Roundup of Selected Weekly Political Trivia
 | Desert Observer's Page Palm Springs, CA. In Palm Springs, eleven candidates, including two incumbents, are seeking election in November 2009 to one of two vacant seats. At the state level, two gubernatorial candidates have emerged as front runners for the June 2010 Democratic Party primary endorsement. |
Palm Springs City Council Candidate Chris Mills Fails To Win Endorsement
Incumbent Palm Springs city council member Chris Mills, a Republican, is seeking re-election in a race involving two seats. The Riverside County Log Cabin Republican Club is not endorsing him for another term. Instead, they've given the nod to political newcomers Drew Sweatte and Barbara Beaty. That has to represent the first and most interesting development so far in the local city council race. A question that remains to be answered is whether Mills will pick up support from the other GOP clubs.
P.S. council candidate Barbara Beaty blogs "What To Look For in a Candidate?"
Several of the questions in the blog imply some candidates don't meet the test. We're left to wonder which candidates aren't honest, are financially unstable, have no decision-making credentials, are unfair, and have progressive views (i.e. they're Democrats). Pretty strong stuff! In the absence of facts, one would have to conclude the potential answers are pretty subjective - like beauty - strictly in the eye of the beholder. While attempts at vetting candidate's personal attributes may be an interesting exercise, the questions of real import are candidate's positions with respect to issues related to city government. This list of questions does a good job of skirting the subject, while carrying a slight hint of mudslinging. Not the best way to campaign in a "nonpartisan" race.
Why Former President Bill Clinton Supports Gavin Newsom for Governor
Former President Bill Clinton, in a possible revenge play, is endorsing Gavin Newsom for Governor, over ancient adversary Jerry Brown. In a marriage of convenience, the famous signer of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is out on the campaign trail raising money for the "Tell Everything and Everyone" candidate. Those in need of a daily political gossip dose will appreciate the "calbuzz" version of the Clinton-Brown relationship.
Palm Springs City Council Candidates Face Off At Forum
The Desert Sun reported three questions were asked of the ten city council candidates during a Palm Springs Hospitality Association forum. The questions included "top challenges facing businesses", how to address them, and candidate suggestions for new tourism/hospitality programs. Few candidate responses, as reported in the paper, adequately addressed the questions and some, rather far off the mark, appeared as little more than obfuscations instead of answers.
Behind the scenes: The Clinton Endorsement of Gavin Newsom for Governor
A memory lane gossip report explaining former president Bill Clinton's endorsement of Gavin Newsom over Jerry Brown for governor, reminds us that Attorney General Brown admitted he didn't vote for Al Gore for President in 2000 and instead cast his ballot for Ralph Nader. Those kinds of memories are not the ones Brown probably wants to have floating around.
Palm Springs City Council Candidates Introduce Themselves
Palm Springs city council candidates Barbara Beaty, David Carden, Alexander Dobrecevic, Ginny Foat, Michael Gallardo, Eloise Garcia-Mohsin, Chris Mills, James Osterberger, Drew Sweatte, John Tymon and Mark D. Walthour introduce themselves and discuss their reasons for seeking one of the two council seats up for election.
Jim Battin Lieutenant Governor Plans Revealed As Spending Ploy
Termed-our state legislator Jim Battin found a legal way to spend the big bucks left over in his previously untouchable old campaign funds account. Last winter, by declaring an intent to run for lieutenant governor, the money in the old account became available for raiding. He did so and spent so much on luxury travel to Hawaii, China, Japan, London, and for other noncampaign-related purposes, he was forced to turn to the Riverside County Republican Party for help. They responded by giving him $22,000 to help settle his debts. Oh, by the way, that interest in running for lieutenant governor - apparently it was just a ploy to legally get at those old campaign funds - Battin closed his lieutenant governor campaign account in late July and no longer professes to be interested in that office.
Openly Gay Palm Springs City Council Candidate A "Proudly Anti-Homosexual Republican"
Openly gay Palm Springs city council candidate Drew Sweatte has been outed as formerly anti-homosexual in a past letter to a Washington state newspaper. In addition to several calls for his withdrawal from the council race, online viewers have left comments on MyDesert.com referring to him as "self-hating", "selfish", "self-loathing", "hypocrite", "freak", "wimp", "right wing nut job", and "opportunist". In his rebuttal statement the 22 year old high school graduate said "I am a living testament that sexual orientation does not make a difference in a person's skills, abilities or self worth".
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
September 19, 2009
Posted by Administrator at 9/19/2009 9:57 AM 
Categories: Opinion
Tags: Palm Springs City Council Jerry Brown David Carden Barbara Beaty John Tymon James Osterberger Chris Mills Log Cabin Republicans Ginny Foat Michael Gallardo Alexander Dobrecevic Jim Battin Mark Walthour Eloise Garcia-Mohsin Gavin Newsom Drew Sweatte
Categories: Opinion
Tags: Palm Springs City Council Jerry Brown David Carden Barbara Beaty John Tymon James Osterberger Chris Mills Log Cabin Republicans Ginny Foat Michael Gallardo Alexander Dobrecevic Jim Battin Mark Walthour Eloise Garcia-Mohsin Gavin Newsom Drew Sweatte
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