Restore The GOP

2016 Republican Party of San Diego County Central Committee Endorsements

Here are my endorsements for the Republican Party of San Diego County Central Committee, for the June 2016 ballot.  This is a four-year term and the members make up the governing body of the local party organization.  My criteria for endorsement are pretty simple:

1- I eliminate anyone with a potential conflict of interest in the endorsements process.
2- I favor incumbents who have a good voting record.
3- I endorse a few "first timers" who are established GOP volunteers and use good judgement.

My first 'condition" has caused me to eliminate some really good people from the process, a few of which are close friends.  It's not personal.  I think those elected officials are already serving the Republican effort in San Diego well.  I seek to expand the effort by bringing more volunteers into the governing process.  Note that I did NOT file for election.  I intend to remain active as a fundraiser for the local effort and don't want that bias on the Committee.  In short, I am practicing what I preach.  I'll have plenty of influence with the Committee but my vote would be biased.

71st Assembly District (East County):

Eric Andersen
Frank Hilliker
Jim Kelly

All three are incumbents, each a volunteer, and I don't know enough about the rest of the field to offer an endorsement.

75th Assembly District (Northeast County)

Joe Bologna
Delores Chavez Harmes
Clare Plotner
Debbie Lenson
Regina Roberts

Lee DeMeo is a movement conservative but he serves on two regional boards, one of which presents a conflict with the RPSDC meetings.    Debbie Lenson is a new member to the Committee and is a hard working conservative.  Regina Roberts is a dedicated activist for the Second Amendment and important leader in the Republican Party.

76th Assembly District

Tia Ballard
John Buell
Gary Felien
Sandy Waecker
Dan Hughes
Judy Rees

All good choices.

77th Assembly District

Jeannie Foulkrod
Elliott Schroeder
Lynette Williams
Tony Krvaric
Richard Rider
Carl DeMaio

Krvaric is a superb chairman and, while he may not run for re-election for Chairman, he needs to be on the Committee.  Foulkrod is the current Secretary and a long-time volunteer.  Williams is one of the most dedicated  volunteers we have.  Schroeder and Rider are first-time candidates but were heavily involved in the Republican Liberty Caucus.  Richard Rider is a warrior for Liberty.  Carl DeMaio is a great choice.  If he ever runs for office, he should resign his Central Committee position; I have no doubt that he would do that

78th Assembly District

Taylor Bloom
Monica Fay
Waskah Whelan
Julio DeGuzman
Dan Holstein

I served on and chaired this District for two years.  Incumbents Fay, DeGuzman, and Holstein are independent thinkers with years of experience; they should be re-elected.  Whelan was the County Chair of the Republican Women's Federated and Taylor Bloom is a rising and important voice in the County.  Jean Roesch is a long time committee member but missed a lot of meetings; she would be a good sixth vote

79th Assembly District-- I can only endorse Martha Doiron; I don't know nor recommend the other candidates.

SDGOP Meeting November 11, 2013: Endorsement for CA 52nd Congressional District

The Republican Party of San Diego County (RPSDC) met last night to endorse a candidate in California's 52nd Congressional District (CD52).  The 52nd Congressional District includes the cities of Poway, Coronado, most of the City of San Diego communities north of Interstate 8, and most of the City of San Diego communities west of Interstate 5.  Please check the District map to see if you are registered in this District.

I am not registered in CD52 but, in my capacity as a regional chairman for RPSDC, I had an important interest in this race.  My "region" includes many of the City of San Diego communites and the City of Coronado.  As such, I spent a great deal of time intereviewing the candidates over the past six months.

The Executive Committee of RPSDC, of which I am a member, unanimously voted to recommend candidates for endorsement:  former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio, Marine veteran and businessman Kirk Jorgensen, and trauma surgeon and businessman Fred Simon.  The recommendations to endorse were consistent with the endorsement rules and procedures passed by the Committee in January, 2013; a two-thirds vote from the full committee would be required for endorsement.

A motion from the floor was made to suspend the endorsement in this race. That motion was defeated.   I voted against this motion for the following reasons: 

1-Scott Peters, an independently wealthy trial lawyer, currently holds this seat.  A significant financial investment, from the RNCC, independent donors, and Republican voters, will be required to defeat his campaign for re-election,

2- Peters' record, for his short term in Congress, is abysmal.  He voted for Obamacare and increased and damaging regulations to the financial services sector.  He has no significant legislative accomplishments and votes the Pelosi/Reid agenda. 

3- The RPSDC endorsement will be necessary to co-ordinate the resources required to defeat him.

The Committee interviewed and deliberated about the three candidates:  DeMaio, Jorgensen, and Simon.  The Committee voted to endorse Carl DeMaio with a 2/3 majority.  I voted to endorse Carl DeMaio for the following reasons:

DeMaio has a proven record of government reform.  While he was defeated in the City of San Diego Mayor's race, he outperformed his opponent in an overwhlemingly high number of San Diego communities which are in CD52.  DeMaio's fundraising effort is off to a great start and he has secured endorsements from Congressman Issa House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and most significantly, Congressman Tom McClintock. 

Brady Campaign Makes National News

"Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who has said he’ll step down from office at year end, has inspired a crop of candidates who are running for office on his libertarian platform."--Bloomberg.BusinessWeek

This map shows that there are "different" types of Republican candidates who are running to steer the Republican Party back towards its traditional conservative message.    Brian Brady is one of three endorsed California candidates on the map.  I've net the other two candidates and, while we may differ slightly on how we present the issues, in the end, we each want to advance the principles of Liberty within the existing power structure. 

Clairemont Candidate Forum

De Le, San Diego's "go-to" guy, invited me to participate in a candidate forum today.  I had an opportunity to share my vision about what I intend to do as a Member of the San Diego GOP Central Committee.  Here are the key points I made today:

• Our country, state, and city is in danger of an economic collapse
• Debt is driving this threat on all fronts
• We need to elect candidates who understand that 2+2= 4
• I care deeply about the fiscal issues and, the social issues will work out if we address the fiscal problems now
• I see my role as "guardian of the conservative culture".  I advanced that role with the The Promise to California Taxpayers
• When we act like us, we win.  When we act like them, we lose.

Many thanks to De for orgainzing this event.