot Springs.  So, the Desert Communities can expect interesting changes ahead.  And local Gay Democrats have much to celebrate with this election and will apparently have many more to celebrate in the future.