Shane Goldmacher is a former reporter for Capitol Weekly. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley, where he served as editor of the Berkeley Political Review.

E-mail Shane


  • National NAACP bucks CA chapter, backs tobacco tax initiative
  • NAACP's Huffman assailed for tobacco, telecom payments
  • Schwarzenegger targets the 'ElimiDate Voter'
  • Legislators tap Sacramento interests for campaign cash
  • New York developer's eminent-domain crusade comes to California
  • Schwarzenegger's election-year olive branches
  • Dems, Gov. tapped same spots for campaign cash
  • Schwarzenegger has a special interest in Capitol-area money
  • Schwarzenegger's million-dollar woman
  • The kings and queens of the California political quotation
  • All about Phil: Angelides is strategist in own campaign
  • "Women of the year" married to men of Legislature
  • With new law, chase for campaign cash becomes family affair
  • High school student gives governor $44,600
  • Going to interview with CTA? Be sure to look into the camera
  • David Crane: Arnold's other Democratic adviser
  • The rise of the blogs: How the GOP uses the Web to organize




  • 1A: 76.9-23.1
    1B: 61.3-38.7
    1C: 57.4-42.6
    1D: 56.6-43.4
    1E: 64-36
    83: 70.6-29.4
    84: 53.7-46.3
    85: 45.9-54.1
    86: 48-52
    87: 45.2-54.8
    88: 23-77
    89: 25.5-74.5
    90: 47.6-52.4

    U.S. Sen.
    Feinstein 59.7
    Mountjoy 34.9
    Gov.
    Schwarzenegger 55.8
    Angelides 39.2
    Lt. Gov
    Garamendi 49.5
    McClintock 44.9
    Atty. Gen.
    Brown 56.7
    Poochigian 37.9
    Sec. of state
    Bowen 48.5
    McPherson 44.7
    Treasurer
    Lockyer 54.8
    Parrish 37
    Controller
    Chiang 50.9
    Strickland 40.1
    Insur. Comm.
    Poizner 50.7
    Bustamante 38.9

    For complete election results click here.


    Gov.
    Angelides 48.2
    Westly 43.1
    Lt. Gov
    Garamendi 42.9
    Speier 39.3
    Figueroa 17.8
    Atty. Gen.
    Brown 63.2
    Delgadillo 36.8
    Sec. of state
    Bowen 61.1
    Ortiz 38.9
    Treasurer
    Parrish 56.4
    Richman 43.6
    Controller
    Democratic primary
    Chiang 53.4
    Dunn 46.6
    Republican primary
    Strickland 40.9
    Maldonado 36.9
    Insur. Comm.
    Bustamante 70.5
    Kraft 29.5
    Supt. of Schools
    O'Connell 52.5, avoids run-off

    For complete election results click here.


    73: 47.4-52.6
    74: 45-55
    75: 46.6-53.4
    76: 38-62
    77: 40.5-59.5
    78: 41.5-58.5
    79: 38.9-61.1
    80: 34.3-65.7

    For complete election results click here.


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    Friday, June 30, 2006

    You've got numbers

    The secretary of state has issued numbers for all the measures on the fall ballot. They are:

    1A: This is the Prop. 42 fix authored by Sen. Tom Torlakson

    1B: $20 billion transportation bond

    1C: $2.9 billion housing bond

    1D: $10.4 billion education bond

    1E: $4 billion levee bond

    83: Jessica's Law

    84: $5.4 Environmental Bond

    85: Prop 73 redux/Parental Notification

    86: Cigarette tax for healthcare

    87: Oil tax for alternative fuels

    88: Education parcel tax

    89: Public financing of campaigns

    90: Eminent Domain initiative

    Gov. on budget

    Today the governor will sign the budget. And he has a piece in the Union-Tribune on the document.

    Nurses add members

    Nurses at the Doctor's Medical Center of Modesto have voted to join the California Nurses Association. That adds about 825 nurses to CNA'S rolls.

    Thursday, June 29, 2006

    Cable bill moves on

    The Senate utilities committee has passed AB 2987, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez's legislation to the state's broadband market to leading phone companies AT&T and Verizon.

    It now moves to the Senate appropriations committee.

    On time and on budget

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign the budget before the start of the fiscal year tomorrow morning in a signing ceremony at the Capitol rotunda.

    Redistricting postponed

    Sen. Alan Lowenthal has postponed bringing his redistricting measure for a vote until August.

    New in CW 06.29.06

    Been running all around the Capitol today, so sorry for the late start to posting. I've got three stories in Capitol Weekly today.

    Angelides, Schwarzenegger square off in cyberspace

    "Vote for Phil today," urged e-mails from gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides and the California Democratic Party last week. Although Angelides will not face Gov. Schwarzenegger for more than four months, his campaign urged supporters to help make the treasurer a 'Progressive Patriot' this week.

    The prize: a $5,000 campaign contribution from the political action committee of U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin, which sponsored the election among Democrats nationwide.

    Angelides won. But more important than the cash are the cyberspace rights, and the demonstration of grassroots strength. The exercise was one more example of the energy that Angelides and Schwarzenegger are putting into mobilizing the 'netroots,' as online supporters are now known.


    Prison guards give $22,300 to Angelides--but don't endorse him

    California's prison guards have given Democratic gubernatorial challenger Phil Angelides a maximum $22,300 donation, but representatives for the powerful union say the contribution does not constitute an endorsement.

    "While we continue to evaluate the direction we are going to take in the fall, we do recognize that candidates have to be able to reach out to the voting public and voice their vision for California," said Lance Corcoran, spokesman for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA).

    The union has not donated to Gov. Schwarzenegger's campaign.


    Cable joins telecom in backing overhaul of broadband regs

    California's powerful telephone and cable companies, bitter rivals who been at loggerheads for months, came together Tuesday for the first time to jointly support a revised proposal to carve up the state's multibillion-dollar broadband-Internet and video-services market.

    Wednesday, June 28, 2006

    Articles of Impeachment--Berkeley-style

    The city council of Berkeley is the first in the nation to put the question of whether or not to impeach President Bush before voters.

    The AP has the story.

    Pay attention--or else

    The AP has the story about activists registering Latino voters.

    Immigrant rights groups have a message for unsympathetic politicians around the country: Change your stand or risk getting voted out of office.

    A coalition of unions, Hispanic activists and religious groups is trying to convert the massive street protests of recent months into long-term political power by launching nationwide citizenship and voter registration drives Saturday in at least 19 states.

    The effort known as "Democracy Summer" aims to register a million new voters and convince many of the 8 million legal residents in this country to apply for citizenship.

    Such applications are already up nearly 20 percent over past year - possibly boosted by more interest in political participation and fear that immigration laws will change.

    "We want to make sure no politician will dare propose the criminalization of immigrants in the future," said Angela Sembrano, a top organizer in Los Angeles.

    Budget passes

    Ok, you so can read the details here.

    One press release of note was Sen. Abel Maldonado's criticism of the budget--using the same language as Gov. Schwarzenegger's reelection team.

    “When deciding to vote for this budget I asked myself, does this budget move California forward or back? The answer is simple: it moves California backward," said Maldonado in a press release. “This budget spends $9.9 billion that hardworking taxpayers unexpectedly sent us in a good year and spends another $7 billion we do not have. This budget puts less than two-percent away for a rainy day. The fact of the matter is, after we leave tonight we’re still saddled with a $4.6 billion deficit next year."

    I am not the only one to notice this. Steve Frank, a perennial Maldonado-baiter had this to say:

    When someone speaks the truth, he deserves to be heard. Below is a press release sent out tonight by Senator Abel Maldonado. In it, he clearly states that the just approved budget by the governor and the Democrats (with GOP votes to pass it) "moves California backward".

    I am a little surprised at this wording. The Governors Team has millions of dollars of ads on TV claiming Angelides would move the State backwards--yet Abel is now claiming that a budget bill, largely designed by the Governor, and soon to be signed by the Governor, moves the State backward--thereby nullifying the ad campaign of the Governor. I wonder why Abel is now taking on the Governor?

    Tuesday, June 27, 2006

    De-rail

    The governor has signed AB 713 by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Newark, which will postpone the vote on a high-speed rail bond until 2008

    Phil: A Progressive Patriot

    Phil Angelides has won U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold's competition to be honored as a 'Progressive Patriot.'

    He now receives $5,000 from the Feingold PAC.

    “I am proud to support Phil Angelides. Phil is running for Governor to increase educational opportunities, provide higher quality health care to more people, and protect taxpayers by fighting corporate corruption.” Feingold said. “I am happy to contribute $5,000 to his campaign and am pleased to add him to our growing list of Progressive Patriots.”

    The Lobbying Report

    Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has issued a comprehensive report on the state of lobbying in California in the last year. Overall, interest groups spent a combined $227,940,496 last year.

    The biggest spender was also the biggest campaign spender last year: The California Teachers Association at $9,456,813

    The rest of the top 10 are:

    1. California Teachers Association -- $9,456,813 2. AT&T and its affiliates -- $4,065,146 3. Western States Petroleum Association -- $3,130,034 4. California Chamber of Commerce -- $2,570,516 5. California State Council of Service Employees -- $2,014,715 6. Edison International & Subsidiaries -- $1,873,265 7. BHP Billiton LNG International -- $1,765,541 8. California School Employees Association -- $1,570,845 9. Blue Cross of California (Wellpoint Health Networks) -- $1,566,508 10. Consumer Attorneys of California -- $1,549,113

    Which firms got the most business? McPherson has that data, too:

    1. KP Advocates -- $4,706,161 2. Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor LLP -- $4,129,228 3. Aaron Read & Associates -- $4,013,465 4. Sloat Higgins Jensen & Associates -- $3,990,225 5. Capitol Advocacy, LLC -- $3,229,195 6. Governmental Advocates, Inc. -- $3,100,552 7. Lang Hansen O’Malley and Miller Governmental Relations -- $2,985,242 8. Public Policy Advocates, LLC -- $2,850,516 9. Platinum Advisors, LLC -- $2,777,529 10. Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP -- $2,775,950

    The biggest spenders, by industry:

    1. Government -- $35,167,319 2. Miscellaneous -- $29,677,149 3. Health -- $24,431,294 4. Education -- $22,183,698 5. Manufacturing/Industrial -- $20,521,241

    Cable bill up for hearing today

    Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez will present his cable measure to Senate policy committee this morning. The hearing is expected to be quite long, with a gaggle of consultanta and lobbying types surrounding the hearing room. Republican Sen. Dave Cox said yesterday that in the last 30 days he has had at least 100 advocates shuttle in and out of his office on the measure.

    In anycase, a new wrinkle in the cable debate is AT&T's new privacy policy.

    On Tuesday, the Senate utilities committee will consider legislation to drastically expand telephone companies' access to California's lucrative video- and Internet-services market.

    But AT&T, the state's leading phone company, recently overhauled its privacy policy--a move that may cast a long shadow over the hearing. Consumer advocates say AT&T's new privacy rules open the door for the company to share personal data--such as the Web sites that customers visit and the TV shows they watch--with government officials.

    The pending bill, AB 2987 by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, would create a state-issued franchise for phone companies wishing to enter the video-services market, the very service that AT&T announced privacy-policy amendments for last week.

    Under the new policy, AT&T declared that a customer's viewing information is the property of AT&T--not the customer.

    "While your Account Information may be personal to you, these records constitute business records that are owned by AT&T," reads the policy. "As such, AT&T may disclose such records to protect its legitimate business interests, safeguard others, or respond to legal process."

    Consumers and civil-liberties groups have blasted the new policy, arguing that it gives the company carte blanche to share private consumer data.

    Velasquez finds new gig

    Steve Westly's campaign press secretary, Nick Velasquez has landed a gig as the director of communications for Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, who himself lost a bid against Jerry Brown for the AG nomination.

    Monday, June 26, 2006

    Big happenings under the dome

    This will be a huge week for the Legislature--at least in terms of goings-on.

    Today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called a special session to deal with the state's prison crisis. Oh, and the four legislative leaders have hammered out a compromise on the budget, according to Speaker Nunez.

    And it's only Monday morning.

    According to the governor's office, the special session is called beginning June 27th and will "address critical prison crowding and recidivism measures."

    "Our prisons are at the crisis point because the State of California has not planned adequately for its future and has not faced up to the need to build new prisons as well as hire and train more officers. I am calling on my partners in the Legislature to join me in taking action to face these challenges head on," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. "By building more prisons, managing the inmate population more effectively and implementing common-sense measures that target the most dangerous criminals, we can greatly improve our prison and rehabilitation system.

    "We can enact meaningful reform that ensures the safety of our correctional staff and makes sure more of our parolees stay out of prison after they're released. If we work together, I know we can do this and once again give California a model prison system."


    Here's the Gov's four priorities for the session:

    . Building more prisons
    · Establishing local secure re-entry facilities
    · Placing non-violent women in community correctional facilities
    · Expediting state contracting

    As for the budget, no details have been released yet, but Nunez's office has the following statement from the legislative leaders:

    ““We have reached a tentative agreement on a balanced, responsible budget today after several months of productive discussion. It reflects the values of both parties and moves our state forward. We hope to have a vote prior to July 1st,” he said

    The Assembly will have session at 5pm today.

    Those purple shirts

    The purple shirts of the SEIU will be back around the Capitol rallying for higher wages and benefits tomorrow.

    Water power

    Matier and Ross have a great little story that San Francisco is considering wave-powered turbines beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.

    Saturday, June 24, 2006

    Redo Redistricting

    That is the message in today's Sac Bee from Jim Brulte and Bob Hertzberg.

    Here's how the argument starts:

    California government is broken. We should know. As a Democrat who served as speaker of the Assembly and a former Republican leader of the Senate, we know as well as anyone how the process really works -- and doesn't work -- for the state and its people.

    Legislative districts are drawn to protect incumbents -- by incumbent legislators themselves. Predictably, members of both parties want districts that will make their own re-elections as easy as possible.

    Friday, June 23, 2006

    And the budget?

    Ok, maybe it is just me, but it is less than 10 days before the start of the fiscal year and there is no budget and no Big 5 budget meetings.

    What gives?

    For weeks, the legislative leaders kept crawing about how close they were and how the budget was about to pass and this and that. So if they are so close, why not just seal the deal? Or at least meet about it.

    Parcel tax joins Nov. ballot

    The packed November general election ballot just keeps getting fuller. Today, Secretary of State Bruce McPherson certified a parcel tax that funds education programs for the fall.

    Here's the first paragraph of the initiative:

    Provides additional public school funding for kindergarten through grade 12 by imposing a $50 tax on each real property parcel; exempts certain elderly and disabled homeowners. Funds must be used for class size reduction, textbooks, school safety, Academic Success facility grants, and a data system to evaluate educational program effectiveness. Provides for reimbursement to government entities to offset anticipated decrease in other tax revenue. Prohibits fund use for school administrative overhead. Requires school district audits and penalties for fund misuse. Excludes funds from Proposition 98 calculations.

    That brings the total number of measures in November to 12

    More pay for elected officials

    The California Compensation Commission just passed an 18 percent pay raise for statewide officeholders and a 2 percent raise for legislators.

    California GOP releases two ads

    The California Republican Party has just release two new ads in the governor's race. One is positive. One is not.

    The script of the first (and positive) ad, titled "Foot", follows:

    We can feel it. California is moving forward, getting better each day. We've pulled our state back from the brink of bankruptcy. Reduced the deficit, cut the car tax, and created more than 500,000 new jobs. We've brought Democrats and Republicans together to increase funding for schools, roads, and levees. Governor Schwarzenegger is moving California forward.

    That sounds eerily like the message the Schwarzenegger campaign is promoting. Here's the text of Schwarzenegger's first ad:

    Tomorrow is going to be better than today for Californians … Because we've pulled our state back from the brink of bankruptcy. We've reduced the deficit …Cut the car tax …And created 500,000 new jobs. We've brought Democrats and Republicans together to begin repair of our roads, schools and levees. Governor Schwarzenegger is moving us forward to protect the California dream for you and your family.

    Join Arnold 2.0

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's reelection campaign website has received a makeover only a week after his state website received the same.

    The new page even has Join Arnold 2.0 in the title at the top of the window. The governor's new logo, with green and orange, and the words "protecting the California dream" is plastered across the top.

    Thursday, June 22, 2006

    Of Amber, Megan, Jessica, Dylan and Esmerelda

    Vic Pollard at the Bakersfield Californian has a fun story about the Name Game.

    The trend of naming new laws for young people who were victims of actions that would be outlawed or regulated began as a trickle about a decade ago, and it has now become all the rage in politics.

    Two Kern County lawmakers -- State Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, and Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford -- are sponsoring bills named after constituents who epitomized the problems in the law that they want to correct.

    At the Legion

    State Treasurer Phil Angelides continues to host numerous events in the weeks after the Democratic primary. Today he addresses the California Department of the American Legion’s 88th Annual Convention in Fresno.

    New in CW

    I've got two stories this week

    The first, Schwarzenegger's election-year olive branches, is about all the governor's outreach efforts with different Democratic-leaning interest groups.

    The second, New environmental bond, ignored housing bond complicate November ballot is the latest on the complex set of bonds on the fall ballot.

    Wednesday, June 21, 2006

    Oil tax qualifies

    Secretary of State Bruce McPherson has qualified another initiative for the fall ballot today. The latest addition to the packed ballot is an oil tax.

    Here's the first paragraph of the summary:

    Establishes $4 billion program to reduce oil and gasoline usage by 25%, with research and production incentives for alternative energy, alternative energy vehicles, energy efficient technologies, and for education and training. Funded by tax of 1.5% to 6%, depending on oil price per barrel, on producers of oil extracted in California. Prohibits producers from passing tax on to consumers. Program administered by California Energy Alternatives Program Authority. Prohibits changing tax while indebtedness remains. Revenues excluded from Proposition 98 calculations and appropriation limits.

    CTA, Villaraigosa strike schools deal

    Here's the full release from Speaker Fabian Nunez:

    Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Senate Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer (D-Glendale), A.J. Duffy of the United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA) and Lynne Faulks of the California Teacher’s Association (CTA) today announced legislation to reform Los Angeles’s troubled school system in the form of Assembly Bill 1381 (Núñez).

    “The children of Los Angeles are the real winners here,” Speaker Núñez said. “We have worked to strike a solid balance between the needs of the LA school district, the teacher’s union and the steps that must be taken to improve school achievement and create a brighter future for our children.”

    The historic legislation, by Speaker Núñez and Senator Romero, contains several key elements to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District. They include:

    Granting expanded authority to the LAUSD Superintendent to make personnel, business operation, budgetary and facilities decisions.
    Keeping the authority of the School Board intact by focusing the Board of Education’s focus on student achievement.
    Establishes a Council of Mayors of those cities that have schools in the LAUSD to enhance their interaction with the school district in regard to reviewing budgets.
    Creates a central role for the Mayor of Los Angeles with the leadership of the LAUSD by giving the Council of Mayors a role in the selection and final hiring of a Superintendent.
    Giving greater instructional choice to educators at their schools sites.
    Streamlines process for LA schools to receive wavers from the State Board of Education.
    Creating a Mayor’s Community Partnership for School Excellence.
    Established in statute a six-year sunset provision with an opportunity to extend reforms based on final evaluations.

    Guns don't kill jobs, bills do

    The Chamber of Commerce has released their annual job-killers bill list this year. You can find the full list here.

    The list is long. Two interesting bills of note are AB 32, Fran Pavley's green house gas bill, which is one of the biggest pieces of environmental this year, and SB 1379, authored by Senate leader Don Perata.

    SB 1379 is Perata's biomonitoring bill and is a pet favorite of the pro tem.

    AB 1835 (Lieber; D-Mountain View)/SB 1162 (Cedillo; D-Los Angeles) Automatic Minimum Wage Increases
    AB 1884 (Chu; D-Monterey Park) Unemployment Insurance Compensation Benefits
    AB 2209 (Pavley; D-Agoura Hills) Unemployment Insurance Benefit Expansion
    SB 300 (Kuehl; D-Santa Monica) Leave Law Abuse
    SB 840 (Kuehl; D-Santa Monica) Government-Run Health Care
    SB 1414 (Migden; D-San Francisco) Health Care Tax
    AB 32 (Núñez; D-Los Angeles/Pavley; D-Agoura Hills) Halts Economic Growth
    AB 1101 (Oropeza; D-Long Beach) Ports; Regulatory Complexity
    AB 1528 (Jones; D-Sacramento) Halts Economic Growth
    AB 1899 (Wolk; D-Davis) Halts Economic Growth
    AB 2202 (Saldaña; D-San Diego) Limits Technology
    AB 2641 (Coto; D-San Jose) Halts Economic Growth
    SB 44 (Kehoe; D-San Diego) Affordable Housing Development Impediment
    SB 646 (Kuehl; D-Santa Monica) Water Discharge Fee
    SB 764 (Lowenthal; D-Long Beach) Ports: Goods Movement Cost Increase
    SB 1368 (Perata; D-Oakland) Increases the Cost of Electricity
    SB 1523 (Alarcón; D-San Fernando Valley) Regulatory Hurdles s
    SB 1205 (Escutia; D-Norwalk) Punitive Regulation
    SB 1252 (Florez; D-Shafter) Resource Regulation
    SB 1379 (Perata; D-Oakland) Biomonitoring
    AB 1012 (Nation; D-San Rafael) Fuel Mandate
    SB 1675 (Kehoe; D-San Diego) Increases Gas Prices
    AB 581 (Klehs; D-Castro Valley) New Reason to Sue
    SB 109 (Ortiz; D-Sacramento) Excessive Litigation
    SB 1489 (Ducheny; D-San Diego) Government Agency Potential Harassment of Employers
    AB 1177 (Chan; D-Oakland) Tax Increase
    AB 1766 (Dymally; D-Compton)/SB 1008 (Ducheny; D-San Diego/Machado; D-Linden) Tax Increase
    AB 2442 (Klehs; D-Castro Valley) Gas Tax Increase
    AB 2829 (Ridley-Thomas; D-Los Angeles) Tax Increase
    SB 760 (Lowenthal; D-Long Beach) Ports: Goods Movement Cost Increase

    Your anti-Phil fill

    Operation Schwarzenegger Reelect continues to send out pointed little missives taking poke at Democratic challenger Phil Angelides.

    Today's version: The ever-changing definition of "fully fund"

    Each e-mail takes the same form, with a quote from a campaign spokesperson boxed at the beginning, followed by a series of newspapers quotes.

    I have no idea if these things make a difference. (Both Westly's and Angelides' campaigns sent out their fair share in the primary).

    Tuesday, June 20, 2006

    His favorite color is...

    Red.

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's favorite color is red, as he told tuned-in web viewers this morning in his first video e-conference.

    "I see myself as always being on fire," said the governor.

    Two more initiatives makes fall ballot

    The secretary of state today certified two new initiatives for the fall general election ballot. The first is a replay of last year's parental notification measure. The second is the $2.60 per pack tobacco tax that goes to healthcare.

    Assisted suicide bill up

    One of the more touchy subjects in the Legislature is the assisted suicide bill. It is up for a hearing today.

    You can listen in here in Room 112.

    Nunez committee raises dough

    Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez has been raising money in recent days for his non-candidate committee. The donations include $50,000 from PG&E, $50,000 from Blue Cross and $30,000 from the Irvine Company.

    Monday, June 19, 2006

    Schwarzenegger goes Internetactive

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has just unveiled a newly designed webpage. Jimmy Orr, the governor's director of e-communications, has posted a note on the new blog about the site.

    You’ll notice that the site is radically different from its predecessor. We think it is radically better as well.

    The goal of this web site is simple: Bring Governor Schwarzenegger closer to you. We’ve simplified the layout greatly. We’ve made the navigation much more user-friendly. In short, we’ve made it easier for you—our visitors—to understand what the Governor’s positions are; what the Governor is doing and greater access to the Governor’s record.


    And tomorrow the governor will be closer to the public on the site than ever before.

    At 10:30am, Schwarzenegger will be answering the public's question in an online online video Q&A session. Marcy Brightwell from Sacramento's News10 will be moderating the session. The governor's office has not said how long Schwarzenegger will be answering questions, but the public at large can participate.

    Here's the link.

    Dogging Angelides

    Team Schwarzenegger continues to send out e-mails from various officials across the state in areas that Democratic challenger Phil Angelides is making campaign stops. Today, Angelides is in San Jose. So out rolls Laurie Smith, sheriff of Santa Clara County.

    Here's her quote:

    "Last week, Phil Angelides was asked to take a stand for California's children and endorse Jessica's Law.

    "But Phil Angelides ducked the question.

    "Jessica's Law will help protect families from becoming victims of sexually motivated crimes by monitoring sex predators, increasing the penalties for sex crimes, and establishing 'predator-free' zones around schools and parks where children play.

    "Governor Schwarzenegger helped place the initiative on the ballot, and he has urged Californians to vote for it in November.

    "Phil Angelides has yet to take a stance on the initiative. As a candidate running for the highest office in this state, Phil Angelides has a responsibility to tell Californians where he stands on such a vital issue. He should do so today in San Jose."

    Mayor's in town

    L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is in Sacramento today lobbying the Legislature to help pass his schools-takeover plan. He'll be working the building with ally and friend Speaker Fabian Nunez and the pair are holding a press conference as of this posting.

    Friday, June 16, 2006

    The calm before the storm

    It has been a full week since either Democrat Phil Angelides or Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger have received a contribution large enough to trigger a large-contribution report.

    That is one of the quieter periods of campaign donating time, I've seen in the last six months as Westly, Angelides and Schwarzenegger all scrambled for cash.

    Of course, the cash will continue to flow. In fact, with the Schwarzenegger campaign expressing the goal of $75 million raised (with about $15 million already in the can) that works out to be about a whooping $400,000 per day until Election Day.

    The Angelides campaign hasn't publicized a fund-raising goal yet, but one figures it is in a similar range (plus an Tsakopoulos and union IE money).

    Let the donating begin!

    Gooooooooal (three hours delayed)

    The Bee has a column pilloring News10 for deciding to air a Monarchs game live instead of the U.S-Italy World Cup Match.

    Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez weighs in:

    One person who does and is passionately following the World Cup is state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.

    "Nothing against the Monarchs, but they could hold that game for a couple of hours. This is the World Cup!" Nuñez said.

    "Where is our sense of patriotism?" he added, while describing the state Capitol as being rife with high-powered World Cup fans.

    "I've got (Senate President Pro Tem) Don Perata into it. I've got Governor Schwarzenegger into it. … We're doing the state budget negotiations in my office because I've got a bigger TV. And when a team scores a goal, we'll stop and watch the replay, then get back to work."

    Like the speaker, millions of Americans have watched the World Cup and raised its TV ratings 62 percent compared to four years ago, according to ABC/ESPN.


    I am definitely with the Speaker here. How can you possible put the Monarchs on live instead of a do-or-die once-in-four-years World Cup game?

    50 years old

    Believe it or not, today marks the 50th annversary of the interstate highway system, as signed into law by President Eisenhower.

    And the backstory is...?

    Today's Morning Report has an item from the California Chamber of Commerce, saying that yesterday's press conference about the negative impacts of Assemblywoman Fran Pavley's AB 32, the environmental bill, was cancelled due to "scheduling issues.

    But the next sentence says the presser won't be rescheduled.

    Papa Arnold

    The governor has penned a Father's Day piece in today's L.A. Daily News

    The title: "Tell your father that you love him".

    Thursday, June 15, 2006

    No Neira for Leno

    For the first time in his Assembly career San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno won't be running for office against Republican Gail Neira. She is a SF GOP gadfly that has run for his 13th Assembly District seat in 2002, 2004 and this year. But in the 2006 primary she lost (with 41 percent of the vote) to Ramiro Maldonado.

    Not that it matters. SF is Dem territory, with Leno pulling in 125,000 more votes than Neira in 2004 (that's out of less than 183,000 cast).

    So who is John Kraft?

    The man who won more than 600,000 votes in the the Democratic primary for insurance commissioner has been pretty much a mystery, but I caught up with him for a story this week. Find the full piece here

    A Mormon, former wrestler and self-described "walking genius," who had a hand in the development of individually wrapped sliced cheese and "pourable" salad dressings, won 631,000 votes in last week's primary elections. Not only that, this unfunded and unknown candidate has now pledged to raise as much as $1 million for the fall general-election campaign--for his one-time opponent.

    Really.

    The candidate is John Kraft, an heir to the Kraft Foods empire, who shunned both political contributions and endorsements and still managed to swipe the support of 30 percent of Democratic voters from Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante.

    All told, Kraft's bid for insurance commissioner garnered 200,000 more votes than Sen. Liz Figueroa, who lost a three-way primary for lieutenant governor, and more votes than either former Assemblyman Tony Strickland or Sen. Abel Maldonado, the two leading Republican candidates for state controller.


    As for that million dollars:

    Regarding his hundreds of thousands of supporters, Kraft added, "I would say that probably 99 percent of those people will vote for Cruz and they did not vote against him."

    Kraft, who called Bustamante after the election to congratulate him on his victory, is now so enamored with his one-time opponent he says Bustamante has a "chance to be the best insurance commissioner California has ever had."

    And he is willing to open up his wallet to prove it.

    The grandson of a founder of Kraft Foods, Kraft is independently wealthy and well-connected as the sitting chairman of the Kraft Family Foundation, a multimillion-dollar charity organization.

    "I would love to raise $1 million or more. We have six months. That is only a thousand people giving a thousand dollars," said Kraft, optimistically. "I have enough friends in corporations I sit on boards with."

    In an interview this week, he even floated the idea of an independent-expenditure campaign with himself as the biggest donor. "We have got to have a Democratic insurance commissioner," he said.

    Burton, Alpert to advocate for cable companies

    The following first appeared in Capitol Weekly

    California's cable companies have turned to two termed-out legislative lions, former Senate leader John Burton and former Appropriations Committee chairwoman Sen. Dede Alpert, to push their agenda as the Senate considers legislation that would transform the state's cable industry.

    The additions are only the latest round in a multimillion-dollar lobbying effort that has included newspaper ads, thousands spent on television spots and intense one-on-one Capitol lobbying.

    Both the telecommunications companies, led by AT&T and Verizon, and the cable companies, led by the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, have bulked up their lobbying presence in Sacramento to battle over the legislation, which was introduced by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, earlier this year.

    But the hiring of two former lawmakers that are non-registered lobbyists to, in essence, lobby the Legislature has raised the question of where policy discussion ends and lobbying begins.

    "I look forward to talking to an ex-colleague, but that's a good question because [with] an ex-colleague at which point does it become advocacy and at which point does it just become a policy discussion," said Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Montebello, who chairs the Energy, Utilities and Communications committee, where the bill currently resides.

    By not registering as lobbyists, Alpert and Burton are not required to disclose the payments they make or receive. They also retain coveted "floor privileges," the ability to walk onto the floor of the Senate during session, access that is denied to any registered lobbyist in the state.

    Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, said that while there is no hard and fast rule about floor access, any floor lobbying by ex-legislators is strictly prohibited.

    "I would think that while they are doing this, to act appropriately would mean that they would not be on the floor. I would expect that both of them would adhere to that," said Perata.

    Jamie Court, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, called on Burton and Alpert to register as lobbyists, saying their undisclosed consulting was exploiting a major loophole in the law.

    "This is one of the bigger abuses in the Capitol," Court said of "former lawmakers that strategize with their former colleagues about issues but don't mention specific legislation and then don't have to declare themselves lobbyists."

    There is a one-year moratorium for termed-out legislators signing up as lobbyists, but both Burton and Alpert have not held elected office for more than a year and could legally register. Under state law, a lobbyist is defined as someone earning $2,000 or more per month whose "principal duties as an employee are to communicate directly or through his or her agents with any elective state official, agency official, or legislative official for the purpose of influencing legislative or administrative action."

    Numerous ex-legislators currently lobby in Sacramento, including former Assemblyman Brett Granlund, who works for Platinum Advisors, and Phil Isenberg and Ken Maddox, who each launched their own lobbying shops.

    Dennis Mangers, president of the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, which hired Burton two weeks ago, said the ex-lawmakers are valuable additions to cable's lobbying efforts.

    "No one understands the legislative environment better than John Burton and Dede Alpert," he said. "They are held in high regard by their former colleagues."

    Burton will be a strategist for cable, said Mangers, though he expects Burton "will end up talking to selected senators, within the parameters of the law, about our perspective."

    Burton declined to comment for this story. Alpert, who works as a consultant for the lobbying house Nielsen-Merksamer, will be working for Comcast and could not be reached before publication.

    The cable legislation, which would allow phone companies access to a statewide agreement to offer cable TV and Internet service across California, has been one of the more hotly contested bills of the session. Proponents say consumer savings could reach $1 billion, while opponents see the bill as a big industry giveaway.

    Both the telecommunications and cable companies have upped efforts in the Capitol this year. Three of the of the state's four leading cable companies have hired contract lobbyists for the first time. AT&T has lined up four full-time lobbyists and contracted out with five of the state's leading firms.

    "AT&T has bought up every other lobbyist in the Capitol," said Court, who opposes the legislation. "Having Burton on our side is great. He is the conscience of the Senate and if he can't get it done, no one can."

    But Court still believes Burton and Alpert should register as lobbyists. "I don't think he should be unwilling to relinquish his floor privileges to get in the fight," he said.

    Verizon spokesman Jon Davies was unimpressed by cable's recent hires, saying, "We have a great deal of respect for Sen. Burton. But, with all due respect, this bill isn't about lobbyists or the special interests they represent. This bill is about competition, choice, lower prices and better products for consumers."

    The phone companies and the cable association also have lapped political contributions on the Legislature, with AT&T sponsoring one of the Democratic Party's biggest fund-raisers of the year at Pebble Beach. Núñez, the author of the cable regulations bill, played host at the golfing extravaganza.

    Meanwhile, the cable association has made political contributions to more than 90 percent of sitting legislators.

    In its current form, cable opposes the legislation. But incumbent cable providers hope that Burton and Alpert will help spur the Senate to include two cable-friendly amendments they see as critical to a fair bill: requiring the phone companies to "build-out" service across economic and racial lines, and allowing cable operators to "opt-in" to any new statewide agreements.

    Without those provisions, the bill passed out of the Assembly on a bipartisan, 77-0 vote.

    But cable's fortunes may improve as the industry looks to have an ally in Escutia, who says that policy, not personality, will drive the cable bill forward.

    "To me it makes no difference if they hired ex-president Bill Clinton," Escutia, who has not been contacted by either former colleague. "The telecommunications companies know very clearly that the build-out language, which they have not put on the table, is something that is critical to me if they want my support."

    Escutia's energy and communications committee must act on the cable-regulations measure by the end of the month, with a hearing expected on June 27.

    Wednesday, June 14, 2006

    Top 10 Reasons GOP won't support budget

    The California Young Democrats just sent out the following Top 10 list:

    The Top 10 Reasons Why Legislative Republicans Refuse to Vote on Balanced, Responsible Budget by June 15th

    10. Waiting for The Flash Report's editor to get back from vacation.

    9. Defeated anti-spender Ray Haynes needs his per diem more than ever.

    8. Need to squeeze more money from benefits to the elderly and disabled to pay for right-wing talk show hosts to blabber on the Capitol lawn.

    7. The yacht won't be ready until July 1 anyway.

    6. Plescia can't get a haircut appointment in time for his annual 15 minutes of fame on TV.

    5. Too busy exploring whether a special election can be held instead of having to vote for the budget.

    4. This budget doesn't do enough to hurt people who can't help themselves.

    3. No line item for 20-foot high, electrified border fence to prevent immigration from Berkeley and Santa Monica.

    2. Unlike Bush, have found their weapon of mass obstruction.

    1. Tradition!

    Odd votes

    The North County Times has looked as some of the odder write-in votes in the June elections.

    God got one. So did Jay Leno, Bill O'Reilly and just about all the popular Disney characters.

    Those are just a few of the names that received write-in votes by Riverside County residents in last week's statewide primary election.

    God received a vote in the Republican race for lieutenant governor. However, at that same Riverside polling place, there were no write-in votes for governor, so whomever cast the vote for God must believe the good Lord should be second-in-command under the Republican candidate.


    Sadly, the paper notes:

    To qualify as a write-in, a candidate must have already filled out the same paperwork as those listed on a ballot, Martine said. However, qualified write-in candidates don't have to pay a filing fee and they don't get a written statement in the voter's pamphlet, she said.

    So, even though there are a lot of T-shirts out there, as well as the movie "Napoleon Dynamite," telling people to "Vote for Pedro," the vote Pedro did receive at a Riverside polling place last week for United States senator didn't count.

    Nunez no habla conservative talk radio

    This Monday radio talk show hosts descended on a tent outside of the state Capitol for the annual 'Capitol Clear Speak.'

    The event, hosted by Senate and Assembly Republicans, has traditionally drawn more conservative talk-shows, which dominate the radio waves (though two Air America stations showed up this year).

    Well, one radio host Eric Hogue was pretty displeased with Fabian Nunez.

    Today I (and a few other stations) were stood up by the Speaker at 8AM. He was scheduled to visit with me at eight, then shift to another station on 'radio row' near eight-thirty. He 'never' showed!

    Without word, or staffer visiting to inform the broadcasters that the Speaker was being held up by a pressing issue inside of his office, or maybe the latest installment of World Cup Soccer was to intense to pull himself away to discuss the state's budget.

    Then, as soon as I was off the air at 9AM...Nunez runs into the 'broadcast tent', past numerous talk stations and right to the 'only' Spanish speaking radio station in the tent. The Speaker sits and speaks with them 'in Spanish', then promptly gets up and walks out of the tent.

    In the end, Fabian Nunez gave one interview - a Spanish speaking interview with the only Spanish speaking radio station in the tent.

    The Speaker's not bi-lingual under a tent?


    UPDATE: Hogue has updated his post to say that Steve Maviglio, the speaker's deputy chief of staff, has called to dispute that Nunez was ever scheduled for the show.

    Kopp tapped

    Former Sen. Quentin Kopp of San Francisco has been named to the High Speed Rail Board by Senate leader Don Perata, D-Oakland. His term will expire at the end of the year.

    “The Honorable Quentin Kopp has a long, distinguished career as a public servant and has vast knowledge and experience dealing with transportation,” Perata said. “Mr. Kopp’s intelligence and tenacity make him a perfect choice for the High Speed Rail Authority as it works to launch one of California’s most ambitious and important transportation projects. Of course, the Rules Committee will be sending Authority staff an updated dictionary so they can keep up with their new member’s legendary vocabulary.”

    Tuesday, June 13, 2006

    The Arkley family

    Earlier this year, Capitol Weekly reported that four members of the Arkley family all gave Gov. Schwarzenegger maximum donations of $44,600.

    And that one of those donors, Elizabeth Arkley, was a high school student. Well, the Arkley's are nothing if not perceptive of unwanted publicity.

    The family just maxed out to GOP insurance commissioner candidate Steve Poizner. The only difference: This time Elizabeth didn't donate, so only Mama Arkley, Papa Arkley and her older sis gave the maximum $11,200.

    See the donations here.

    Show me the money

    Gov. Schwarzenegger, along with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, sent a letter to congressional leaders today asking the federal government to reimburse the two border state for the costs of illegal immigration.

    Here's one relevant passage:

    Border security and immigration reform are the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government. Despite this, our states are now actively working with the federal government to help secure the border region. Moreover, our states continue to pay enormous costs associated with illegal immigration.

    The letter ends:

    Just as we are now deploying our National Guard troops to the border, we stand committed and ready to work with the federal government to protect our nation and develop a comprehensive solution to immigration reform. As governors of states who bear an ever-growing burden due to illegal entries along our international border, we urge your support for impact assistance to offset these costs.

    Mr. senator

    Tom Harman was sworn in as the newest member of the Senate yesterday.

    Gov pitches preschool

    A week after voters turned back Prop. 82, Rob Reiner's preschool initiative, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is making an appearance today with teachers and parents to promote the $100 million he included in his budget proposal to expand preschool programs.

    Whither Merced

    The Contra Costa Times reports that enrollment at UC Merced has dropped by 50 percent.

    Only 3.7 percent of the 12,300 freshman applicants who had been admitted through May told the school they planned to attend in the fall. The percentage is far lower than the 17.2 percent at UC Riverside -- the next-lowest of the nine undergraduate UC campuses.

    University officials said they're not worried about the enrollment dip because an institution's first few years are always volatile. Many Merced applicants also applied to UC Davis, which had 1,000 more students commit to attending than expected.

    Some students theorized that the new campus, surrounded by farmland and steadily advancing housing developments, needs to become just a little more fun before it is seen as a destination.

    "It's hard to settle in a town like this when you come from the Bay Area or Los Angeles," said 21-year-old Nissa Ophaso, a Merced native who transferred to UC Merced last year. "There's so much to do there, and here there are cows."

    Monday, June 12, 2006

    Fleischman takes time off

    Jon Fleischman just sent out an e-mail that he is taking the next few weeks off for vacation.

    Moderate Republicans around the state rejoice.

    UPDATE: He's not on vacation yet. About five minutes after this post he e-mailed me to correct that he is taking a few weeks off (I originally wrote weekends). As for striking fear into moderate Republicans, Karen Hanretty will still be writing.

    Carrick joins Angelides

    The Angelides campaign has hired Democratic consultant Bill Carrick as a strategist and media consultant.

    “It's an honor to be working with Phil Angelides and his great campaign team,” said Carrick. “I've known Phil Angelides for many years and he'll be an incredible Governor, one who will bring effective leadership and sensible solutions to the challenges facing California.”

    The hire is the a big addition in terms of outside consultants joining the campaign. Previously, outsiders have seen Angelides as serving as his own top consultant.

    Campaign manager Cathy Calfo sounded pleased with the addition.

    “For decades, Bill Carrick has been a fighter for working Californians. I have grown to know him as someone who is unfaltering in his commitment to expanding opportunity and investing in California’s future. We are proud to have him as a member of our campaign team,” said Calfo.

    Some of Carrick's past clients include U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. Last year he ran James Hahn's unsuccessful run for L.A. mayor.

    In a conversation a few weeks ago, Carrick stressed the importance of campaigns focusing both resources and manpower down in Los Angeles, where half the state's voters reside. It will be interesting to see if there is any tangible shift for Angelides, whose office is now based in Sacramento.

    Bikers for borders

    This afternoon there will be a rally outside the Capitol on the south steps celebrating the arrival of motorcyclists who have travelled 14,000 to 48 state Capitols to “warn Americans of the unarmed invasion from Mexico.”

    While some eager-beaver press secretaries tout that a press conference will have "good visuals", this one pretty much sounds like a natural.

    Assembly GOP to shift right

    For those of you who thought the Assembly Republican caucus was too moderate, next year will be better for you, according to Jon Fleischman.

    Fleischman lists the following moderates are being replaced by conservatives:

    District 4, Ted Gaines is replacing Tim Leslie, who is known to be more conservative on social issues, but more moderate on economic issues.
    District 38, Cameron Smyth is much more conservative than than Keith Richman (who was unsuccessful in his bid for Treasurer).
    District 65, Paul Cook will represent a slight right-tilt from Russ Bogh (who is term-limited).
    District 67, Jim Silva is more conservative than Tom Harman (who is now in the State Senate).
    District 72, Mike Duvall is certainly more conservative than Lynn Daucher (who is running for State Senate).


    But Russ Bogh?

    Angelides and Westly; Mickey and Minney

    Apparently there was an inordinate amount of write-in votes for Mickey and Minnie Mouse this year.

    Free speech is expensive

    Frank Russo has the story.

    Dozens of radio stations from around the state are broadcasting live from the Capitol grounds in Sacramento this morning, participating in “Capitol Clearspeak 2006,” an annual event sponsored by the Republican Caucus of the Senate and Assembly.

    Who is paying for this “free speech”?

    That would be you, the California taxpayer.

    Republicans – never shy to cry about wasteful government spending – are dumping $40,000 in state funds to host a gaggle of right-wing and Christian radio stations (oh, and a token liberal station, Air America) to fill the airwaves with their rhetoric. State funds are being used for sound systems, electricity, and all the other necessities of setting up outdoor studios for two days of broadcasting of the likes of “Father of the Recall” Eric Hogue and RNV, the Spanish-language Christian radio network.

    Academics at Assembly

    Congrats to the Taft High School students on the academic decathlon team that won the national championship for the "sport".

    The kids will be honored on the Assembly floor today at noon, and then will be off to meet the governor, which is more than some of those honoring Assemblymembers can say.

    Sunday, June 11, 2006

    Viilaraigosa to gain a friend on council?

    Soon-to-be Senator Alex Padilla and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have had many policy disagreements in recent months. In a debate last month, Padilla demanded that the L.A. city council (he is a councilman) take a vote to show what was not in the mayor's budget--namely his effort to take over L.A.'s sagging school system. It was a poitical move (though it failed) and a poke in the eye of the mayor. It also came right after Villaraigosa had endorsed Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez for the very Senate seat Padilla was seeking.

    Some had wondered why Villaraigosa had endorsed Montanez while Padilla was a sitting, swing vote councilman that could have stymied the mayor's ambitious agenda. Well, now that Padilla, who was backed by hundreds of thousands in independent expenditures, is heading to the Senate, Montanez has announced she will run for his council seat.

    So guess who just might gain a hell-of-an-ally on the council.

    You gotta love politics.

    Ross in the middle again

    Democratic consultant Richie Ross is in the middle of some controversy again. The Bee has the story.

    Sacramento campaign consultant Richie Ross can't legally donate to the campaign of Christine Chavez -- Cesar Chavez's granddaughter -- but he recently paid massive sums for campaign materials.
    Ross' payments on Chavez's behalf have sparked a complaint to the Fair Political Practices Commission alleging that they amount to an illegal loan and a "blatant attempt" to evade donor rules.

    The FPPC has not yet ruled on the complaint, however, and political finance experts say the matter is not clear-cut.


    Here's the details:

    Records filed with the secretary of state's office show that Ross' consulting firm made vendor payments totaling nearly $195,000 during the campaign's homestretch, from March 18 to May 20.

    Chavez's campaign had paid him back only a portion of the money as of May 20, leaving her with a debt of $120,717 to Ross -- far more than the $32,500 left in her campaign coffers.

    Friday, June 09, 2006

    Post 1000

    This is the 1000th post on this blog, for those keeping tabs at home.

    The state's bond rating has been upgraded by the third major credit agency in the nation, Fitch's, today. That, as the Department of Finance released called it, a "trifecta" with every major credit agency raising California to an A+ rating, which is still relatively low but an sure sounds great.

    Not surprisingly, Phil Angelides, now Schwarzenegger's fall opponent, was not-so-impressed. The statement from his office begins:

    Fitch’s slight increase in California’s bond rating clearly carries a warning as stern as those issued by the other two major bond rating agencies: that California must resolve its continuing budget deficit. Fitch cautions that despite increased state revenues: 'a structural imbalance remains in fiscal 2007 and beyond.

    And that's with an improved credit rating.

    UPDATE:Schwarzenegger just released his statement:

    "Today's bond upgrade is another indication that the state is moving forward and on the right track. Today's action will also save the state millions in borrowing costs.

    "When I became Governor, the state was nearing bankruptcy. Critics told me that we couldn't fix the state's fiscal situation without raising taxes, but I knew they were wrong and I have fought every attempt to raise taxes. Since then, our bond rating has been increased eight times, California has created more than a half million jobs and our state's revenues have increased by $20 billion. I will continue to oppose tax increases to ensure that our booming economy continues to grow."

    Schwarzenegger comes out swinging

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't wasted any time hitting the campaign trail--barnstorming the state only hours after Democrats tapped Phil Angelides as their nominee.

    Now, he is hitting the airwaves with two ads, including a negative spot criticizing Angelides.

    The more negative ad transcript follows:

    Would you drive backwards? Walk backwards? Then why take California backwards to a time we never want to see again? When soaring taxes forced jobs and businesses to flee our state. That's where Phil Angelides has promised to take our families with his $10 billion in new taxes. Or, we can keep moving forward … protecting the California dream for you and your family. That's our choice.

    The words are spoken over images of a bird walking backwards, cars moving backwards, then cars driving backwards and then Angelides himself moving backings with the $10 billion plastered on the screen.

    The positive ad has similar imagery (except the people and children running in fields are moving forward) and the same voice-over announcer.

    Here’s the transcript:

    Tomorrow is going to be better than today for Californians … Because we've pulled our state back from the brink of bankruptcy. We've reduced the deficit …Cut the car tax …And created 500,000 new jobs. We've brought Democrats and Republicans together to begin repair of our roads, schools and levees. Governor Schwarzenegger is moving us forward to protect the California dream for you and your family.

    You can find the ads here and here.

    Westly to supporters

    There were no posts yesterday due to some server problems. Apologies.

    Late last evening, Steve Westly sent off a "Thank you" e-mail to all his online supporters. A day after the Democrats' unity breakfast Westly still had some subtly pointed words about Angelides.

    While serving as Controller, I can be proud that I used my business background to show that there are more ways to bring money into government than just raising taxes.

    Also:

    I’m also proud that 39 of the 46 newspapers (85%) that endorsed in this race—endorsed me. I think that is a sincere reflection that this race was about providing a vision for how to prepare this state, and particularly our children, to be successful in the future.

    Wednesday, June 07, 2006

    And the winner is...

    The results from competitive statewide primaries:

    Gov: Phil Angelides wins.

    Lt Gov: John Garamendi over Jackie Speier. Liz Figueroa a distant third

    Attorney General: Jerry Brown over Rocky Delgadillo in landslide

    Controller: John Chiang beats Joe Dunn. And Tony Strickland edges out Abel Maldonado

    Treasurer: Claude Parrish beat Keith Richman

    Secretary of State: Debra Bowen beats Deborah Ortiz by wide margin

    Insurance Commissioner: Cruz Bustamante wins--but unfunded opponent get just shy of 30 percent.

    Supt. of Schools: Jack O'Connell wins 52 percent--avoids runoff

    BoE: Michelle Steel clings to thin lead over Ray Haynes

    BoE: Judy Chu beats Jerome Horton.

    Props. 81 and 82 go down in defeat

    Post election wrap

    So the results are in and Steve Westly woke up this morning $35 million poorer. The state controller and Democratic gubernatorial candidate conceded the primary late last night in a phone call to Phil Angelides.

    At 1:45am, Team Angelides blasted off an e-mail to supporters announcing victory.

    As I said last night, this is a clear choice election between the agenda of President Bush and his colleague Governor Schwarzenegger versus our agenda of hope and opportunity for the greater good for all Californians.

    Sounds like a general election theme--and Angelides' strategist Bob Mulholland's favorite topic.

    A mere five hours later, a weary group of reporters gathered outside the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Sacramento for Gov. Schwarzenegger's bus tour (where this is being written via WiFI). One reporter brought a pillow. Another brought an eye mask. The rest are drinking caffeine. (Kate Folmar has more)

    The first stop is Redding (though the governor has an event in Eureka-area Samoa) in a couple hours. Then on to Chico and Auburn.

    Tuesday, June 06, 2006

    Live election results

    The secretary of state will have them here starting in less than 30 minutes.

    Ramping up




    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is ramping up his campaign starting tomorrow. And he has a new logo and a new tagline: "Protecting the California Dream".

    Also in the mix are new colors, green and orange. That's a change from the typical red white and blue used with the Join Arnold slogan.

    The campaign yesterday sent out a missive to reporters touting how the two Democratic candidates for governor are alike.

    "In fact, when you look at their records, it's no wonder so many Democrats are undecided - they are choosing between two versions of the same candidate!" writes Schwarzenegger political director Stephanie Tyler-Jackson

    The govenor will provide a "clear choice". Unless the nominee is Westly and there will be competing garish orange buses, logos, and ads.

    Where the party's at

    The candidates for statewides offices are--not surprisingly--gathering all over the state for election night parties tonight.

    The California Democratic Party is also hosting a "victory party" that they e-mailed out to supporters recently. Not that there could be much to be victorious about, considering that it is only a primary. But I digress.

    Steve Westly will be in Los Angeles. Phil Angelides will be in Sacramento. And Peter Camejo--yes, he's running Green--will be in Oakland

    For Lt. Gov, Liz Figueroa will be in Sactown, along with John Garamendi, while Jackie Speier will be in San Francisco. Lucky her.

    Jerry Brown will be in Oakland and Rocky Delgadillo will be in L.A.--at the same hotel as Westly.

    John Chiang and Abel Maldonado will party hardy in Monterey Park and Montery, respectively.

    Both Deborah Ortiz and Debra Bowen stay close to home, in Sacramento and Marina Del Rey, respectively.

    Monday, June 05, 2006

    Election Day!

    It's election time...

    Boxer on Gov. race

    Phil Angelides has been relying heavily on joint appearances with California's two U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein as the primary election for governor comes to a close. And in recent days, Feinstein has been critical of Angelides' opponent, Steve Westly's attack ads, particularly the ad featuring the accusation that Angelides dumped sludge into Lake Tahoe.

    The Westly camp has defended the ad, and now Camp Angelides has fired off a response from California's other leading lady senator, Barbara Boxer.

    "The Westly campaign is now aiming their over the top negative tactics at Senator Feinstein and they should apologize. I hope this kind of trash talk is rejected at the polls."

    Gov. signs national guard memorandum

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, along with the governors of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, signed a memorandum today between the state and the federal government to allow the state's national guard troops be deployed to protect the border.

    The name of the mission: Operation Jump Start.

    Here's the preamble:

    In response to a request for Department of Defense (DoD) support to the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (USCBP), to enhance border enforcement along the southwest border, the Governors of the States of Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas (the Supported States) have agreed to accept National Guard forces from other States (the Supporting States) to perform duties in support of this border enforcement effort. The Chief, National Guard Bureau, will coordinate the provision of resources to the Supported States in furtherance of the border enforcement effort. Each Governor shall retain the authority to decline missions that will compromise his or her ability to respond to state emergency requirements.

    In his words

    If you want to see Steve Westly's 3.5 minute-long straight-into-the-camera talk on YouTube click here

    The video, which is far from a polished product, goes back and forth between Westly sounding natural and relaxed to spouting the central talking points of the campaign.

    Westly is hardly the only candidate making an online push for support. Debra Bowen, a Democrat and candidate for secretary of state, just sent out a list of five reasons to support her in the final 48 hours. Reason number two is a pretty strong statement: "Debra has received every single newspaper endorsement in the state".

    Interestingly, her opponent, Deborah Ortiz does not have a Web page. In fact, a search for "Deborah Ortiz secretary of state" leads to this blog.

    Sunday, June 04, 2006

    A pricey affair

    The Chron reports that the Janet Reilly-Fiona Ma Assembly race in San Francisco is one of the costliest in the state--with $3 million spent.

    Saturday, June 03, 2006

    Latest Field Numbers

    Check out the latest Field Poll here.

    The first down-ticket race figure is that Sen. Jackie Speier has surged in the Democratic primary. She now leads John Garamendi 30-25 percent, with Sen. Liz Figueroa trailing with only 8 percent.

    That is a big shift from April, when Speier trailed Garamendi by 10 points. Some 37 percent remain undecided.

    In the race for AG, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown still has a substantial lead over L.A. City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, despite the fact that Delgadillo has spent more than $2 million on television ads.

    The numbers have moved in Delgadillo's favor, though, with 51 percent supporting Brown now compared to 59 percent a month ago. Still, with only 24 percent Delgadillo is strugglilng.

    Tony Strickland is leading Abel Maldonado in the Republican primary for controller, with 32 percent support to 23 percent. The gap between the two has remained steady, though fewer voters are undecided.

    In the Democratic primary for state controller, the race remains a dead heat, with John Chiang and Joe Dunn statistically tied--with a whooping 63 percent undecided.

    Ditto for the GOP treasurer primary, pitting Keith Richman against Claude Parrish.

    The the "Debs" battle, Sen. Deborah Ortiz has eked out a little more of a lead against Sen. Debra Bowen, with a 25-19 lead.

    Friday, June 02, 2006

    A minimum wage push

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continues his creative push to get a minimum wage hike passed. The Democrat-dominated Legislature refuses to pass the bill that Schwarzenegger wants--a one-time hike, without automatic escalators. When Sen. Abel Maldonado carried the governor's bill earlier this year, Democrats torpedoed the measure in committee.

    Now the governor has turned his attention to the defunct Industrial Welfare Commission, appointing four new members. The AP has that story.

    If you want to hear the governor's thoughts on the minimum wage debate (as of yesterday), you can listen to your favorite Austrian governor here.

    (Note, reviving the IWC was an idea that Sen. Maldonado floated in late April. The governor has since embraced the idea and now has appointed people to the commission.)

    Gov announces county chairs

    Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's reelection team has announced campaign chairs in each of the state's 58 counties. They are:

    Juanita Haugen and Anjali Lathi, Alameda
    Terry Woodrow, Alpine
    Lois McDonald, Amador
    Bill Connelly, Butte
    Julie Downum, Calaveras
    Kim Vann, Colusa
    Joe Rubay, Contra Costa
    Fawn Morris, Del Norte
    Rusty Dupray, El Dorado
    Brian Leach, Fresno
    Brian Leach, Glenn
    Sherri Katz, Humboldt
    Jon Edney and Tom Topuzes, Imperial
    Matt Kemp, Inyo
    Kay Meek, Kern
    Prudence Eiland, Kings
    Jackie Ridgel, Lake
    Rocky Deal, Lassen
    Walt Allen, Mike Antonovich, and Don Knabe, Los Angeles
    Vern Moss, Madera
    Morgan Kelly, Marin
    Robert Pickard, Mariposa
    Margie Handley, Mendocino
    Ellie Wooten, Merced
    John Cross, Modoc
    Tony Barrett, Mono
    Peter Newman, Monterey
    Marleia Syre, Napa
    Ted Owens, Nevada
    Marian Bergeson, Carlos Bustamante, and Curt Pringle, Orange
    Mitch Zak, Placer
    Rose Comstock, Plumas
    Grover Trask, Riverside
    Tom Scott and Dan Nguyen, Sacramento
    Sarah Stanley, San Benito
    Mike Ramos, San Bernardino
    Bonnie Dumanis, Bill Kolendar and Jerry Sanders, San Diego
    Mike Antonini, San Francisco
    Bob Busser and Gary Podesto, San Joaquin
    Rob Bryn, San Luis Obispo
    Charles Marsala, San Mateo
    Brooks Firestone, Santa Barbara
    Pat Dando and Tom McEnry, Santa Clara
    Dave Hodgin and Paul Marigonda, Santa Cruz
    Wanda Augostini, Shasta
    Betty Smart, Sierra
    Samuel Wakim, Siskiyou
    John Jamison, Solano
    Paul Erickson, Sonoma
    Sheila Carroll, James DeMartini, and Bill Mattos, Stanislaus
    Al Montna, Sutter
    Clay Parker and Ken Say, Tehama
    Shirley Dills, Trinity
    Joseph Day and Gregory Oliver, Tuolumne
    Lynn Dredge, Tulare
    Steve Doll, Ventura
    Kirby Wells, Yolo
    Dan Logue, Yuba

    The voting pool

    Secretary of state Bruce McPherson released the state's voter registration numbers yesterday. The results: compared to four years ago there are more voters, more "declined to state" voters, and a lower percentage of the population.

    Democratic Party registration declined from 45 to 42.7 percent.

    Republican registration declined from 35 to 34.4 percent.

    Declined to state increased from 14.8 to 18.45 percent.

    You can find the full report here.

    She' still running

    Ok, so she isn't going to win, but Barbara Becnel is still actively running for governor. In fact, she has an event today at her campaign headquarters in Richmond.

    She is touting the fact that she would be the "first African American woman" to become governor. Her slogan is to support her, "not the two rich guys." Her campaign account certainly isn't rich. It doesn't register any donors.

    Thursday, June 01, 2006

    Senate approves sex offender law

    The state Senate today unanimously passed the Democrats' favored version of the Jessica's Law proposal.

    The AP has the story.

    Senators unanimously approved a Democratic version of the Jessica's Law sex offender proposal Thursday, with Democrats saying it avoids flaws in the initiative that voters will consider in November.

    Republicans welcomed the two-bill package, though they denied there are any fatal problems with their initiative, which would force many sex offenders to wear satellite-tracked monitoring devices for life and bar them from living within 2,000 feet of a park or school.

    The bills and the pending initiative would give California some of the nation's toughest laws for released sex offenders and would boost penalties for offenses ranging from possession of child pornography to using the Internet to lure minors for sexual purposes.

    "Californians are going to be able to get the best of both," said Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, who sought the ballot measure with his wife, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, after similar legislation proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger failed last year. Schwarzenegger is backing their measure, which qualified for the fall ballot in February.


    Other Republicans had positive things to say, as well, but cautioned against not passing Jessica's Law,

    This is from Sen. Chuck Poochigian:

    The Senate’s passage of a substantial improvement over California’s current sex offender statute is the result of bi-partisan cooperation, and pressure from election year politics, but represents a good step forward. 'Poison pill' provisions to strike the bill from the books if ‘Jessica’s Law’ is adopted were removed, and amendments were taken to help address concerns from law enforcement. SB 1128 isn’t a perfect bill, but includes many important protections, and provisions that I have fought to see incorporated into law. This measure is complementary to ‘Jessica’s Law,’ but is by no means a substitute or alternative.

    Schwarzenegger has a special interest in Capitol-area money

    The following first appeared in Capitol Weekly

    In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigned for governor as an outsider that wouldn't be beholden to special interests. But three years later, as the now-incumbent governor runs for re-election, Schwarzenegger has raised more money from Sacramento's downtown ZIP code--better known as special-interest central--than any other ZIP code in the state.

    All told, the residents and business interests in the Capitol's 95814 have chipped in $689,527 to Schwarzenegger's bid for re-election. That's $130,000 more than the next highest ZIP, in posh Newport Beach, and more than $400,000 more than the governor's third biggest donating postal code in Los Angeles, according to a Capitol Weekly analysis of public records.

    Downtown Sacramento has heaped money at the Democrats running for governor as well. The 95814 is the single largest contributing ZIP code to state Treasurer Phil Angelides, and for state Controller Steve Westly it ranked fourth.

    "There are very few real people who live in 95814, legislative staffers and journalists excepted," said Doug Heller, a spokesman for the Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights. "95814 is the home address of California special interests."

    In fact, Schwarzenegger's Downtown Sacramento donors include many of the state's leading political players, like the California Restaurant Association ($26,000), Exxon Mobil ($10,000), AT&T ($35,000) and the California Building Industry Association ($44,600).

    Each of those groups has major interests pending before state government.

    The restaurant association has been one of the Capitol's most outspoken opponents of raising the minimum wage--which Schwarzenegger has vetoed the last two years. The state energy commission, at Schwarzenegger's request, is investigating energy companies like Exxon Mobil for possible price gouging.

    AT&T is advocating for a bill to open the state's cable industry to telecommunications companies, a measure that is likely to land on the governor's desk later this year. And the building industry association lobbied heavily to help shape this year's Schwarzenegger-backed $37 billion bond package.

    Schwarzenegger campaign spokeswoman Julie Soderlund defended the downtown donors as only some of Schwarzenegger's many supporters.

    "The governor is supported by a diverse group of individuals, including more than 13,000 people who have given financially to ensure Californians in every corner of the state hear his message for moving California forward," said Soderlund, noting that the average contribution to the governor was less than $700.

    But Heller, whose organization operates Arnoldwatch.org, a Web site that tracks political donations to Schwarzenegger, said the 95814 donations are symptomatic of California's political system, where politicians are dependent on special interests for campaign cash.

    "Politicians in California get elected on promises of independence, which fall away as soon as they move into 95814," said Heller. "They get hooked up to the IV which is Sacramento lobbying cash and they cannot stand up to the potent drug."

    Schwarzenegger is certainly not the only candidate hauling in big bucks from Sacramento.

    The 95814 area is Phil Angelides' single biggest contributing ZIP, with more than $1 million in giving. For Steve Westly, it ranked fourth, giving $239,285.

    Beyond the confines of the Capitol region, the entire city of Sacramento ranks second in political largesse given to Schwarzenegger, with $935,077, after California's largest city, Los Angeles, whose residents gave more than $1.8 million.

    Schwarzenegger, and both leading Democrats in the governor's race, have leaned heavily on affluent areas of the state for campaign cash.

    Newport Beach's swanky 92660, which is sandwiched between the ocean and several country clubs, is Schwarzenegger's number two ZIP code, followed by three upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods and the Pacific Palisades, another affluent coastal township.

    Perhaps California's best known ZIP code--Beverly Hills 90210, of teen melodrama television fame--ranks ninth among all Schwarzenegger-giving ZIP codes, with $186,000 in contributions. The area, known for the wealth of its residents, gave nearly as much to Angelides--and ranked as the No. 1 ZIP code for Westly that wasn't home to his back right pocket.

    Sometimes a single family can propel a ZIP code to the top of the rankings. In Eureka's 95501, the Arkley family skirted voter-approved donations limits by donating $178,400 in a single day--in the name of four separate family members, including a high-school student, who gave $44,600 each--enough to propel the ZIP code into the governor's top 10.

    Rounding out Schwarzenegger' top 10 donor cities are California's major population centers like L.A., San Francisco ($778,050) and San Diego ($553,467). But the list also reflects the governor's right-leaning ideology with conservative strongholds like Riverside ($250,800) and Fresno ($241,529), making the list.

    Neither Fresno nor Riverside is a top donor town for Democrats Angelides and Westly.

    None of Schwarzenegger's top 10 donor ZIP codes are from outside California. But two of his top 10 contributing cities, New York ($488,594) and Dallas ($340,500), which rank sixth and seventh, respectively, are out of state. The New York sum includes the maximum $44,600 contribution from fellow moderate Republican Michael Bloomberg, the city's mayor.

    Overall, Schwarzenegger's re-election account has taken in contributions from 37 states, ranging from Hawaii to Georgia, and the District of Columbia. Californians have contributed the vast majority of Schwarzenegger's funds, with more than $15 million in donations out of the $18 million raised. Texas is the Schwarzenegger's second biggest donor state, with residents and businesses in the Lone Star state chipping in $611,000.

    Schwarzenegger has raised more than $18 million over the last three years in his re-election account, and had $9.7 million cash-on-hand, as of the latest filings with the secretary of state.

    Schwarzenegger advisers have set of a fund-raising goal of $60 to $million this year.

    Dems, Gov. tapped same spots for campaign cash

    The following first appeared in Capitol Weekly

    The two leading Democratic candidates for governor have spent months trying to outline the differences between their candidacies and that of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. But breaking down their campaign contributions by ZIP code shows that, although the donors are different, the three candidates are filling their campaign treasury at many of the same troughs.

    Although state Treasurer Phil Angelides has staked his bid for governor on his image as the anti-Arnold, four of his top six donating ZIP codes are the same as Schwarzenegger's. Three of state Controller Steve Westly's top 10 donating ZIP codes overlap with Schwarzenegger's top 10, as well.

    The only ZIP code that all three candidates share is Downtown Sacramento's 95814--universally acknowledged as ground zero for the state's special interests.

    For Angelides, a Sacramento native backed by much of the Democratic establishment, residents and interests in the Capitol's ZIP have coughed up $1.08 million--more than double his next highest postal code. For Angelides' opponent, Steve Westly, Capitol-area donors rank fourth, with $239,285 in contributions. The 95814 is Schwarzenegger's top donor postal code, with businesses and residents in the area giving the governor $689,527.

    "It doesn't surprise me that Sacramento is No. 1," said Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies. "That's where the money is. That's where the influence is. That's where the PACs and lobbyists are located."

    All three campaigns also have mobilized aggressive fund-raising efforts in the quiet neighborhoods of Los Angeles' Westside, which includes the affluent towns of Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Beverly Hills and Brentwood.

    Beverly Hills posh 90210 is the single biggest ZIP code for Westly other than his own. Beverly Hills denizens have chipped in $260,376 to the controller's campaign. The 90210 is Schwarzenegger's ninth biggest donor area, giving $186,000, while it ranked fifteenth for Angelides, despite giving an nearly identical $185,636.

    Ned Wigglesworth, an analyst with TheRestofUs.org, a campaign-finance watchdog group, says that Downtown Sacramento's vested interests and the rich residents in areas like Beverly Hills 90210 and are "easy pickings" for campaign cash.

    "Political fund raising is an easy cocktail to mix: one part lobbyists, one part millionaires," said Wigglesworth. "You can't spit in Sacramento without hitting a lobbyist, Beverly Hills is the same for millionaires, so it's no surprise that they're among the top donor ZIP codes."

    All three campaigns also have made fund-raising pit stops in New York City, a must-see attraction for politicians on the money-seeking circuit. New York ranks as the fourth biggest donor city for both Angelides and Westly, and sixth for Schwarzenegger.

    Angelides' New York donations far outpace those of either Westly or Schwarzenegger. In all, Angelides raised $1.47 million from residents of the Big Apple including $358,651 from the 10022 ZIP code, Westly's top donor ZIP code, as well.

    Still, there are major differences between where the two leading Democrats and Schwarzenegger have collected campaign cash. For starters, Angelides, facing a multimillionaire self-funding opponent, has mounted a much more expansive fund-raising campaign.

    "There was never any doubt that Westly would put in more than $30 million," said Angelides strategist Bob Mulholland, noting that the campaign had taken in donations in all 58 counties from 23,000 donors. "Angelides has always been a fighter for his values and knows that in order to feed the grassroots … you need to get contributions and donations."

    As of May 20, Angelides had raised more than $21.2 million, compared to $8.9 million for Westly, not including donations he made to himself. Angelides' donations spanned 43 states and the District of Columbia, compared to only 33 states and D.C. for Westly. In fact, Angelides collected more than $100,000 from seven different states, compared to only one for Westly.

    Angelides' East Coast fund-raising has been aided by Susan Torricelli, the ex-wife and fund-raiser of former New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli, who withdrew from his re-election race in 2002 amid a fund-raising and ethics controversy.

    Angelides has raised $2 million from the state of New York and has paid Torricelli $100,000 as a campaign consultant.

    But the hub of Angelides fund-raising has been in Sacramento. Backed by organized labor, the state party and much of the Sacramento establishment, Angelides has taken in more than $3 million from his hometown.

    Half of Angelides top 10 donating ZIP codes are from the greater Sacramento-area. His Sacramento donors include many long-time political powerhouses like the Teamsters, SEIU Local 1000, and the California Council of Laborers--each gave the state treasurer the maximum $22,300 donation for the primary.

    In addition, Sacramento residents Angelo Tsakopoulos and his daughter Eleni have funneled nearly $9 million into a pro-Angelides independent-expenditure campaign. Other members of the Tsakopoulos family have donated thousands to Angelides directly. The 95826 ZIP code, which ranked seventh for Angelides, climbed into the Top 10 donor areas on the strength of $178,400 from donors named Tsakopoulos.

    Meanwhile Westly, a former eBay executive, has relied more heavily on residents and businesses in the Silicon Valley. Westly's experience with the dot-com sensation eBay has been a pillar of his campaign, as Westly has said, both in campaign stops and televised advertisements that he will govern with an entrepreneurial spirit and act as a "different kind of governor."

    Proportionally, Westly has relied on donors from the high-tech heavy South Bay more than either Angelides or incumbent Schwarzenegger.

    Half of Westly's top 10 donating ZIP codes are in the South Bay, including $249,249 from sleepy Los Altos Hills (ranked third), $176,510 from Portola Valley (ranked sixth), $145,292 from Menlo Park (ranked eighth) and $144,932 from Woodside (ranked ninth).

    Westly's own ZIP code ranked first with $32,771,953 in contributions, including $32.5 million from Westly himself, according to the latest filings. He has since sunk another $2 million into his campaign.

    In contrast, only one of Angelides top ZIP codes is near Silicon Valley, 94010 in Hillsborough, which eked into his top 10, with $197,708 contributed. None of Schwarzenegger's donating hot spots are in the Silicon Valley area.