Politics and Elections

Swearengin had no faith in a) her constituents and/or b) herself

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin — an articulate, TV-savvy, photogenic Republican — is a good bet to finish second in the June 3 state primary for controller behind former Assembly Speaker John Perez, a Los Angeles Democrat who will then go

Amb. Bolton warns of Pacific challenges to the U.S.

John Seiler May 16, 2014

California and the United States as a whole need to get their act together to face the rising challenges posed by Russia, China, North Korea and other countries. That was what former Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said

Mixed GOP reaction to Donnelly: Dumb-de-dumb-dumb

Chris Reed May 16, 2014

The California Republican Party is now very, very down on its luck. But I think state party chair Jim Brulte isn’t just blathering when he suggests the party can make at the least a modest comeback. The main reason for

Donnelly backed redevelopment exemption

John May 15, 2014

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, who routinely campaigns on a platform of getting government out of the way, is struggling to explain his past support for redevelopment agencies. “Let’s get more people working, let’s not assault RDAs,” Donnelly said in

Will Sen. de Leon also head the Assembly?

John Seiler May 13, 2014

In a strange development, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, who soon will head the Senate as president pro-tem, also will head the Assembly as speaker. This will be news to Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, who yesterday was

19 CA members of Congress take pensions

John May 13, 2014

Former San Diego city councilman and mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio, who brought comprehensive pension reform to San Diego, is taking his fight to Capitol Hill. A new report published by the GOP congressional candidate identified 102 members of Congress that

U.S. CEOs again call California most hostile to business

Chris Reed May 12, 2014

It’s a May tradition: Chief Executive magazine announces its best and worst states when it comes to receptivity to business. And in what’s also a May tradition, California is found to be the worst. That’s 10 years in a row

Donnelly aide works with unions vs. GOP candidates

John May 9, 2014

A top aide to a Republican candidate for governor is working with public employee unions to defeat Republican candidates in local elections. Asher Burke, who assists Assemblyman Tim Donnelly’s gubernatorial campaign with “social media and online creative,” is also a

Analyzing Neel Kashkari’s flyer

John Seiler May 6, 2014

Today the first statewide political flyer plopped into my mailbox. It’s from Neel Kashkari, running for governor as a Republican. The whole thing is reproduced at the bottom. This is the first gubernatorial election using the Top Two system. The

Taxpayers win Fresno rate hike court ruling

John May 5, 2014

A group of taxpayers battling the City of Fresno has won a critical legal victory in their fight to get a referendum of the city’s water rate increases on the November ballot. On April 28, Superior Court Judge M. Bruce