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

Portions XPosted 8/3/2008 11:23 AM PDT on MyDesert.com

According to one of my activist friends, a former deacon of a religious extremist church in Utah, who attends an evangelical megachurch in the Coachella Valley in order to monitor its adherence to the tax code as it applies to its tax exempt status, churches across America today began ‘100 Days of Prayer’ against Marriage Equality and cajolled their members and attendees to vote in favor of Proposition 8 and defeat gay marriage at the polls in November.

Proposition 8 is an amendment to the California State Constitution that would ban Marriage Equality and would dictate that marriage is only between ‘a man and a woman.’ Prop 8 is another in a long line of attempts by out-of-state religious extremist organizations that attempts to further the religious extremist agenda as a step towards fomenting theocracy rather than democracy in the United States of America:

(Proposition 8) (a)mends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The measure would have no fiscal effect on state or local governments. This is because there would be no change to the manner in which marriages are currently recognized by the state. (Initiative 07-0068.) (Full Text)

From the pulpit of the church, directly in violation of the principles of the separation of church and state, church leaders discussed the impending vote on Prop 8 and advised members to not only ‘pray’ for the success of the proposition, but to also vote for Prop 8.  My friend advises that in churchspeak, this use of the term ‘pray’ means ‘send money.’

More below the flip…

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has investigated churches that in violation of their tax-exempt status exhort attendees to vote particular ways.  Recently, those investigations have been suspiciously limited to more mainstream, more liberal churches.  It is not against the law for, say, a minister, priest, or rabbi to state how he or she will vote, but it is against the law to encourage attendees to vote in a particular manner.  The most extreme penalty for the latter action is removal of tax-exempt status.

In 2005, the IRS began to investigate All Saints Church in Pasadena, CA and its guest minister, George Regas.  According to National Public Radio, Regas issued a sermon from the pulpit about a hypthetical conversation between Jesus, Pres. George W. Bush, and Sen. John Kerry. For that effort, someone filed a complaint with the IRS, and the IRS threatened to remove the tax exempt status of the church, claiming that Regas’ sermon constituted an endorsement of Kerry. The IRS renewed its investigation in 2006.  However, All Saints Church refused to comply with the investigation.  Finally, in September 2007, the IRS bowed to public pressure and to the church and terminated its investigation.  In response, Rector Ed Bacon demanded that the IRS apologize and that the IRS be investigated.

In an attempt to strengthen democracy and to prevent institution of theocracy in America, more and more progressives and activists are attending religious extremist churches in order to monitor potentially illegal activities.

Americans United: for Separation of Church and State indicates that the greatest threat to the separation of church and state is the so-called ‘Religious Right:’

The single greatest threat to church-state separation in America is the movement known as the Religious Right. Organizations and leaders representing this religio-political crusade seek to impose a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint on all Americans through government action.

Americans United, as part of our educational responsibility, regularly monitors the agenda and activities of the Religious Right. We share our research with journalists, elected officials and all Americans who care about church-state separation, democracy and pluralism.

BlueBeaumontBoyz wonders how quickly the IRS will begin an investigation into churches’ endorsement of Prop 8 from pulpits across America.

Next time, my friend promises not funble his video/audio recorder and promises to provide the smoking gun.  Kudos to those who are working to preserve democracy in America!

Portions XPosted on MyDesert.com

Former-President Bill Clinton, during his initial race to the Presidency, had a saying, “It’s the economy, stupid.”  The focus on the failings of the Bush economy lead to Clinton’s election and swept the supply-side Republicans from office for eight years.  Eight years of Democratic-lead prosperity, balanced budgets, and a peace-time economic bonanza for small business and working class families.

Now, America is faced with another economic debacle thanks to another member of the Bush family and to supply-side Republican economic policies that only benefit the rich and big business.  Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), presumptive Democratic nominee for the Presidency in Election 2008, has a detailed plan to strengthen the U.S. economy and to deliver us from eight years of mismanagement.

Obama’s plan is especially needed in the Coachella Valley with California one of the states hardest hit by the housing crisis, predatory lending, and rising commodity prices, with Riverside County one of the hardest hit counties, and with the Inland Empire, the San Gorgonio Pass, and the Coachella Valley as some of the hardest hit local regions.

More below the flip…

Over the course of the next few days, I will review Obama’s plan with a focus on:

• jumpstart the economy
• provide middle class Americans with tax relief
• trade
• job creation
• support small business
• labor
• protect homeownership & crackdown on mortgage fraud
• address predatory credit card practices
• reform bankruptcy laws
• work/family balance

On September 17, 2007, Obama stated:

“I believe that America’s free market has been the engine of America’s great progress. It’s created a prosperity that is the envy of the world. It’s led to a standard of living unmatched in history. And it has provided great rewards to the innovators and risk-takers who have made America a beacon for science, and technology, and discovery…We are all in this together. From CEOs to shareholders, from financiers to factory workers, we all have a stake in each other’s success because the more Americans prosper, the more America prospers.”

– Barack Obama, New York, NY, September 17, 2007

Unfortunately, Obama’s Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has stated that he has little to no knowledge concerning things economic.  Lucky us if McCain is elected as President of the United States.

Yesterday morning, Agxibel Barajas greeted me from the front page of our local paper, The Desert Sun.  Agxibel is the office manager and scheduler for Manuel Perez, the powerful progressive Democratic candidate for California’s  80th Assembly District.  We’re going to lose her in the fall when she heads to law school, and that’s going to hurt.  She and Manuel go way back:

Six years ago, Agxibel Barajas was asked what she wanted to do with her life.

“Her response was: ‘I hope to be the first woman president of the United States,'” said Manuel Perez, who at the time was a field representative for Assembly candidate Joey Acuña.

Barajas had arrived at his office wanting to volunteer her services for Acuña’s campaign.

Six years later, the Coachella native is featured in a documentary by “Mad, Hot Ballroom” writer Amy Sewell that attempts to get people talking about why the United States has yet to elect a female president.

Coachella resident Agxibel Barajas, 22, took part in CosmoGirl magazine’s Project 2024, which gave Barajas the opportunity to intern with Merrill Lynch for eight weeks and led her to be a part of the documentary “What’s Your Point, Honey?” The documentary looks at women in politics. She was photographed in her home Monday in Coachella. (Marilyn Chung, The Desert Sun)

Agxibel rocks, but it took this article for me to get a better idea of her accomplishments, because she downplayed this when we talked about it the night before the primary.  This campaign is rich in excellent people like Agxibel, just doing their part to restore California and change America.  Of course, most of us aren’t quite this young!  With women like this coming up, we’re going to be just fine.

“My parents were farmworkers for a long time. I’m a first-generation college student,” she said.

Eyes on the Oval Office?

Does she really want to run for president someday?

“Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t,” she said. “I’m not going to say no because you never know.”

Barajas is no newcomer to politics.  She volunteered for Acuña’s campaign, and is now working for Perez’s 80th Assembly District seat campaign as his office manager/scheduler.

Perez said he has no doubt she will succeed at whatever she decides to do.

“She’s going to do a lot of great things in her future,” he said. “She’s very effective in what she does, very efficient, very thorough in her work, and definitely a leader for others in the community.”

Crossposted at dKos

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.

Disclosure:  I’ve been with this campaign since the 2007 CDP Convention.

Manuel Perez has a significant, double-digit lead over his Republican opponent and

is well-positioned to win back the seat for Democrats in California’s 80th Assembly

 That’s the latest polling we have (Source: Heidi von Szeliski and Associates), and it looks good all over.

This has been a district made for Democrats to win since the last redistricting, and yet we’ve lost over and over.  But now California Democrats are heading into the general of a key battleground for our 2/3 majority fight with four major factors in our favor:  numbers, nominee, polling and ground game.  

Maps, polling, links galore over the flip.  Crossposted at dKos.

Here’s the latest campaign release (hyperlinks are mine):

Advantage #1: The Numbers – Manuel has a huge advantage in registration as Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 10%.  In addition, Manuel has strong crossover appeal, as nearly 40% of DTS/Independents and nearly 20% of Republicans are Latino.  

Advantage #2: The Nominee – Manuel grew up in both parts of the district and has strong roots in both Imperial and Riverside Counties.  Manuel provides healthcare to children, seniors and families within all parts of the district as Health Director for community health clinics.  He’s an education leader and former teacher in the district helping build new schools and modernize classrooms.  Manuel also knows first hand the struggles of families and has worked towards job creation and economic development in the area – he will win on the issues that matter most in the district.

Advantage #3: The Polling – General election polling shows Manuel has a big advantage: “Even at this early stage in the race, Perez has opened up a substantial lead against Jeandron, garnering 47% of the vote, just three points shy from a majority.  Gary Jeandron trails far behind at 36%, with 18% of voters still undecided. While some voters initially hold back from committing to a candidate, once they hear more about both candidates with only positive and biographical statements pulled from their own websites and campaign materials, Perez jumps ahead even further, capturing a majority of the vote (52%), while Jeandron falls further behind, only reaching 39%,” said pollster Heidi von Szeliski.

Advantage #4: The Ground Operation – Manuel Perez is a grassroots organizer and won a four candidate primary in which three candidates were Latino because of his strong ground and GOTV operations. The campaign knocked on more doors, ID’ed more supporters and GOTV’ed more voters.  Grassroots made the difference in June and will make the difference in November.  (Hat tip to the brave and brilliant labor organizers, who pulled their weight and then some along with the campaign volunteers.)  

For more information on Manuel Perez and to download the complete polling memo, please visitwww.manuelperezforassembly.com/news.htm

I’m going to Netroots Nation tomorrow, as last year, with happy tidings of a candidate who meets the netroots demand for more and better Democrats.    Show the love here at his ActBlue page.

The Political Insider of the Desert Sun was surprised to find Steve Clute with us at Manuel Perez’s victory party last week.  We weren’t.  When Manuel Perez announced his candidacy for the 80th AD, Steve Clute was there.  Steve Clute was part of our kickoff, and his endorsement quote headed the original website:  “Manuel has the heart, corazon, to truly represent the people of this district.” Clute left me a classy message before the campaign, and called me afterwards to thank me again for my work on behalf of Manuel.  He made that call to everyone heavily involved in the campaign.  

As we head into the general election, it’s appropriate to take a moment to appreciate what a mensch Steve Clute’s been throughout this campaign.

Crossposted to dKos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/…

After he fell off the public radar screen, the Sizzler restaurant in Coachella was one of the last places we (the Political Insider) expected to have a Steve Clute sighting.  Yet at Tuesday’s victory party for Manuel Perez, that’s exactly where we found the one-time Democratic nominee for the 80th who had lost the 2006 election to incumbent Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia.

“It’s great to be here with Manuel Perez, his family and everybody who worked so hard to congratulate them on a fantastic campaign,” Clute said.

Clute backed a winner, as Perez pulled out a primary election victory over three opponents. He’ll face Republican Gary Jeandron in the November general election for the 80th Assembly.  Garcia, a Cathedral City Republican, can’t run again because of term limits.

“I think Manuel is someone who knows the district,” Clute said. “He’s well-educated and committed to the people who live here.”

Like Manuel Perez in 2008, Steve Clute had vigorous support from the education community during his 2006 race:

Allen Tarzwell, teacher, quoted in the California Progess Report back in 06:

Teachers are supporting Steve Clute for Assembly. Clute, a navy veteran who has served in the legislature before, is a moderate Democrat with common sense approaches to problems. He’s someone who supports education and other causes that are near and dear to teachers, like children’s health care. He’s right on the issues and he’s got the experience to get the job done.

It seems much longer than a year ago that Steve Clute first stood with Manuel, the longshot candidate, grassroots champion of working families, teachers, students, women, and healthcare providers:

From the campaign kickoff press release:

Educator and Health Proponent Manuel Perez and former Assemblyman Steve Clute to share their vision of the future of the California State Assembly, 80th District

– Press Conference –

Cathedral City, CA – April, 18, 2007

– Healthcare Proponent and Educator Manuel Perez to announce his bid to be the next 80th District Assemblyman, 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007, in front of the Cathedral City City Hall.

Joining him on the campaign kick-off and three-stop tour of the 80th District is former Assemblyman Steve Clute, community leaders and friends of the Manuel Perez for the California State Assembly, 80th District Campaign.

Cathedral City, CA

When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Where: Cathedral City Civic Center, in front of City Hall

68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero, Cathedral City

Coachella, CA

When: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday

Where: Eleanor Shadowen Senior Center

1540 7th Street, Downtown Coachella

El Centro, CA

When: 2 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Antonio’s Restaurant

215 N. Imperial Avenue, El Centro

Manuel Perez brings to this critical time the key attributes of leadership which have become all too rare: a warm heart; a cool head; a fair mind; fresh ideas; a belief in people; and an unwavering desire to attend to the needs of others. Best of all, he brings an unbroken record of real achievements.

Now Manuel Perez heads into the general election, ready to take the 80th AD back for the Democrats, one more progressive for the 2/3 majority.  The crucial 2/3/ majority is all the more feasible now, and in a large part thanks to Steve Clute, who spoke up early and stands with Manuel all the way.

Thank you, Steve Clute.

XPosted on MyDesert.com

As I reported in an earlier blog, Dale Wissman, California School Employees Association, wrote a piece that disrespected Julie Bornstein, Democratic Nominee for the 45th Congressional District, Greg Pettis, former-Democratic Candidate for the 80th Assembly District, Pettis’ supporters and bloggers, The Desert Sun, and the TDS’ editorial staff and reporters.  Rather than focus on the Victor Manuel Perez victory Tuesday in the Democratic primary for the 80th AD and on solidifying support for Perez amongst the West Valley Democrats and Decline to States, Wissman chose to go beyond the pale, to gloat about his responsibility for the victory, and to slam all of his perceived opponents.  Wissman’s email was then published on his cousin’s blog, sending shockwaves through the Coachella Valley.  (BBBz note: blog has now deleted the offensive post.)

Wissman, in response to intense public pressure from local Democratic club leadership, including President of the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club George Zander, and to the increasing dismay of the Perez camp for the resulting alienation of local Democratic Club leadership, Democratic electeds in the West Valley, and the local Democratic activists and bloggers (soyinkafan’s “West Valley elite”), apologized for the publication of his offensive email.

More below the flip…

Although assuming responsibility for his inappropriate missive, Wissman, did not apologize for the tenor or the content of his writing.  The following is the email Wissman sent out to local Democrats:

I would like to apologize for putting everyone through this.  I can’t tell you how bad I feel about this.  It was never my intention for anyone other than CSEA staff to see this email.  Written with high spirits on the morning after election night, the email went out only to top CSEA staff.   No CSEA members received this email, and only about two dozen CSEA staff members actually received it, one of which is married to Randy Bayne, my cousin.  It was a kind of “insider baseball” email that wasn’t supposed to see the light of day, but of course it did.  

The email/blog certainly does not reflect well on me or CSEA, and as long it stays that way I’m fine with that.  But, please don’t let this reflect poorly on Manuel, who had absolutely nothing to do with this email, does not condone it, and will no doubt let me know just how pissed off he is about it.  Once again, my email to CSEA staff, in no way reflects the sentiment of Manuel Perez’s camp, which is very much focused on solidifying Democratic support in all areas of the AD80, especially in the much needed and hugely important Westside.  

Once again, I would like to apologize..  It was never my intention that Greg, or anyone outside of CSEA staff, see that correspondence.

Dale Wissman

Labor Relations Representative

California School Employees Association

(760) 564-1141 office

(760) 564-2241 fax

Fallout from the offensive blog continues as apparently one of the unions linked to Wissman is not at all amused by the email, by the blog posting, or by its impact on local Democratic leaders.

As the Perez and Pettis campaigns began to kiss and make up, Dale Wissman, CSEA, posted a blog that brought the detente to an abrupt, and quite possibley, permenant, halt.  Wissman disrespected Julie Bornstein, Democratic Candidate for the 45th Congressional District, Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilmember and former-Candidate for the 80th AD, Pettis’ supporters and bloggers, the Democratic Clubs that supported Pettis, the unions that supported Pettis, The Desert Sun which endorsed Pettis over Perez, and the Desert Sun editorial staff and reporters.

Wissman could not have alienated potential support in the West Valley any more than he just did in his mydesert.com blog.

Wissman has apparently not been heeding the role modeling enacted by the Sen. Barack Obama campaign with Sen. Hillary Clinton and her supporters.  Then again, the Obama and Clinton campaigns involve veteran staffers who do know how to ‘kiss and make up.’

The response of George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club and Wissman’s original blog are all posted below.

Wissman’s blog posting that may cost Perez and Democrats the 80th AD:

First of all, Manuel Perez would like me to thank all of you for your participation in his AD80 Primary win last night. Manuel Perez recognizes the central roll that CSEA [California School Employees Association] made in this victory, and he said to a crowd of about 150 last night that CSEA “was there from the beginning, never wavered, and made all the difference when it counted.” Perez, the grassroots underdog. won by an overwhelming margin last night over Greg Pettis, the Cathedral City Councilman. Pettis, narrowly avoided a third place finish against Rick Gonzales, who ran a strong campaign in Imperial County.

Major thanks and kudos to the RCFO [Rancho Cucamonga Field Office] members and staff who came out and sweated through four weekends of precinct walking for Perez, including the 30-40 CSEA faithful on the ground in Coachella each day for the big push leading up to the Primary Election yesterday. We were the most organized, most dedicated, and most numerous union members on the ground by far engaged with the Perez campaign. This is an undeniable fact commented on by everyone in the Perez camp, not the least of which was the candidate, Manuel Perez.

Major thanks and kudos to the SDFO [San Diego Field Office] members and staff who came out to work the Perez Campaign in Imperial County. Perez’s success in Imperial County was due in large part to Ruth Duarte-Vasquez, who worked the Imperial side of the AD80 equation with a small, but very dedicated group of member release timers. Ruth’s deep knowledge of the community, and personal relationships with CSEA members and the community was part and parcel to our success in Imperial County. We had just a few short weeks to weld together a Riverside/Imperial coalition of the CSEA faithful, and although it wasn’t easy, we found a way to break down the barriers that have kept us from success for so long in the AD80. I can confidently say CSEA was most likely responsible for as many as one-quarter to one-third of the 2,200 Perez votes in Imperial County and maybe even more. Without a doubt, CSEA’s efforts in Imperial County put our guy over the top. Once again, MAJOR KUDOS to Ruth Duarte-VasQuez for her work on this campaign in Imperial County.

Major thanks and kudos to Government Relations, which in working through Opportunity Pac, helped sort out a difficult primary when the Speaker’s Office didn’t have the will or the way to do so. I’m understating it when I say we dodged a bullet down here. Had Greg Pettis won last night, we would have already lost the General Election to Gary Jeandron, the Republican in the race. In addition, all of the ground organization and momentum in the Perez Campaign that other candidates have been feeding off and plugging into (such as our DSUSD [Desert Sands Unified School District] school Board candidate, John Mendoza, and Julie Bornstein, the CD45 candidate) would have simply evaporated.

For those of you who weren’t on the ground yesterday, or who left after a hard day of GOTV activities, I want to share with you some of the events of last night. The voter turnout was abysmal, but those voting were overwhelmingly Perez votes. Still, at about 7 p.m. last night, it was gut check time. Were there enough actual Perez voters to overcome the Palm Springs voters, who traditionally vote at a much, much higher turnout rate? And what about the absentee ballots? We knew they’d to go to Greg Pettis, but when Riverside and Imperial posted their first numbers would Perez be down by 1,000 votes or 3,000? That was the mood of the campaign at 7 p.m.

When the Victory Celebration Party began in earnest at 8:30 p.m., we had little information from Imperial, and only the VBM information posted on the Riverside Co. website. We were down over a 1,000 votes and losing 45% to 30%. Keith Matheny, the outstanding reporter from the Desert Sun was in the room in Coachella reporting the events. Matheny, you may recall, was the reporter who did the “Bonnie’s Bed” story in 2006, and most recently the Mosquito District exposé. His co-worker, Marcel Honore, was camped out at the Pettis’ camp’s party, and Marcel and Kieth were communicating every 5-10 minutes by cell phone.

At 8:30 p.m. things started to get strange. Perez’s camp was subdued, but the energy was hopeful and it was building. At about 8:40 p.m, with no real data yet from either county, Greg Pettis puts out a press release and states to the Desert Sun that he is “looking forward to Lincoln-Douglas style debates with Gary Jeandron.” AT 8:40 p.m. with BASICALLY NO RETURNS OTHER THAN VBMs. PETTIS ALL BUT DECLARES VICTORY!!! What arrogance! What stupidity. Since the Dems have lost the 80th three times in a row due to Imperial County voters, making any statement about winning to the press before Imperial County votes have been counted (much less Indio and Coachella) shows an abject lack of judgment, as well as a fundamental misunderstanding about the structure of the 80th Assembly District.

As the returns started coming in from Imperial County, we began to close the gap. The Pettis camp put out another press release changing their tune saying that voter turnout was going to be the “X-factor.” By 10:30 p.m., we were running 3-1 over Pettis in Imperial County and actually winning the county narrowly over Gonzalez. A surge due to advertising blitzes by Gutierrez never materialized for the Dentist, and it became a two man race in Imperial County. Most significantly, Pettis had only some hundreds of votes in Imperial at that time. Manuel Perez was speaking to the crowd of supporters when the next Imperial County update hit. Perez had picked up nearly 600 more votes, while Pettis got about 80! For the first time, Perez took the lead, a lead he did not relinquish. A roar erupted from the area where the computers were, and everyone in that room started to feel that Perez was going to win. There is no way to explain the energy in that room. People had just poured themselves into that campaign, and for most of the time, they didn’t believe they were going to win. So. when the win started to materialize. it was pandemonium.

At about 10:45 p.m., the Pettis camp stated that they were confident of a Pettis win, and their numbers “based on the 2006 model” showed Pettis winning the primary by “186 votes.” Marcel Honore, the Desert reporter, is a bit of a wag. He asked, the Pettis spokesman, if he was sure Pettis would win by “186 votes” and not 182, or maybe 189. In any case, the Pettis camp left a few minutes, later. It was crickets in Palm Springs. Meanwhile, in Coachella at the Perez Victory Party, the Mariachi Band (really!) was kicking up a storm. It turned into a landslide victory for Perez.

For months, Pettis’ camp has attacked CSEA as a “rogue” union. The Riverside/San Bernardino CLC initially did not even bother to interview the other AD80 candidates before making a decision to back Greg Pettis. CSEA delegates to the Democratic Convention were attacked as “racist, homophobic bigots” multiple times in the Desert Sun for standing up to Pettis and vacating his Democratic Party endorsement at the Convention in San Jose. The Desert Sun did everything possible to slight Manuel: they left his picture out in one column, omitted his name in another, got his job and employer wrong in another, slammed him in another, printed other candidates press negative press releases verbatim, and built up Pettis as the straw man the whole way, ultimately endorsing Pettis in the very real hopes that the Republican would mow him down in the primary.

My wife and I were slammed in the Desert Sun and on the on-line blogs for daring to write an editoral that suggested that “democrats ignore Imperial County at their own peril,” while questioning Pettis’ insider clambake of the Democratic Party endorsement through Democratic Club votes. And then there was the initial difficulties of CSEA unifying Riverside/RCFO [Rancho Cucamonga Field Office] and Imperial/SDFO, [San Diego Field Office] which almost didn’t happen. It was touch and go there for a little while, especially for a Labor Relations Representative from the Coachella Valley who appreciates and respects, more than anyone will ever know, the capacity of the members and staff in Imperial County, which is perhaps the single most difficult place in California to represent CSEA members.

All of that was going against us.

We won anyhow.

We’ll win in November.

Post-script:

There was something absolutely magical happening in Coachella yesterday, and I just “got it” on an emotional level. RCFO staff may recall Manuel Perez, while doing the big “rah-rah” yesterday, got a bit emotional introducing his mother. Perez’s mother worked in the fields as a laborer for 27 years. She is a first generation immigrant from Mexico, and her son was on the precipice of becoming the Democratic candidate for the General Election. She was in tears, as were many others. It was certainly a loving moment between a mother and her son, but it was something much, much more. It was something so uniquely American, and yet something so rare, that it overwhelmed some of the Perez volunteers, not to mention the CSEA staff and members in attendance. It was the shared success of an immigrant family in America. It was hope. It was the validation that a poor kid from Coachella, who went to underfunded, hard-scrabble schools, who struggled to learn English, who had little resources, and only hope that America could provide him opportunity for his dreams: the opportunity to go to college, even to go to Harvard if he worked hard enough; and to run for an Assembly seat, and actually win – all of this came to the forefront for a few moments. It was generations of work and sacrifice, and decades of hope distilled into one moment.

The whole fact that the Perez family’s story is possible in America, and yet still not very probable, is why we must do everything possible to help him win in November.

Dale Wissman Dale Wissman is a Labor Relations Representative with the California School Employees Association. He represents classified school employees in Coachella Valley and surrounding area. He is also an appointed delegate to the DSCC from the 80th Assembly District, and is my cousin. This article was originally written as a thank you to CSEA members and others who volunteered on the Manuel Perez Assembly campaign and is reprinted with the author’s permission.

Zander’s response:

Nice. Just when I was about to offer my services to help MP win the west valley, which we could have done togeter- this.  My reaction is let the pompous arrogant Wissman – die in November.

Manny doesn’t deserve this rant. Manny is better than this. He is gracious in winning and so is Amalia. My not very sainted mother told me not to be a bad winner..this is beyond the pale.  Wissman’s mom failed him in that lesson.

Just when we were going to start the Kum bay a oh well …I have better things to do….sorry Manny.  What a jerk is Mr Wissman, and we could have won in November by joining together.  Not now.

Obama, Bornstein, and the hate initiative are priorities.  Thank you sooo much.

George Zander