All of the Republicans running in the Coachella Valley bill themselves as moderates, Gary Jeandron and Mary Mack are two prime examples.  Yet here’s Jeandron’s latest literature being dropped at the Catholic churches in Brawley.  Note the absence of any mention of jobs, affordable healthcare, schools, or water:

Reaching back into the culture warrior bag of tricks.  Such a moderate!  30 years in Palm Springs, and this is how Jeandron treats the gay community.  And hey, way to protect our kids – denying the most vulnerable young women any chance at professional healthcare in a crisis.  Compassionate conservatism, again.

For Perez, the problems in our state are jobs, schools, healthcare, and sustainability.  That’s what our families need, not a California version of the Ministry of Virtue and Vice.  Please help Perez teach Jeandron what values we share here in the 21st century:  Manuel Perez’ Act Blue page.

Here’s his “Values” piece in Spanish.  A tip for the GOP:  religious people have do have values, and they cover more than issues of sex.  This election matters to every family thanks to Republican incompetence on taxes, the budget, schools, the environment, and our very lives due to the lack of affordable healthcare.  Perez has respect for everyone’s religious views, but opposes these propositions in accordance with his beliefs.  

Gary Jeandron breaks his own pledge opposing new taxes – even before Election Day.

We’re used to politicians breaking campaign promises after they are elected to office. George Bush has done it.  Governor Schwarzenegger has done it.  But it is a rare sight to see politicians break a campaign promise BEFORE they are elected… And that’s exactly what Gary Jeandron has done.

Gary Jeandron has been on the campaign trail saying he opposes new taxes and even asking Manuel Perez to sign a “no new tax pledge.”

But Jeandron violated his own pledge, at least twice since he signed it.  First, he supported increasing property taxes last year as a school board member.  And now, he supports raising the local sales tax by a 1/2 cent.

More, including Manuel’s latest TV spot, over the flip.    

He’s running TV ads attacking Manuel Perez on taxes, trying to scare voters into thinking that Perez is going to harm working families.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  It seems that by attacking Manuel on taxes, Jeandron is trying to cover up the fact that he has broken a campaign promise – before the election is over.  If Jeandron’s breaking promises before election day, imagine what he’d do if he were to win?

ActBlue page for Manuel here.

One week ago, Republican Leader Mike Villines and the California Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon featuring a presentation outlining the Republican game plan in the 80th and how they would offset Manuel Perez’s double-digit lead.

A key part of the Republican strategy hinged on filing a politically driven, frivolous lawsuit to challenge Manuel Perez’s ballot designation as an “Educator.”

But today the Sacramento Superior Court dealt Republicans a loss, blowing up their key strategy.  It would seem Rove’s maxim: ‘Attack the Democratic candidate’s strength,’ just won’t work on Perez.  In fact, it boomeranged.

Manuel Perez, a former classroom teacher, authored curriculum that is currently implemented in two school districts. Manuel also earned a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University and serves as an elected school board member for the Coachella Unified School District where he secured $250 million to build new schools and modernize classrooms.  This past February, Harvard honored Perez with the Alumni of Color Achievement Award.

Manuel Perez is no less an educator than Gary Jeandron is a Republican.

Nonetheless, this morning while Manuel campaigned in Imperial County, Republicans appeared in court to have the word “educator” rejected from Manuel’s ballot designation.  After a short court hearing, the Sacramento Superior Court dismissed the Republican’s absurd challenge and ruled in favor of Manuel, citing Manuel’s “significant investment of time and effort” as an educator.  

Today’s hearing offers a glimpse into the minds of the Republicans – the same people who thought they could sell a judge that Manuel Perez is not an educator are the ones trying to sell you that the Republicans can win the 80th in November.  

With the campaign season opening like this we’ll no doubt be bombarded with more unfounded and baseless attacks against Manuel Perez – and more fumbles from the Republicans.

As the local GOP struggles to find a line of attack, Perez is talking to the people across the district about jobs, healthcare, education and the environment, as always.  

Democratic Clubs have a winner, and are feeling the momentum.

Palm Springs Democratic Club:

Manny offers what we need to win this race this year. The issues he speaks to and the experience he brings to the table makes a powerful combination for the citizens in our district.  

Bob Thomas, Program Chair – Palm Springs Democratic Club

Desert Foundation for Democracy

As a gifted and extremely well-educated public servant, Manuel Perez is an exciting and inspiring candidate for California’s 80th Assembly District seat. The demographics of this District are changing, and Manuel is perfectly positioned to bring intelligent and compassionate representation to us all.  The Desert Foundation for Democracy is proud to endorse Manuel Perez for the California 80th Assembly District.

Art Copleston, Chair – Desert Foundation for Democracy

Democrats of the Desert

Democrats of the Desert is proud to endorse Manuel Perez, as he is an exceptionally qualified candidate and will make an excellent representative for the 80th Assembly District.

Elle Kurpiewski, President – Democrats of the Desert

Desert Stonewall Democrats

Manuel Perez is an exceptional candidate. He will bring back the values of hard work, emotional intelligence, vision, communication, and leadership in championing social and economic justice for all communities throughout the district. These have all been lacking in our current Assembly member from the 80th District.

George Zander, President – Desert Stonewall Democrats

And there’s more:

Marty Hittelman, President of the California Federation of Teachers:

Manuel Perez is a real education champion – he’s a former classroom teacher, earned a Masters in Education from Harvard University and serves as a school board member helping struggling schools to succeed. Manuel fights every day to give kids the educational tools they  need to succeed in life and in the workplace.

Steve Clute, Former California State Assemblyman:

(Perez) has the heart – corazón – and passion to truly represent the people.

Fred W. Lowe, Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer for Laborers’ Local 777:

He is a strong and clear voice for the communities he serves, and is willing to fight for fundamental rights; fair pay; fair treatment and justice; protections and security for our families; access to health care; better education and better working conditions for the residents of the 80th Assembly District.

Harvard Graduate School of Education, announcing Manuel Perez as a recipient of the HGSE Alumni of Color Achievement Award:  

Mr. Perez is being recognized for his work, which addresses issues of race and education in ways that offer new frames of thought and practice, and evidences a commitment to promote meaningful strategies to affect change and to improve educational opportunities for people of color.

David Dayen, blogger at Calitics, Hullaballoo, and The Right’s Field:

This is someone who hasn’t waited around for higher office to make a difference in his community; he’s rolled up his sleeves and dived in.  As a director for the Borrego Community Health Foundation, he’s created one of the first diabetes resource centers in the desert region and has delivered health services to underserved regions.  As a researcher for the California Institute for Rural Studies, he put together a groundbreaking study on women’s reproductive health issues in Imperial County, where women have little opportunities and resources to manage their own health.  With Promotores, he’s part of a group of community-based leaders devoted to teaching  about health issues and making sure people in the community get the facts about programs at their disposal.  As a schoolteacher he started his school’s first ever Chicano Studies program designed to allow students to learn history from their perspective.  With the Eastern Coachella Valley Social Change Collaborative, he identified farm workers living in the area and trained them to be community leaders themselves.  Believe it or not, he’s only 34.

…

Manuel Pérez is not only a perfect fit for this district, providing an opportunity to retake this seat and get us closer to 2/3.  He represents a new generation of Hispanic-Americans who are dedicated to working for change from the bottom up.  He would bring to Sacramento a unique set of skills, as someone who can build coalitions and train a group of leaders far into the future.  There are primary candidates on the Democratic side for this seat who appear to be very nice.  I don’t think anyone combines the résumé and the hope for the future more than Manuel Pérez.

Joe Murillo, President,  Coachella Valley Unified School District Board:

(Perez) likes to see improvement. He is not a man for the status quo.

Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:

Manuel Perez knows first hand the struggles of working families and will be a champion of healthcare, education and creating new jobs in the State Assembly.

The Republicans have their work cut out for them, because the people of the 80th AD and the community leaders in California already know Manuel Perez, and they can’t wait to get him to Sacramento.

Endorsing Manuel Perez:

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees

California Federation of Teachers

California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO

California Medical Association

California Nurses Association

California School Employees Association

California State Council of Laborer’s

California Teacher’s Association

Coachella Valley Teachers Association

Desert Sands Teachers Association

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 569

Laborer’s International Union of North America (LIUNA)

LIUNA Local 783

LIUNA Local 777

LIUNA Local 652

LIUNA Local 300

Northern California District Council of Laborer’s

Palm Springs Teachers Association

San Diego/Imperial Counties Labor Council

Service Employees International Union California State Council (SEIU)

SEIU Local 1000

SEIU United Health Care Worker’s West

Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters

United Domestic Workers

Border Patrol Union

United Farm Workers

Democrats of the Desert

Stonewall Democratic Club

Palm Springs Democratic Club

Desert Foundation for Democracy

*******

Congressman John Conyers Jr. 14th Congressional District, Michigan

Congressman Raul Grijalva, 7th Congressional District, Arizona

Former Congressman Esteban Torres, 34th Congressional District, California

Joe Coto, State Assemblymember, Latino Caucus Chair

Charles Calderon, State Assemblymember

Anthony Portantino, State Assemblymember

Steve Clute, Former Assemblymember and 80th AD Candidate, 2006

Tony Cardenas, Former Assemblymember, current Councilman City of Los Angeles

Paul M. Rasso, Candidate, 64th Assembly District

Dean Florez, State Senator

Gloria Romero, State Senate Majority Leader

Victor Carrillo, Supervisor, Imperial County Board of Supervisor

Richard Polanco, Former State Senator

Eduardo Garcia, Mayor, City of Coachella

Ray Castillo, Former Mayor, El Centro

Chuck Valenzuela, Former Mayor and Treasurer, Brawley

Steve Hernandez, Councilmember, City of Coachella

George Nava, Councilmember, City of Brawley

Mike Wilson, Councilmember, City of Indio

Daniel Romero, Councilmember, City of Calexico

Luis Castro, Calexico City Councilman

Efrain Silva, El Centro City Councilman

John Moreno, Calexico City Councilman

Don C. Campbell, Brawley Mayor Pro Tem

Esteban R. Vasquez, Brawley City Councilman

Ginny Foat, Palm Springs City Councilwoman

Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilman- Former Democratic Candidate

Gilbert G. Otero, Imperial County District Attorney

Carlos Campos, Attorney, City of Coachella

Tim Brown, City Manager, City of Coachella

Carlos Ortega, City Manager, City of Palm Desert

Steve Brown, Assistant City Manager, City of Coachella

Manny Rios, Planning Commission, City of Coachella

Bill Sanchez, Planning Commission, City of Coachella

Jackie Lopez, Executive Director, City of Coachella Chamber of Commerce

Sal Alejo, Member, Mecca Community Council

Maria Machuca, Former Chair, Mecca Community Council

Joe Murillo, President, Coachella Valley Unified School Board

Maria Rios, Clerk, Coachella Valley Unified School Board

Jennifer Baker, President, California Latino School Board Association

Joel Perez, Former School Board Trustee, El Centro Elementary School District

Alice Huffman, President NAACP, State of California

Dolores Huerta, Former UFW Labor Leader

Chauncey Veatch, National Teacher of the Year, CVUSD  

Rudy Cardenas Jr. Imperial Valley College Board of Trustee Coachella

Louie Wong, Imperial Valley College Trustee Member

*********

Fred Lowe, Union Representative, LIUNA, Laborer’s Local 777

Jose Mejia, Director, Laborer’s International Union of North America

Michael Rosenfeld, former President, CVTA

Richard Razo, Union Representative, CVTA

Bonifacio Hernandez, Union Representative, CVTA

Dale Wissman, Union Representative, CSEA

Joe Mota, Former Director, UFW

Juan Carlos Sanchez, Former Political Director, Democrats of the Desert

Beth Caskie, Vice-President, Democrats of the Desert

Ruben Gonzalez, President, Coachella Valley Voters League

Inez Cardoza Freeman, Volunteer of the Year, Democrats of the Desert

Amalia DeAztlan, Delegate, National Democratic Committee

V. John White, Environmental Activist, Sacramento, CA

Jose Carmona, Principal, Verde Group, Sacramento, CA

Rafael Aguilera, Principal, Verde Group, Sacramento, CA

Orson Aguilar, Associate Director, Greenlining Institute

Hector Preciado, Health Policy Director, Greenlining Institute

Dr. Richard Gutierrez, Former State Assembly Candidate – Orthodontist

Lombardo Amaya, Border Patrol Union Representative

Lupe Quintero, CRLA Lawyer, Imperial

Jesus Perez, Former Candidate for Superintendent of Public Schools, Imperial County

Arturo Encinas, President, MAPA, Calexico

Bill Hodge, Union Rep, Calexico

Beatriz O. Zayas, Mana member at-large, Calexico

Michael W. Kelley, Imperial County Chief Probation Officer

Juan Arvizu, Imperial County Deputy Probation Officer II

Hildy Carrillo, Calexico Chamber of Commerce Director

Oracio Carranza, President of the Probation & Corrections Peace Officers Association (PCPOA)

Alex Garcia, Imperial Deputy Probation Officer

Armando Padilla, Imperial County Deputy Probation Officer

Pete Mercado, Chief of the Calexico Fire Department

Danny Santillan, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Chavela Wong, Amigos Club President, Calexico

Rudy Maldonado, Former IID Director

Emma Silva, Calexico Public Activist

Morris Reisin, President, Chamber of Commerce, Calexico

Tony Tirado, President, Imperial County Democratic Central Committee

Alex Vasquez, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Jerry Grijalva, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Gilbert Grijalva, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Arturo Rioseco, Grassroots Organizer, Calexico

Margarita De necochea, Community Volunteer, Calexico

Guillermo Niebla, Community Activist, Calexico

Johnny Romo, Community Activist, Calexico

Socorro Juarez, Community Activist, Calexico

Jim Horn, Delegate, Imperial County Central Committee, El Centro

Ruben Gonzales, Former President, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, El Centro

Antonio Ramos, Retired Probation and Grassroots Organizer, El Centro

Freddy Nuñez, Grassroots Organizer, El Centro

Pete Salgado, Probation Officer, El Centro

Jose Luis Velez Olmedo, Executive Director, El Centro

Joe Arambula, Probation Officer, El Centro

Guillermo Niebla, Retired Probation Officer, El Centro

Eric Reyes, Executive Director, Institute for Social and Economic Justice, Brawley

Jesse G. Enriquez, President, Hidalgo Society, Brawley

Leticia Ibarra, Director, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, Brawley

Deirdre Morgan, Education Advocate, Brawley

Sam Palomares, Veteran Affairs Advocate, Brawley

Mr. and Mrs. Aurajo, Community Advocates, Brawley

Abraham and Evelyn Ruvalcaba, Brawley  

Maria Elena Nava, Former  Candidate for Imperial County Supervisor- District 4

David Green, CEO, El Centro Regional Medical Center

Bruce Hebets, CEO, Centro Medico, Eastern Coachella Valley

Stephen Shubert, COO, Centro Medico, Eastern Coachella Valley

Enrique G. Alvarado, Calexico School Board Member

Salvador Pacheco, Calexico School Board Member

Ed Gould, President/Superintendent of Imperial Valley College

Richard A. Partridge Jr., Veterans of Foreign Wars Representative, District #22

Ed Castillo-Rubio, President/Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Rodolfo Pinon, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Dan Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Mike Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Alfredo Figueroa, Grassroots Organizer, Blythe

Rosalio Plata, Businessman, Cathedral City

Fred Deharo, Former President, Coachella Valley Rotary, La Quinta

Maria Deharo, Director RCOE Migrant Education Program, La Quinta

Gilberto Salcedo, CEO Que Crees Magazine, La Quinta

Greg Cervantes, Tribal Issues Consultant, La Quinta

Adam Sanchez, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club, Desert Hot Springs

Elsa Garcia, Community Resource Specialist, Desert Hot Springs

Father Miguel Ceja, Priest and Activist, Desert Hot Springs

Martin Martinez, CVMACC Co-Founder & Community Activist, Indio

Nadia Villagran, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Indio

Mike Walsh, Coachella Valley Housing Coalition, Indio

Roger Larranaga, Azteca America, Indio

Claudia Castorena, Co-Founder Martha’s Kitchen, Indio

Gloria Gomez, Co-Founder Martha’s Kitchen, Indio

Carlos Gonzalez, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

David Skinner, Educator, Indio

Chris Cuahape, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

Tony Rubio, Grassroots Organizer, Indio

Jim Parkinson, Lawyer, Indio

Roberto Palomino, Director, El Informador Newspaper, Indio  

Leopoldo Trevino Sr. CEO, El Independiente Newspaper, Indio

Edgar Zendejas, Grassroots Organizer, Coachella

Lee Espinoza, Executive Director, Coachella Boxing Club, Coachella

Sal Velasquez, Community Activist, Coachella

Mirna Flores, Executive Director, CET, Coachella

Maria Arcos, Executive Director, Senior Center, Coachella

Elvira Murillo, Executive Director, Vocation and Rehabilitation, Coachella

Abby Figueroa, Community Activist, Coachella

Juanita Godwin, Executive Director, Boys and Girls Club, Coachella

Emmanuel Martinez, Grassroots Organizer, Coachella

Jose Luis Huerta, Grassroots Organizer, Oasis

Anna Lisa Vargas, Grassroots Organizer, Thermal

Gina Chapa, Grassroots Organizer, Thermal

Joe Beaver, Community Activist, Palm Springs

Jarvis Crawford, Community Activist, Palm Springs

Ron Amidon, Community Activist, Calipatria

Dr. Gustavo Galindo, Professor & Grassroots Organizer, Holtville

Juan Arvizu, Probation Officer, Heber

As you know, we need 6 seats in the Assembly to reach a 2/3 majority, and the latest news shows that one of those six is looking good.

I just got the results of an internal poll taken in AD-80 which shows Democrat Manuel Perez with an 11-point lead over Gary Jeandron in the seat currently held by Republican Bonnie Garcia.

AD-80: poll conducted June 10-12, 2008.

Sampling error is +/- 4.9%.

Manuel Perez: 47%

Gary Jeandron: 36%,

18% undecided.

The generic ballot tracks with the poll, as 49% desire a Democrat in the Assembly, to 36% for a Republican.  The registration advantage is in the double digits as well, and the polling memo notes that almost 40% of DTS/Independents and nearly 20% of Republicans are Latino.  Perez is the right fit for this district.  And once bio material is presented, Perez’ lead jumps to 52-39.  Perez’ name ID is higher in the district, too.

Best of all, Perez is a better Democrat, a transformational progressive who will be a real asset to the Assembly and not just a cog in the wheel.

This is not only good news for Perez, but Julie Bornstein as well.  I fully expect Perez to have a strong grassroots operation throughout the district, and where that overlaps with CA-45, that means more Democrats coming out to vote.

You can read the polling memo here.

XPosted 4/25/2008 10:36 AM PDT on MyDesert.com in blog by BluePalmSpringsBoyz

Been away on vacation and come back to major doin’s on the 80th Assembly District campaign trail.  Nicole Brambila (staff writer for The Desert Sun) penned an interesting article today (on mydesert.com) that explains that the Fair Political Practices Commission needs more time to investigate the claim by Greg Rodriguez, candidate for the Palm Springs Unified School District, Hillary Clinton delegate to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Denver, and a supporter of the Greg Pettis for 80th AD that the Victor Manuel ‘Slick Manny’ Perez campaign violated campaign ethics.

Here are portions of Brambila’s article:

The Fair Political Practices Commission requested more time to look into whether it will investigate a formal complaint against an 80th Assembly District candidate (Perez).

Greg Rodriguez, who supports Democratic candidate and Cathedral City Councilman Greg Pettis, filed the complaint against Democratic candidate and Coachella school board trustee Manuel Perez on April 4, accusing him of failing to disclose who paid for his campaign advertising…

More below the flip…

Now, it seems that Dale Wissman, a supporter of Perez and a labor relations representative with the California School Employees Association, filed a FPPC complaint against Richard Gutierrez, another Democratic candidate for the 80th AD.  This after the Perez campaign went off the deep edge about the Rodriguez complaint.  Interesting, what apparently is good for the goose has become good for the gander.  The Perez campaign complaint against Gutierrez claims that Gutierrez had not submitted semiannual and pre-election campaign statements nor disclosed contributor information.

The FPPC was created in a ballot initiative in 1974, investigates violations of the Political Reform Act and can assess a $5,000 administrative penalty. A violation of the political reform act is a misdemeanor.

The only other Democrat in the June primary race is Rick Gonzales, a community development manager for Wells Fargo.  Apparently, the Perez campaign also has plans for Gonzales, according to my source at Palm Springs Village Fest last evening.  In my estimation, the Perez campaign has suffered greatly in the past weeks under the examination of the media regarding Perez’ failures as Vice-President of the Coachella Valley Unified School District.  Recently, the State of California placed only the CVUSD out of 97 Districts threatened under trusteeship for the CVUSD board and Superintendant’s failures to achieve academic goals under the Federal program “No Child Left Behind.”  And, recently, in a significant blow to the Perez campaign, two of his colleagues on the CVUSD endorsed Gonzales for the 80th AD race.  Seems that even his acquaintances and friends are questioning Perez’ capabilities and accomplishments!

The presumptive Republican candidate, former Palm Springs Police Chief Gary Jeandron, is running unopposed and has his own problems.  This blogger has reported extensively regarding Jeandron’s failures on the Palm Springs Unified School District as it was also threatened with trusteeship for academic failures and for his failures as Palm Springs Police Chief in his failure to develop and institute an significant department program to address the problem of crime in the neighborhoods or to deal with the methamphetamine crisis in Palm Springs.  Jeandron has consistently been an absense on the PSUSD and in the PSPD in the development of any program that would help to achieve community goals.

The campaign intensifies and fur flies.

Based on a Post 4/11/2008 6:02 PM PDT on MyDesert.com in BluePalmSpringsBoyz blog

My first exposure to Statistics was in undergraduate school. One of our textbooks was Huff’s “How to Lie With Statistics.”  (Before you question my Statistical knowledge, I also had two semesters, six credits, of Statistics in my Master’s program, and another two semesters, six credits, of same in my doctoral program.)  Oh, the perils of using statistics in either a naive manner or purposefully misrepresenting these little guys.  Seems that bethcaskie, aka soyinkafan, the former a new blogger to mydesert.com has intimate knowledge of this text and put it to good use in her first posting re the Binder Poll recently released. Shame on bethcaskie for her misleading blog title and for the loose interpretation of the Binder Poll.

Bethcaskie entitled her piece, dramatically claiming that Manuel Perez, Vice-President of the failed Coachella Valley Unified School District board and Democratic candidate for the CA 80th Assembly District, leads in the Binder polling. Then she articulated that Perez and Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilman, were actually tied in the poll! How then is Perez ahead? This is a shameful misrepresentation of the facts.

More below the flip…

According to Pettis campaign officials, the actual Binder Poll shows Pettis ahead of his nearest Democratic challenger by 7 percentage points amongst likely primary and general election voters.  Is this the same poll that bethcaskie referenced?  Seems a little askew.  In the Pettis campaign press release, Petts has 22 percent of the total vote and his nearest Democratic challenger has only 15 percent.  Supposing that it is Perez with the 15 percent, and this is a hasty assumption since I do not have access to the polling date, this is hardly either a statistical tie or a manifestation of Perez leading in the poll, even should he be the second-place finisher.

Then, bethcaskie claimed that with ‘education’ the voters dutifully voted for Perez’ candidacy to the detriment of Pettis’.  Just what ‘education’ meant, bethcaskie failed to enunciate.  Given the failures of Perez as Vice-President of the Coachella Valley Unified School District as board Vice-President, the threatened State sanctions due to CVUSD’s failure to meet the requirements of ‘No Child Left Behind,’ and the State placing CVUSD under trusteeship under Perez’ leadership, the Perez campaign is hardly the Great Decider in determining what ‘education’ might be.

Not a very clear argument for Perez being ahead in the polls since Pettis is clearly ahead in the poll amongst likely primary and general election voters, ahead of each of his Democratic rivals, and ahead of the presumptive Republican nominee, Gary Jeandron, another failed leader of another school district threatened with sanctions.  (Pettis leads Jeandron 41% – 39% amongst these likely voters in the Binder poll, according to the Pettis campaign staffer.)

How to Lie with Statistics? Ask the Perez campaign.

Seems that the electronic filing deadline for Election 2008 CA 80th Assembly District came and went without me making any comment on the results.  Well, whether you like it or not here comes my late bloomer blogging about the March 24, 2008, filing.

Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City and Democratic candidate for the 80th AD lead all Democratic and Republican opponents in this filing.  Pettis raised $54,980.43 during this filing period, spent $52,371.86, and has $31,062.71 cash on hand.

Gary Jeandron, boardmember of the Palm Springs Unified School District and presumptive Republican candidate for the 80th AD raised $38,093, spent $39,754.34, and has $148,039.3 on hand campaign monies.

More below the flip…

Manuel Perez, Vice-President of the Coachella Valley Unified School District and Democratic candidate for the 80th AD raised $18,334, spent $22,788.90, and has $31,541.74 cash on hand.

Rick Gonzalez, Wells Fargo Community Development Corp. employee, raised $17,047.93, spent $16,317.41, and has $32,403.63 in available cash.

Richard Guttierrez, dentist, did not file.  Only candidates raising or spending $50,000 or more or who received a $5,000 donation are required to file electronically.  This means that Guttierrez raised less than $50,000, spent less than $50,000, and did not receive any donation in the amount of $5,000 or greater.

Overall, Pettis far-and-away outraised his Democratic and presumptive Republican opposition.  In fact, Pettis seems to have raised more money than his three Democratic challengers combined.  Pettis also outspent his three Democratic rivals combined according to the electronic filing.  Regarding cash on hand, though, each of the three Democratic campaigns have approximately the same funds in current accounts, though Perez at this rate is spending more each month than he is collecting in donations.

Even more interesting is the fact the Pettis outraised Jeandron in this reporting cycle.  In fact, Pettis raised fifty percent more campaign funds than did Jeandron.  Jeandron still has a much better campaign war chest as we head towards November.  In fact, observers have noted that Jeandron has begun to spend advertising monies on AirAmerica, a progressive talk radio station, that airs in the Coachella Valley on a local station.

At least in this reporting period, the donations in the Coachella Valley are mimicking those on the National level where Democrats are outraising and outspending the Republicans.  The difference is that on the National level, Democrats also have a huge campaign war chest.

In a brilliant parliamentary maneuver, the Victor Manuel Perez for CA 80th Assembly District campaign to replace the termed out, thank God, Bonnie Garcia (R-CA), the Perez forces by one vote were able to keep Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City, from retaining the California Democratic Party endorsement for Assembly.  (Perez is Vice-President of the failed school board in the Coachella Valley Unified School District.)  However, the short-term battle victory may possibly cost the Democrats not only the 80th in the November general election, but also cost them the majority that they need to ignore the demands of the recalictrant minority Republicans in the Assembly.

A major factor developing in the campaign and one of which I have been consistently blogging on mydesert.com, the online edition of The Desert Sun, is the fact that Gary Jeandron, presumptive Republican candidate for the 80th AD is a boardmember of the Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD).  Recently, the State of California Board of Education threatened actions and/or sanctions against 97 school boards across the state that failed to meet state academic goals and the requirements of the Federally unfunded ‘No Child Left Behind.’  As a result, California threatened sanctions against the PSUSD and the board for the academic failures in the District.  Jeandron, as boardmember, and running for the 80th cites his education background and experience as instrumental to his qualifications for the office.  However, the threatened sanctions are a major demerit and campaign issue.

This is relevant to Perez as he is Vice-President of the failed CVUSD board which according to the State, had more problems than any other school district in California this year.

More below the flip…

The state actions against the CVUSD and its board are much more severe as their failures were more significant.  The CVUSD District was threatened with state takeover but the state action only involved installation of a trustee to oversee and possibly veto any District and/or board action (State assigns trustee to CVUSD to improve test scores):

“Coachella Valley Unified School District will get a trustee and a state-approved team of independent experts to help improve student test scores, state board members decided this afternoon.

The state board named Riverside County Superintendent Kenneth Young as the district’s trustee, which will give him veto powers over superintendent and board decisions.

But Young said he will work collaboratively with the district.”

The CVUSD was the ONLY district to receive trustee oversight.  Perez as V-P and long-term boardmember bears major responsibility for the failures of the District, its teachers, and its students.  That the CVUSD is suffering such consequences for the academic failures not only raises the question of Perez’ qualifications for Assembly, especially in the area of education, but also blunts the criticism of Jeandron.

If Democrats in the 80th Assembly District choose Perez as the candidate, one of the major issues in the campaign against Jeandron is either removed from the table due to mutual assured destruction on this issue or becomes even more of an issue given the CVUSD is the only District in the state that was assigned a trustee.

Having a ‘well-spoken’ or ‘charismatic’ candidate will not soften the damage to the local Democratic campaign to re-take this seat in November 2008.  Style will not win where substance can win.  Greg Pettis, Mayor Pro-tem of Cathedral City, unlike Perez and Jeandron, is untainted by the failures of the CVUSD and PSUSD school boards and Districts.  In addition, Pettis has the endorsements of State Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-49), Member California State Assembly Committee on Education, El Centro School Board Trustee Diana Newton, and Palm Springs Unified School Board Trustee Meredy Schoenberger.