CA-33: Bass Gets Big $$ Rival and Big Endorsements

Former Speaker of the California Assembly Karen Bass received endorsements from Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in her recently announced attempt to represent the 33rd Congressional District of California, which Diane Watson represented for over a decade.
The endorsement by Rep. Waters is noteworthy, because it signals a unanimous blessing of the entire Black political establishment of Los Angeles, which has rarely been united behind single candidates in electoral races.

In addition to receiving important endorsements, Bass received unwelcome news in the form of a well-funded, independently wealthy challenger for the Democratic nomination for CA-33: Dr. Howard Mandell, who announced his candidacy and transferred $500,000 into his candidate account. MadProfessah has endorsed Karen Bass for the 33rd District and will be watching developments in this race more closely.

In other, less local news, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom made waves by announcing his run for Lieutenant Governor, about five months after he suddenly dropped out of the race for the top job. His entry will complicate the race for the previously announced candidates Los Angeles City Councilperson Janice Hahn and Dean Florez, the latter of whom immediately dropped out. MadProfessah has not (yet) made an endorsement in this race.

Saturday Politics: Ward's Internal Poll Shows Lead in AD-53

Mitch Ward released an internal poll showing him with a lead over the other candidates in the race to replace Assembymember Ted Lieu in the 53rd district. According to the telephone poll of 400 likely June 2010 Democratic primary voters between February 23-25, Ward was supported by 13%, James Lau 4%, Kate Anderson 4%, Betsy Butler 3% with "lower amounts for other candidates."

Considering that the poll has a margin of error of +/- 5 points, these results are not that unusual for 3 months before a low-profile election. But, wait, there's more!

According to the memo prepared by Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, after voters learn more information about the candidates after being read "detailed and fair paragraphs" Ward takes a lead of 32% with all the other candidates garnering no more than 9% each.

The memo attempts to explain Mitch Ward's lead by showing that voters preferred a qualified candidate from the South Bay to a qualified candidate from the Venice and Marina del Rey area by a margin of 40% to 26%. Mitch Ward is the current Mayor of Manhattan Beach, and is the only major candidate whose political base is South of Los Angeles Airport. The memo goes on to note that two of the last three people to represent the district not only had race in common (Ted Lieu and George Nakano are both Asian American), but they were also both from the South Bay.

I guess we'll find out on June 8, 2010. MadProfessah has endorsed Mitch Ward, who if elected would become the first openly gay, African American person ever elected to the California legislature and the 3rd Black LGBT person to be elected to a state legislature, ever.

Charlie Beck Officially Sworn in as LAPD Chief

Charlie Beck was officially installed as Los Angeles's 56th Chief of Police by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at a ceremony at the new LAPD headquarters in downtown LA on Thursday.

The bunting-laced dais was packed with Beck’s family – a clan rooted deeply in the department. His father is a retired LAPD deputy chief, his sister a former department detective, his stepdaughter a young patrol officer and his son is scheduled to graduate from the LAPD academy Friday.

Many council members, civilian police commissioners and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca also attended. Beck’s predecessor, William J. Bratton, returned from his new job as head of a police consulting firm in New York City for the celebration. Next to him was Daryl F. Gates, another influential leader of the department who served for 14 years until 1992.

As before, Beck was sworn in as the 56th LAPD chief by Villaraigosa, who, in his remarks, called the new chief “the right man at the right time to shape this department in the future.”

Council President Eric Garcetti took up the refrain, saying Beck – a 32-year veteran of the force – had the trust and respect of the department’s nearly 10,000 officers needed to solidify reforms Bratton introduced.

“For the first time in many decades, what we are asking of this chief is to continue the momentum of reform, rather than be the first to usher it in,” he said. Beck “embodies the new era of LAPD.”

For his part, Beck hit familiar, self-effacing notes from the many speeches and town-hall talks he has given since being selected. Saying he was “humbled” by the responsibilities of the new post, he praised his officers for successes in pushing down crime and portrayed the LAPD as a vital agency “inexorably tied to the city” that wants – and needs -- to collaborate with other city departments.

Congratulations to Chief Beck, let's hope he does a better job of reforming the LAPD than some of his predecessors!

Winner of the LAPD Chiefstakes: Charlie Beck

Multiple media sources are reporting that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has selected Deputy Chief Charlie Beck to be his nominee for the next Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Beck, 56, was previously reported to be on the Mayor's short list of three finalists (all white and male) to replace outgoing LAPD head William Bratton, who left his post on October 31st. The other two finalists were Deputy Chief Michel Moore and First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell.

The Mayor will appear at three public forums with his nominee this week. The LGBT community is explicitly invited:

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
at the EXPO Center 3980 South Menlo Ave.,
Los Angeles CA 90037
at 4:00 PM Doors Open at 3:00 PM

Wed. November 4, 2009
6:00 - 7 :30 PM
Van Nuys City Hall
14410 Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, CA

Thursday November 5, 2009
6:00 - 7:30 PM
El Sereno Senior Center at
4818 Klamath Place
Los Angeles, CA

You might want to ask the Mayor and Chief Charlie Beck about whether they will cut ties with the Boy Scouts-linked, anti-gay Explorers program once and for all.

LAPD Chief Short List Revealed: All White, All-Male

Same as it ever was....

Despite having heard from several potential candidates for the LAPD top job who were Black (Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger), Latino (Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz) and female (Assistant Chief Sharon Papa), the Los Angeles Police Commission chose three white men for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to select his choice of the new LAPD Chief from.

According to the Los Angeles Times they are:

Deputy Chief Michel Moore, 49, is a 28-year veteran of the LAPD and is widely credited with helping to push down crime rates in the San Fernando Valley during his more than four years in charge of the bureau. As a captain in 2000, Moore was assigned the difficult task of helping to run the department's notorious Rampart Division in the wake of accusations of widespread corruption and abuses.

Deputy Chief Charles Beck, 56, is a 32-year veteran of the force and the son of a retired LAPD deputy chief. As commander of the Detective Bureau, he is a popular figure with the rank-and-file, who generally view him as a serious crime-fighter, and with the city's civil rights leaders, who hold him up as a progressive thinker on community relations and police conduct.

First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, 50, has served in the department for 28 years and, in addition to Bratton, has been the public face of the LAPD for several years in his role as chief of staff. Widely respected in the department and beyond, he was a candidate for chief in 2002 and Bratton went on to use an extensive plan developed by McDonnell as a blueprint for reshaping the department. With Bratton's frequent trips out of town, McDonnell has often been called to stand in as chief.

Villaraigosa will interview them all and make a decision over the weekend, which needs to be ratified by a majority of the Los Angeles City Council.

CA-GOV: Villaraigosa Decides Not To Run in 2010

Big political earthquake in California politics. Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced that he will not be a candidate for California Governor next year. He went on CNN and spoke with Wolf Blitzer:

The mayor, who was re-elected earlier this year, told Blitzer "the answer's no. I make that decision, as I've said many times, because I love the city I was born and raised in."

"I can't leave this city in the middle of a crisis, it's as simple as that," added Villaraigosa. "I was elected mayor are re-elected by the people of this city. They've given me the honor of a second term and I feel compelled to complete the promise that I've made to them."

Villaraigosa's exit leaves the race on the Democratic side between announced gubernatorial candidate San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and unannounced candidate (former Governor and current California Attorney General) Jerry Brown. Newsom quickly issued a statement:

As a fellow big-city mayor, over the past four years I have gotten to know and respect Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He is a dedicated public servant who is making a difference for the people of Los Angeles every day.

His leadership is valuable to the people of California and the nation, regardless of the office he chooses to hold. His life story is an inspiration to millions of Californians and especially to Latinos everywhere.

I look forward to continuing to work with him, sharing our experiences as mayors, and collaborating on innovative solutions that will take California in a new direction.

As Mayor Villaraigosa has said so eloquently recently, state government needs to change and I believe we can work together to make that a reality.

And the plot thickens. MadProfessah has not endorsed a candidate (yet) but has been impressed by Newsom so far.

Newsom, Delgadillo, Villaraigosa at LA Pride

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ran into his Los Angeles counterpart Antonio Villaraigosa at Los Angeles Pride on Sunday June 14th. Also present is outgoing Los Anegeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, who is one of the masses running for State Attorney General in 2010.

Hat/tip to Karen Ocamb..

LA Mayor Dating (Another) TV Anchor

LA Observed is reporting that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is dating KTLA weekend anchor Lu Parker. Parker, who is also a former Miss USA, has a blog and Twitter account but the news was revealed when the two were seen looking friendly in a Larchmont Village bookstore last Saturday. She told her bosses the two have been dating since March. And, yes, in her role as television reporter, Parker did read a story about Villaraigosa on the air regarding his role in the 2010 California Governor's race but KTLA claims all interviews Parker did with the Mayor were done before they became romantically linked.

You may recall that this is not the first time the mayor has been romantically linked with a TV anchorwoman. Previously it was Mirthala Salinas of Univision--and the Mayor was married!

CA-32: Chu Endorsed By Antonio, Leads $$ Race

Multiple good news stories recently for congressional candidate Judy Chu (who has been endorsed by MadProfessah) in her attempt to win the now-vacant seat representing California's 32nd District in a May 19th special election.

Last Wednesday, financial reports were released which showed Chu outraised her nearest rival, State Senator Gil Cedillo by over $200, 000:

The breadth and strength of Judy Chu’s campaign for Congress was demonstrated again today as candidates reported their first fundraising numbers for this May 19 special election.

In the first three months of 2009, Judy Chu collected an impressive $770,167, over $200,000 more than her nearest rival, State Senator Gil Cedillo.

Judy Chu, Vice-Chair of the California State Board of Equalization, reported a strong $577,609 cash-on-hand figure at the end of the period.

Chu’s consultant, Parke Skelton, stated, “Judy Chu is well on the way towards surpassing $1 million for this race. Her fundraising reflects the enthusiastic and broad support she has attracted from throughout the 32nd District. Just over 83% of her contributions have come from individuals, not PACS. An impressive 1,567 individuals contributed to Dr. Chu’s campaign in this filing period.

But, wait, there's more!

EL SERENO - The Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, will be joined by his counterparts from Azusa, West Covina, South El Monte, Duarte and scores of other San Gabriel Valley elected officials on Wednesday as he officially announces his endorsement of Judy Chu in the race for the 32nd Congressional District seat recently vacated by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

The event, which will include just a fraction of the more than 75 elected officials from the San Gabriel Valley who have already endorsed Judy Chu, will feature statements from Mayor Villaraigosa and other mayors and mayors pro tem from the San Gabriel Valley.

There is video of the endorsement available on YouTube.

CA-GOV: First Polls Released

Over at the excellent Calitics blog, they have reposted the results of the first polls in next year's California gubernatorial election. The Field poll asked potential voters about races with and without ``California's most popular politician" Senator Dianne Feinstein, colloquially known as DiFi.

Dianne Feinstein: 38%
Jerry Brown: 16%
Antonio Villaraigosa: 16%
Gavin Newsom: 10%
John Garamendi: 4%
Steve Westly: 2%
Bill Lockyer: 1%
Jack O'Connell: 1%
Undecided: 12%

[...]

Without DiFi in the race, it's a packed field. Here's Field's poll:

Jerry Brown: 26%
Antonio Villaraigosa: 22%
Gavin Newsom: 16%
John Garamendi: 8%
Steve Westly: 2%
Bill Lockyer: 2%
Jack O'Connell: 2%
Undecided: 22%

DiFi's votes are, then, basically evenly distributed. Lake's primary poll (they didn't poll with DiFi) was similar:

Jerry Brown: 27%
Antonio Villaraigosa: 20%
Gavin Newsom: 14%
John Garamendi: 8%
Steve Westly: 3%
Jack O'Connell: 1%
Undecided: 27%

Interesting that more than a year out, Jerry Brown is in the lead.

MadProfessah's Picks For March 3 2009 Election

Today is Election Day in the City of Los Angeles.

Here are the Los Angeles Times picks combined with MadProfessah's:

Mayor: Antonio Villaraigosa. Antonio Villaraigosa.

City Attorney: Carmen Trutanich. Jack Weiss.

Controller:Wendy Greuel. Wendy Gruel.


City Council, 5th District: Ron Galperin. Paul Koretz.

Measure A (authorize an "independent assessor" to report to the Board of Fire Commissioners): Yes. Yes.

Measure B (solar power and job training): No. Yes.

Measure C (technical changes to police and fire pensions): Yes. Yes.

Measure D (technical changes to police and fire pensions): Yes. Yes.

Measure E (city incentives to businesses): No. No.

Los Angeles Unified School District Board, District 2 :Monica Garcia.

Los Angeles Unified School District Board, District 4:Mike Stryer. No Position.

LAUSD Board, District 6: Nury Martinez. She would be a good advocate for students and their parents, although we would prefer to see more emphasis on educational, and less on social, concerns.

Los Angeles Community College District Board, Seat 2: Angela J. Reddock. The attorney and city commissioner was appointed to fill a board vacancy in 2007 and has grown into the role. Angela Reddock.

LACCD Board, Seat 4:Kelly Candaele. This 12-year incumbent is the most impressive of the 15 candidates running for the four seats. He has been a leader in forging outside partnerships and linking faculty raises to performance. Kelly Candaele.

LACCD Board, Seat 6: Jozef Essavi. He is the strongest of five challengers to incumbent Nancy Pearlman, who has put environmental issues ahead of education. Essavi has grown as a candidate since his last challenge two years ago, and the colleges -- overseen by trustees who walk in political lock-step -- could benefit from the dissent he would bring to the board. Robert Nakahiro. Nakahiro is an openly gay Asian Pacific Islander who is running for this seat.

LACCD Board, Seat 7:Kurt S. Lowry. A public school administrator, Lowry brings ideas and a questioning attitude absent in the appointee-incumbent. Miguel Santiago.

The picks of the Stonewall Democrats are here.

CA-GOV: Whitman Begins To Reveal Positions On Issues

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman
revealed her positions on a wide array of social issues:

Explaining her support for Proposition 8, the November measure that banned same-sex marriage, she called it a "matter of personal conscience and my faith."

But Whitman, a Presbyterian who supports gay civil unions, said the thousands of same-sex marriages that took place last year before the ban should be legally recognized -- a sentiment opposed by many Proposition 8 backers. Moreover, she said, gay and lesbian couples should be able to adopt children.

Whitman's approach on fiscal matters -- a key element of her pitch to voters -- rested on other seeming contradictions.

At a time when California has frozen tax refunds and halted highway construction to preserve solvency, Whitman, who described herself as a billionaire, said the state should not ask even those in the highest income-tax bracket to pay more.

"One of the things which I'm sure you know," she said, "is that 1% of the people in California pay 50% of the taxes, right? And I am not in favor of raising taxes on anyone right now."

[...]

Besides objecting to higher taxes -- which along with program cuts formed Wilson's solution to the 1990s budget mess -- Whitman also said she would have voted against Proposition 187 had she lived in California when it passed in 1994. The measure, pressed by Wilson as he sought reelection that year, was intended to deny education, healthcare and other public services to undocumented immigrants.

"I would not have been prepared to strip all of those services away from children," she said.

At the same time, however, Whitman said Tuesday that schools, hospitals and law enforcement agencies should be required to report undocumented immigrants to federal authorities. She later backtracked on schools, saying, "I want to think about that a little bit." She also said she opposed the issuance of drivers' licenses for those in the country illegally.

Whitman also called herself a champion of the environment. But she voiced qualms about California's efforts against global warming, mainly the attempt under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to force car makers to adopt emission standards tougher than the federal government's.

[...]

Whitman said she supported the 2003 recall of Gov. Gray Davis -- and regretted not casting a vote in that historic election.

As an "extraordinarily busy" mother and traveling executive, she said, she "didn't vote as often as I should, and it's something I regret. And no good excuses for it. Wish I had. Should have."

As for restoring California's fiscal health, Whitman said that holding the line on taxes and scaling back state regulations would spur economic growth and pump new money into the treasury -- an agenda that Schwarzenegger pursued with no success. Whitman also called for steps that would seem to deepen the budget hole: higher salaries for math and science teachers, along with new cuts in corporate income taxes.

At the same time, she said voters should repeal ballot measures that dedicated money solely to mental health and tobacco-related healthcare programs so that revenue could be diverted elsewhere.

She offered no specifics on programs she would cut.

Doesn't the last line just say it all? I'm sure they are doing the Macarena over in the Mayoral offices of San Francisco and Los Angeles over this interview. Or maybe we should be hoping that she is the Republican nominee because she'd be so much easier to beat than Poizner....

LAPD May Day Melee Costs City $12.85 million

The ramifications of the "May Day Melee" on May 1, 2007 when the LAPD nearly caused a riot by acting inappropriately at a peaceful immigrants rights march in Los Angeles continue, with the City of Los Angeles agreeing to a settlement of nine lawsuits at a total cost nearly $13 million.

Los Angeles Times reporters Maeve Reston and Joel Rubin posted the following to the LA Now blog:

The settlement is another blow to the city’s treasury related to LAPD misconduct in the midst of serious budgetary problems. The settlement of the May Day cases comes on the heels of the council’s approval last week of a $20.5-million payout to four current and former police officers who claimed they were falsely arrested and mistreated in the wake of the scandal involving the police department's Rampart Division.

The council still faces other legal troubles related to the May Day incident--there were 27 pending cases related to the demonstration before today’s settlement, according to officials with the city attorney. Only one case involving a broken camera had been settled.

Forty-two people, including nine journalists, were injured as a pro-immigration march wound down in MacArthur Park on May 1. LAPD officials said the scuffle was set off by a group of agitators who threw bottles and other objects at police. The department’s Metro Division used batons and fired rubber bullets to disperse what was a predominantly peaceful gathering.

Chief William J. Bratton said the fracas was an aberration for the department, but promised it would lead to changes in policy and training. He called the decision of his officers to use that level of force a “command and control breakdown.”

In response to the incident, Bratton announced that he was disciplining 11 officers and calling for the termination of four. In another step toward preventing a recurrence, Bratton set up a new bureau known as the Critical Incident Management Bureau that overseas major events and protests.

WTF? I want to hear more about the $20.5 million to the four LAPD officers who were falsely charged and mistreated. Why are they getting paid more than the other nine lawsuits by civilians that was settled for $13 million?

CA-GOV: Brown Leads Money Race

Attorney General Jerry Brown has the most amount of cash on hand of all contenders for the 2010 election for California Governor, according to reports filed with Secretary of State.

The top fundraiser overall among likely candidates for governor was Attorney General Jerry Brown, a Democrat who collected $3.4 million. He was followed by fellow Democrats Gavin Newsom, the San Francisco mayor, who raised nearly $1.2 million; and Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, who reaped about $1.1 million.

[...]

Of the five contenders, only Garamendi has filed the official paperwork to run for governor. Poizner, Campbell and Newsom have formed exploratory committees.

Others have talked about running but either haven't filed the necessary paperwork — such as former eBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman, a Republican — or haven't raised much money, including state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, a Democrat. Or, they've done neither, such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat running for re-election to his current job.

Among the announced Republicans, State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner has self-funded his campaign to the tune of nearly half a million dollars while former U.S. Representative Tom Campbell raised just over $200,000 in 2008. As for cash on hand as of January 1, 2009:

Brown has amassed a total of $4.1 million in his account, including the $3.4 raised last year, but reported spending only $173,000 in 2008. Newsom spent $641,000 last year and has nearly $719,000 in cash on hand. Garamendi spent nearly $557,000 and has $756,000 left. None of the three loaned their campaigns any money.

Campbell used up more than $40,000 last year and had a cash balance on Dec. 31 of about $173,000. Poizner, who leads the Republican field in endorsements, gave himself $460,000 in cash as well as a loan for $100,000; he spent nearly $592,000 and kept $739,165 in the bank.

Mad Professah is an elected member of the California Democratic Party State Central Committee and will be voting to choose the party's nominee for Governor in 2010.

Who do YOU think it should be?

MadProfessah at Equality Summit

Darnell Grisby (Planning Committee co-chair) and
Anne Marks (Equality Summit organizer)

UCLA Law School's Williams Institute Visiting Scholar Catherine Smith
and MadProfessah

MadProfessah and
Equality Summit Planning Committee co-chair Andrea Shorter

MadProfessah and Equality California Executive Director Geoff Kors

L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the
Equality Summit during MadProfessah's panel

MadProfessah attended the Equality Summit at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday. I was on the panel entitled "Race and Religion and the LGBT Movement" representing the Jordan/Rustin Coalition. The panel was interrupted by the arrival of a very special surprise guest, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Here are some pictures I took with people wandering around the Equality Summit.

Some news was made at the summit: There was consensus to move forward with plans for a ballot measure to repeal Propoistion 8 on the November 2008 ballot. The group Love Honor Cherish appears to be taking the lead; they have a draft 18-page plan for recruiting 100,000 volunteers to collect the 1.5-1.7 million signatures it will take to place the measure before voters.

One pending question that was unresolved. Should the ballot measure

1. Repeal Prop 8 only
2. Repeal Prop 8; and include language making it clear it does not force the teaching of same-sex marriage in schools and re-affirming the rights of churches to marry (or not marry) whoever the hell they want
3. Do #2 AND include other language which precludes the matter from being voted on again and/or possibly includes explicit language which would incorporate non-discrimination language previously endorsed by the California Supreme Court (i.e. sex, sexual orientation and race are suspect classifications)

What do YOU think?

CA-32: Local Ethnic Political Fault Lines Revealed

A little bird told me that Labor Secretary-designee U.S. Representative Hilda Solis would love to endorse Judy Chu to replace her in Congress representing the 32nd District but the Obama Administration has told her that Cabinet secretaries can not get involved in the political fight to replace them. State Senator Gil Cedillo is the only other declared candidate in the potential special election, after Gloria Romero dropped out of the race, endorsing Cedillo, and announced her intention to run for State Superintendent of Education in 2010. Romero also later endorsed Los Angeles Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia for her 24th District State Senate seat.

Capitol Weekly has an article in the Thursday January 22 edition on Solis' confirmation process that also mentions some intriguing details on the intricate positioning that other politicians are doing to fill in the holes in the Southern California political power structure as one of their own is elevated in Washington.

On Thursday morning, both the Service Employees International Union and and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor endorsed Chu.

There have been tensions between Romero and Maria-Elena Durazo, head of the powerful Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. But Capitol sources say Romero decided to focus on the superintendent’s race after consulting with former Sen. Richard Polanco, among others.

The potential Congressional showdown has also divided the Capitol’s Latino Caucus, of which Cedillo is chair. Cedillo has tangled with Assemblyman John Perez, D-Los Angeles, and has even threatened to challenge Perez for his Assembly seat in 2010.

Perez is the cousin of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Villaraigosa is said to be leaning toward endorsing Chu, though his office did not return calls seeking comment.

Cedillo and Villlaraigosa were once close political allies, with Villariagosa using his clout to help Cedillo’s election to the Assembly in a 1997 pecial election. But tensions between the two childhood friends quickly grew, and eventually boiled over after Villaraigosa's failed race for Los Angeles mayor in 2001. Villaraigosa threatened to run against Cedillo for Senate after his 2001 defeat, and the rift has never healed between the two. Cedillo stuck with Hahn when Villarigosa eventually defeated Hahn in 2005.

[...]

If Chu is to win the seat, she will have to earn some Latino support. The 32nd Congressional District is about 62 percent Latino. Asians make up about 20 percent of the district population. Latinos make up about half of the district’s voter registration. Asians comprise about 13 percent of registered voters.

[...]

Chu has already secured the endorsement of Assemblyman Ed Hernandez, D-El Monte, who has his eyes on Romero’s senate seat in 2010. Chu and her husband, Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Los Angeles, -- two of Hernandez’s top potential rivals -- are said to be backing Hernandez for the Senate seat.

[...]

Romero’s exit from the congressional race sets up a 2010 showdown between Romero and Assemblyman Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, for state superintendent. The current superintendent, Jack O’Connell is being pushed out by term limits, and has announced his intention to run for governor in 2010.

Got all that? On one side you have John Perez, Antonio Villaraigosa, Ed Hernandez and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor with Chu versus Romero and Polanco with Cedillo in a 62% Latino district. I presume L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina (who previously rejected a run for the seat herself) will be on the side of Romero/Polanco/Cedillo, but only time will tell.

SD-24: Romero Endorses Garcia As Her Successor

Some news was made at the 45th Assembly District elections on Sunday January 11th where MadProfessah was elected to the California Democratic State Central Committee. State Senator Gloria Romero who last week announced that she would not run for Hilda Solis' soon-to-be-vacant seat in the 31st Congressional district was present at Arco Iris Restaurant in Highland Park and while there she endorsed current LA Unified School District Board President Monica Garcia as her immediate successor to the 24th State Senate district. This must have been something of a surprise to Assemblymember Kevin De León, whose chief of staff was in the room and running the DSCC elections. De León is termed out in 2012, but surely he was hoping to be promoted to the upper chamber and would have considered running for the 24th District seat in 2010.

Since I live in both AD-45 and SD-24 as well as Garcia's Los Angeles school district (#2) I will be keeping close tabs on this race.

Monica Garcia has a lesbian sister and was very outspoken in her opposition to Proposition 8. I know that she is very close to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and has been seen as his strongest surrogate on the school board. De León is also a favorite of the Mayor's, and is often described as "the BFF" of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.

LA TIMES Urges Attorney General To Reject Prop 8

Thursday's Los Angeles Times editorializes in favor of California Attorney General Jerry Brown to oppose Proposition 8 on constitutional grounds in his brief before the California Supreme Court which is due to be filed today.

Among the many legal opinions on Proposition 8 that the California Supreme Court will consider, the most high-profile one will come from Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown. By Friday, Brown is supposed to deliver his legal brief on whether the initiative banning same-sex marriage is an amendment to the state Constitution or, as opponents claim, a fundamental revision of it, which would require far more than a simple majority vote to take effect. As California's top lawyer, Brown is bound by his oath to defend the state's laws. But in this case, does that mean defending the will of the voters, or defending the Constitution from the will of the voters? Either way, Brown must deliver a robust and sincere argument that reflects his honest interpretation. In other words, he has to call it as he sees it.

As obvious as that sounds, it's not the role that attorneys general have commonly played; historically, the official legal representative for the state or nation defends newly passed laws against court challenges. Nor is this an easily resolved constitutional issue.

Certainly, Proposition 8 is not a wholesale rewrite of the state Constitution. The question is whether fundamental change has to mean extensive and elaborate change, or whether it's enough that a ban on gay marriage deprives a group that has long been a target of discrimination of an essential constitutional right.

The question deserves a well-considered answer by the court -- and an honestly rendered argument from Brown. If Brown deems Proposition 8 an unconstitutional revision, the state deserves better than a pro-forma argument defending it simply because that's what his office has usually done -- just as Brown should defend the measure vigorously if, in his opinion, it is an amendment, even though he opposed it before the election.

Though it's the less common path, there are precedents in which attorneys general have taken a stance on constitutional grounds, rather than on the idea that they must defend the will of the voters no matter their own legal beliefs. In a 1983 case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Atty. Gen. William French Smith sided against a law that would have allowed a single house of Congress to overrule immigration decisions. In 1967, California Atty. Gen. Thomas C. Lynch argued against Proposition 14, a rollback of fair-housing laws that was ultimately found unconstitutional.

Californians on both sides of the gay-marriage debate deserve an equally principled argument from Brown.

It will be interesting to see how Brown walks a fine line between what he actually thinks the law requires and how that relates to his possible gubernatorial campaign in 2010. Most of the other top Democratic contenders for Governor of California are strong supporters of civil marriage for everyone: Gavin Newsom, Antonio Villaraigosa and Jack O'Connell.

Mayor Villaraigosa Donates $25K To Defeat Prop 8

This is the letter that I received in email yesterday that made me donate to NO ON PROP 8 yesterday and set up the MadProfessah.com EQUALITY FOR ALL page. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has donated $25,000 to defeat the measure and sent out a fundraising appeal explaining why.

"I entered politics because the America of my dreams includes everyone, not just a few.

Too many people have suffered injustice, discrimination, and inequality. It's time to bring every American out of the shadows and into the light. Our laws should not be used to single one group out to be treated differently. Instead, our laws should guarantee the same fundamental rights to every Californian.

Same-sex marriage is the law of the land in California. In my legal capacity as Mayor of Los Angeles, I have proudly officiated many same-sex weddings since the Supreme Court ruling in June confirmed the constitutionality of these unions.
These are loving, committed couples who want to get married for universal reasons: they love, care for, protect and take responsibility for each other.

I vow to vote No on Proposition 8 because I believe our civil society demands that we uphold — not eliminate — these fundamental rights. I believe all Californians deserve to be treated equally. And I believe that government exists to protect individual rights, not to undermine them.

Unfortunately, polls now show that the anti-marriage equality "Yes on 8" campaign is leading, just as vote-by-mail ballots arrive in voters' mailboxes across California. The "No on 8" campaign needs our help today to get the marriage equality message out on TV immediately. That's why I'm taking a stand against Prop. 8 today by contributing $25,000 to the "No on 8" campaign.

And I would like you to join me by digging deep and contributing whatever you can afford - whether it's $5, $50, $500, or $5,000 - to the "No on 8" campaign on Courage's ActBlue page right now

Opponents of marriage equality have blanketed California with misleading ads and have raised an unprecedented sum of money, outspending the "No on 8" campaign by over $10 million. In fact, the "Yes on 8" campaign received so many individual contributions, both large and small, that the sheer volume crashed the Secretary of State's reporting system last Tuesday.

I know that many defenders of marriage equality just like you have contributed a lot of money so far to the "No on 8" campaign — but we need to redouble our efforts now to match the flood of money raised by supporters of Prop 8. Californians from across the political and cultural spectrum have united to fight Prop 8 and defend fundamental rights ….

Our state constitution protects our rights. It should not be used to deny civil rights to anyone.

Please join me in supporting the No on 8 campaign. And tell your friends by forwarding this Courage Campaign message. Together, we can take a stand for the right of every Californian to marry the person they love.

Thank you for vowing to vote No on –and contribute to the defeat of — Prop 8.

Antonio Villaraigosa
Mayor of Los Angeles"

It should be noted that Mayor Villaraigosa is in his first terms and faces re-election in April 2009.

Villaraigosa and Garamendi Show Up To L.A. NO ON 8 Kickoff Event

Earlier in the week I noted that Republican State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner had taken the first step in his run for the Governor's office in California in 2010 and mentioned his likely Democratic opponents. However, in that (relatively long) list I neglected to include Democratic Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi.

Garamendi was one of the few politicos who showed up to the kickoff event of the Los Angeles No On Prop 8 campaign on Saturday at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Ed Gould Plaza. Scheduled to speak were Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, State Controller John Chiang, State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas and West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem Abbe Land.

However, only the two Mayors showed up, with a special surprise guest in the Lieutenant Governor. They both gave a full-throated defense of their positions in favor of marriage equality and their opposition to Proposition 8.

The 2010 Gubernatorial Primary should be very interesting indeed. It would be amazing if Gay Marriage is not an issue at all--what will LGBT voters make decisions on? Who was there first supporting the community on marriage (Gavin Newsom) or who has the most effective vision for the state of California as Governor (T.B.A)?