As I reported in an earlier blog, Dale Wissman, California School Employees Association, wrote a piece that disrespected Julie Bornstein, Democratic Nominee for the 45th Congressional District, Greg Pettis, former-Democratic Candidate for the 80th Assembly District, Pettis' supporters and bloggers, The Desert Sun, and the TDS' editorial staff and reporters. Rather than focus on the Victor Manuel Perez victory Tuesday in the Democratic primary for the 80th AD and on solidifying support for Perez amongst the West Valley Democrats and Decline to States, Wissman chose to go beyond the pale, to gloat about his responsibility for the victory, and to slam all of his perceived opponents. Wissman's email was then published on his cousin's blog, sending shockwaves through the Coachella Valley. (BBBz note: blog has now deleted the offensive post.)
Wissman, in response to intense public pressure from local Democratic club leadership, including President of the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club George Zander, and to the increasing dismay of the Perez camp for the resulting alienation of local Democratic Club leadership, Democratic electeds in the West Valley, and the local Democratic activists and bloggers (soyinkafan's "West Valley elite"), apologized for the publication of his offensive email.
As the Perez and Pettis campaigns began to kiss and make up, Dale Wissman, CSEA, posted a blog that brought the detente to an abrupt, and quite possibley, permenant, halt. Wissman disrespected Julie Bornstein, Democratic Candidate for the 45th Congressional District, Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilmember and former-Candidate for the 80th AD, Pettis' supporters and bloggers, the Democratic Clubs that supported Pettis, the unions that supported Pettis, The Desert Sun which endorsed Pettis over Perez, and the Desert Sun editorial staff and reporters.
Wissman could not have alienated potential support in the West Valley any more than he just did in his mydesert.com blog.
Wissman has apparently not been heeding the role modeling enacted by the Sen. Barack Obama campaign with Sen. Hillary Clinton and her supporters. Then again, the Obama and Clinton campaigns involve veteran staffers who do know how to 'kiss and make up.'
The response of George Zander, President of the Desert Stonewall Democratic Club and Wissman's original blog are all posted below.
Coachella, CA - Early this morning Manuel Perez declared victory in the Democratic primary in the 80th Assembly District. Perez won an overwhelming victory by building a strong multi-ethnic and diverse coalition in Riverside County and Imperial County.
"People power made the difference in this election," declared Democratic nominee Manuel Perez. "My message of hope and values resonated across both counties as voters yearned for new leadership, new energy and common values."
Progressives around the state could really learn from this guy. I met Manuel Perez almost a year ago and was really thrilled by the transformative nature of his candidacy, someone who understands the issues facing California but can also put together the progressive argument in a broad and powerful way. Plus he can reach out and help build a new generation of Hispanic leadership in the desert area that will leave its mark long after he's out of the picture. Mark my words, there's a leadership position in this guy's future, sooner rather than later.
The great thing is that the best chance we have for a pickup in November is not a Lou Correa-type Democrat but a real fighter for progressive values. You don't have to be afraid of your beliefs, you can speak to them and win. That's what Perez' victory signifies.
Gladis, Carlos, and Ruben last night at the Coachella campaign office (Alejandro was working for dad, too, this is a great bunch). Met my Calitics buddy Dan last night at last, and he's hitting the streets today. I've been well-trained to fear the kaynehorah (evil eye), but not Carlos. He felt good about the work they've done last night, and he's felt happy and positive for the entire campaign. This is his first time out as a field organizer, and the 200 campaign volunteers hitting the streets today are testament to his work this past year. It's 100 degrees in the Coachella Valley today. Low turnout expected by the registrar, she estimates 30%, 31%. But not among the ID'd voters for this campaign. The walk lists have less than 50 households per, because we are rich in volunteers. Plus, the union workers are out there, and who knows what their number is.
Manuel Perez is at once scholarly, passionate, and gracious. He knows public policy from both the planning and outcome perspectives, so give him a topic, and he'll give you a progressive and practical answer, with footnotes.
Manuel Perez wasn't going to be at the Rancho Mirage Library for the candidate forum Friday night. He was scheduled to be the honoree at an event for a coalition of fellow nonprofits, and they had already rescheduled the event around his campaign once. But we finally convinced him that a candidate has no choice but to be there, and he was brilliant. The interaction among the 80th candidates showed a clear frontrunner, the focus of both Rick Gonzales and Greg Pettis's attention. Manuel pivoted on both challenges, and his scope of understanding about education, healthcare, jobs and the environment was finally on display in the proper context.
Well, well, well. Just when I thought that the Victor Manuel Perez for 80th Assembly District campaign was intimately involved with the current sleeze campaign being waged against Greg Pettis, Democratic Candidate for 80th Assembly District, they just might have proved me wrong. The recent mailings by Opportunity PAC to voters in Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley, and Imperial County have voters alternatively scratching their heads and guffawing in uncontrollable laughter.
Victor Manuel Perez, his campaign for 80th Assembly District, and his employer cannot seem to agree on his job title. Wondering here why the major discrepancies.
Perez and his campaign sent out fact sheets and fliers to the voters of the Coachella Valley and Imperial County stating that Perez was 'Director of Community Health & Advocacy' at his place of employment, the Borrego Community Health Foundation. Perez also 'sold' the idea that he was a 'healthcare worker' to the California Nurses Association in seeking and obtaining their endorsement for the 80th AD.
However, when I placed calls to the Borrego Centro Medico Mobile Unit where Perez works, employees informed me that Perez was in fact 'Facilities and Maintenance Manager.' Seems a far step from Director of Community Health & Advocacy and healthcare worker.
The California 80th Assembly District has the affluence of Palm Springs and La Quinta, where the well-off winter, and the Grapes of Wrath poverty of Duroville.
Manuel Perez: "For too long, the 80th Assembly District has been ignored and neglected by politicians. Growing up the son of farm workers, I know the struggles of working families. I will fight locally and in Sacramento to bring new opportunities and prosperity to all our communities."
Manuel Perez focuses on parents as well as students as a School Board Trustee, recruiting them to work with him to reverse the schools to jails pipeline in our poverty burdened communities. But it's not enough to educate, we need jobs in California, and specifically a green tech business plan from Palm Springs to Calexico. Check the plan on the flip.
XPosted 5/21/2008 8:50 PM PDT on MyDesert.com in Blog by BluePalmSpringsBoyz
Well, well, well. The character of a man is demonstrated when under pressure. Seems that the leadership of Victor Manuel Perez, Democratic Candidate for the 80th Assembly District fails in more ways than one in the closing weeks of the campaign.
As suggested in the last electronic filing period, Greg Pettis has outraised and outspent his Democratic rivals combined. Not just outraising Perez, but Perez, Gonzales, and Gutierrez combined! The Desert Sun, in its editorial endorsement in the Democratic primary, echoed the endorsements of Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, former-Controller Steve Westly, State Controller John Chiang, State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu, State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, and State Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Sally Lieber in noting Pettis' exceptional experience and accomplishments during more than 14 years as Cathedral City Councilmember and Cathedral City Mayor Pro-Tem. The Desert Sun also noted that Pettis was sure to continue to be a presence in the Coachella Valley following election, in this writer's opinion, much unlike U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Baxely Mack and State Assemblymember Bonnie Garcia. Garamendi stated,
"I'm getting behind Greg Pettis because he has a long record of results that matter to families throughout the Coachella and Imperial Valleys, and the experience to deliver on the promise of creating a healthier California," Garamendi said.
"We need to put this seat in the hands of someone who will be ready from the first day in office to make our health care system more affordable and accessible, to improve our economy by reducing the achievement gap in our schools and keeping college affordable for more students and to take the lead in combating global climate change," Garamendi added.
This is our first attempt at endorsements on a broad scale in the legislature. It is not comprehensive, we simply don't have the resources to get to every seat. But, we tried to get to most of the competitive seats. We'll provide a bit of commentary on some of these over the flip. State Senate races tomorrow, and Congressional races on Wednesday. But, today, Assembly races:
AD-08: Mariko Yamada
AD-10: Alyson Huber
AD-15: Joan Buchanan
AD-27: Emily Reilly
AD-37: Ferial Masry
AD-40: Laurette Healey
AD-78: Any Democratic candidate other than Auday Arabo.
AD-80: Manuel Perez
I live for Al Rodger's excellent photo diaries at dKos, so here's a tribute to that great man- the photo diary about Manuel Perez.
In this diverse and challenging district, Manuel Perez is the only Latino Democratic candidate to support gay rights and gay marriage, the only Democrat in the race fluent in both English and Spanish, the only teacher, the only promontore, and the one with the full backing of the healthcare, education, and labor unions. But there are four candidates, three weeks to go, and nothing is guaranteed. ActBlue action here.
Democratic Candidates' Stands on Marriage Equality
Aspectes Xposted at 5/18/2008 10:50 AM PDT on MyDesert.com in BluePalmSpringsBoyz Blog
Greg Pettis, Cathedral City Councilmember and former Mayor Pro-Tem of Cathedral City has consistently supported Marriage Equality and has stated publically and unequivocally at Democratic Candidates' forums that he would vote for Marriage Equality if elected to the California State Assembly
Rick Gonzales, Community Development organizer with Wells Fargo, has stated publically and unequivocally at Democratic Club Candidates' forums that if elected to the California State Assembly he would vote against Marriage Equality
Richard Gutierrez, dentist, has stated publically and unequivocally at Democratic Club Candidates' forums that if elected to the California State Assembly, he would vote against Marriage Equality
Victor Manuel Perez, now former-Vice-President of the Coachella Valley Unified School District, has equivocated in public on Marriage Equality. At Democratic Club Candidates' forums, Perez avoided taking a position for or against Marriage Equality and has not indicated in public how he might vote as a member of the California State Assembly.
Perez states publically that he favors equal treatment for the LGBT community, but at each Democratic Candidates' forum, when questioned, Perez equivocated, failing to answer how he would vote on Marriage Equality if elected to the State Assembly. Favoring equal treatment and non-discrimination is not the same as stating a voting position.
The people of Coachella and Imperial Valleys need to know where Perez stands prior to the June primary, not after the November election. It would behoove the Perez campaign and benefit the people of the 80th AD for his positions on LGBT issues and related position papers to be posted on his website. One can only imagine why his spokepersons hold that Perez supports Marriage Equality when the candidate has not spoken to a possible vote.
The LGBT community cannot afford another Bonnie Garcia-type politician in the State Assembly who opposes equal rights for the LGBT community and who votes against the best interests of a major constituency.
The IEs are here at last, like Santa in the summer. Running a grassroots campaign with a base of working people, some of whom live in the poorest parts of California, means the campaign's funds are always tight. The majority of the staff work for little or nothing. But oh, how sweet it is when the unions start to do their thing. Our website has an excellent photo gallery. Behold, I receive in the mail my candidate teaching my kids.
The latest endorsements are United Auto Workers Region 5, the California Faculty Association, the San Diego/Imperial County Labor Council, and the Border Patrol. Education, healthcare, labor, UAW, and now law enforcement. Nice.
Manuel Perez is bringing a socially conservative, economically progressive county back to the Democrats. Imperial County is one of the poorest in California. It's part of the California 80th Assembly District, which reaches from Palm Springs to Mexico and Arizona. dday gives the best brief of it here. It's not on the radar of some of the wealthy liberals in the west of the district, which is one of the reasons why we've lost this race to Bonnie Garcia over and over. Imperial County has been voting against registration and handing victory to the Republicans, but it's looking up in 2008. Voters in Riverside and Imperial Counties have a winning progressive this year.
Periodically between now and the primaries on June 3, I'll be checking in with some brief election news.
• CA-04: Charlie Brown has released his first ad of the cycle. It's a bio spot, and it's a good one.
I would have liked to have seen some specifics about the veterans care challenge, but I understand that it's well-known inside the district so maybe the allusion to it was all that was necessary. Certainly he's taking an above-the-fray stance in the midst of the brutal primary on the other side. I like it.
• AD-80: I bet you didn't to see CNA and SEIU supporting the same candidate in virtually anything, especially at this sensitive time, but both of them have come out in favor of Manuel Perez, in addition to the California Medical Association PAC.
• At Election Track, you can follow contributions to all of California's candidates as we head to the primary.
• CA-08: Cindy Sheehan says she has $130,000 for her challenge to Nancy Pelosi, running as an independent.
• SD-03: Here's a Joe Nation ad (over the flip) focusing on the environment. Is this running anywhere?
Not only California Teachers Association, but the CSEA supports the CA 80th AD's People Powered candidate:
The California School Employees Association has endorsed Democratic candidate Manuel Perez for 80th Assembly District, the campaign said today.
Perez, who is a Coachella School Board trustee, is vying to replace Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City. Garcia cannot run again because of term limits.
"Manuel Perez is clearly an education leader," Ellen Soto, CSEA chapter president at Coachella Valley Unified School District, said in a press release. "Manuel is rolling up his sleeves and working hard every day to improve schools and create educational opportunities for our kids. Manuel's leadership has brought $250 million to the Coachella Valley to build new schools and modernize classrooms."
The 80th Assembly District in California is one of the best pickup opportunities this year, and we have just the transformational candidate to make it happen. Manuel Pérez is a hands-on, no bs, Harvard-educated community organizer from the heart of the Coachella Valley, a direct, unapologetic progressive with experience in building a just and healthy society. He won't promise loyalty in Sacramento in exchange for support, he's getting his mojo the time-honored way: walking precincts, meeting with more union review committees, and he just participated in a podcast on Calitics.
I've been posting on this race since last May, and have yet to compile the best quotes nor list the endorsers adequately. Let's kick it off with the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO:
Manuel Perez knows first hand the struggles of working families and will be a champion of healthcare, education and creating new jobs in the State Assembly.
(It's happening today at 3:30. Unfortunately, due to a family emergency, Rick Gonzales will not be able to join us. We hope to have him on soon. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
We've been doing the podcasts for a while now, and I think we're going to try to establish some consistency in when we do these things live. Our goal is to stick with the 3:30 on Monday time slot. You can even call in to the show to talk to David Dayen and myself when we do these things. Our Call-in # is (718) 664-9561. Here's our channel where you can listen to our archive and get show information for all of our shows. You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.
This Monday, we'll be having an episode discussing the 80th AD race, a district stretching from Palm Springs down to the border in Riverside and Imperial Counties. We'll be talking to a couple of candidates, Manuel Perez and, hopefully, Rick Gonzales. We've not yet heard from Greg Pettis, but we'd be happy to get him on the show too. So, check it out live on Monday, or at any time via the podcast.
UPDATE: It looks like we're going to be having a full candidate forum on the Calitics podcast. All three candidates for the 80th AD have now agreed to appear on Monday's podcast. It's going to be Grade A listening. Make sure you check it out.
On April 7th Dale Wissman blogged "AD-80: Party needs to focus on unifying, not early endorsements" on The Bayne of Blog's California Notes and a copy was posted on MyDesert.com.
Sandra Stone, President of Democratic Women of the Desert, reviewed Mr. Wissman's blog and found it filled with inaccuracies, misunderstandings and decried the apparent inexperience that produced such uninformed content. She has written a response that clarifies the process and corrects errors in Dale Wissman's blog.
Shirley Walton, chair of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee also reviewed Mr. Wissman's blog and briefly wrote of her complete agreement with the response provided by Sandra Stone.
I've been asked to post both responses on each of the websites where the original or copies of Dale Wissman's now exist.
