3 Top Ballot Races Drawing Big Money
Tough battles likely in San Bernardino County for two Assembly seats and a supervisor's post.
Term limits and a political misconduct case in San
Bernardino County have placed three open seats on the March
2 ballot, setting the stage for hard-fought primary
campaigns to replace two state assemblymen and a county
supervisor who resigned under a cloud of scandal.
Campaign finance statements filed last week show that several candidates already have amassed hefty campaign funds, which means voters can expect campaign fliers, newspaper ads, mailers and phone calls soliciting support.
In the two open Assembly races, the overriding campaign issue probably will be the state's budget problem. In the race to replace former San Bernardino County Supervisor Gerald "Jerry" Eaves, the candidates probably will focus on the corruption scandal that forced Eaves out and debate whether it has tarnished the image of those candidates with ties to him.
One of the most bruising Assembly races is expected to be the battle between Joe Baca Jr., son of Rep. Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino), and David Roa Pruitt, chief of staff of San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles, who are competing to replace Assemblyman John Longville (D-Rialto).
Longville, leaving office because of term limits, is a candidate to replace Eaves.
Baca Jr., 34, and Pruitt, 31, have the backing of two of the region's most influential politicians. Valles donated $3,200 to her aide, according to records. Joe Baca is sharing his campaign office with his son.
Pruitt leads the fundraising race, having amassed more than $132,000 in 2003, compared to Baca Jr., with $97,000, according to campaign statements. Baca Jr., a high school teacher, and Pruitt are battling to represent the 62nd Assembly District, a working-class area that includes Colton, Rialto, San Bernardino and Bloomington. Democratic voters outnumber Republicans 54% to 30%.
Both candidates say they have the skills needed to help sort out the fiscal problems in Sacramento while protecting important social programs. Pruitt said his experience working behind the scenes as chief of staff for state Sen. Nell Soto (D-Pomona) and Valles would allow him to be effective immediately after taking office.
Baca said his background as a teacher and baseball coach gives him the sensitivity to work well with people.
Also on the 62nd District ballot are Walter Hawkins, a Democrat and member of the Rialto school board; and Marge Mendoza-Ware, a Republican and member of the Colton school board.
In the 63rd Assembly District race, eight candidates want to replace Assemblyman Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), the freshman lawmaker who hopes to succeed state Sen. Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga), the Senate majority leader being forced out by term limits.
In the district, which includes Upland, Redlands and portions of San Bernardino, Republican voters outnumber Democrats 48% to 36%.
The front-runner in the 63rd District fundraising race is Bill Emmerson, a Redlands dentist who raised nearly $366,000 in 2003, according to campaign statements.
He is followed by Elia Pirozzi, a Rancho Cucamonga resident and real estate executive, who raised $301,000. Mike Morrell, owner of a home financing business, amassed $217,000, according to campaign statements. All are Republicans.
Several of the candidates have begun promoting their ideas for taming state finances.
"We need to protect the revenues that are reserved for the local cities," said Pirozzi.
Also on the 63rd District ballot are D'Andre McNamee, a Democrat and small-business owner from Upland; Geoff Lyon, a Republican and judge pro tem from Rancho Cucamonga; Sylvia Ann Robles, a Republican and retired budget analyst; Sam Stavros, a Republican and teacher from Rancho Cucamonga; and Maureen Keedy, a Libertarian and teacher from San Bernardino.
Another strongly contested campaign is the race to replace Eaves, who pleaded no contest in 2001 to a charge of official misconduct.
As part of a settlement, Eaves agreed not to seek reelection when his term expires in December. But shortly after he settled that case, he was charged with new felony corruption charges involving a billboard scheme. He has agreed to plead guilty and leave his post.
Longville is considered the favorite among the 10 candidates because of his history in the region, including two decades as a councilman and mayor of Rialto and three terms in the Assembly. Longville is also the fundraising leader, having collected $189,000 in 2003, according to campaign statements.
"If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on Longville," said Michael LeMay, a political science professor at Cal State San Bernardino.
In the fundraising race, Longville is followed by Josie Gonzales, a Fontana councilwoman whose campaign took in $168,000 last year, including a $150,000 loan from herself, according to campaign statements. MartÃn Valdez, Eaves' former chief of staff, raised $107,000 in 2003, according to campaign records.
Eaves is the highest ranking official to be indicted in a series of corruption scandals in San Bernardino County over the past five years, so it is not surprising that several candidates are now distancing themselves from him.
Former Rialto Councilman Ed Scott, another candidate for the supervisorial post, has promised to make an issue of Eave's ties to Valdez and Longville. Longville and Eaves served together on the Rialto City Council and have endorsed and donated funds to each other in previous campaigns. Valdez worked for Eaves for three years, starting in December 2000.
Longville said he doesn't believe his reputation will be hurt by his relationship with Eaves, whom he describes as a colleague.
Longville said he hopes voters will judge him by his history as a legislator, including his efforts to create the Metrolink commuter train system.
Valdez also has sought to separate himself from Eaves, saying: "All of the crimes he committed were all before I got there."
Also on the supervisorial ballot are Victor Edinburgh, a college teacher; Esther Estrada, a San Bernardino councilwoman; Robert Kidwell, a retired veteran; Maria Lopez-Carson, a business development specialist; Danny Tillman, a school district trustee; and David Zamora, a community development director in Colton.
Campaign finance statements filed last week show that several candidates already have amassed hefty campaign funds, which means voters can expect campaign fliers, newspaper ads, mailers and phone calls soliciting support.
In the two open Assembly races, the overriding campaign issue probably will be the state's budget problem. In the race to replace former San Bernardino County Supervisor Gerald "Jerry" Eaves, the candidates probably will focus on the corruption scandal that forced Eaves out and debate whether it has tarnished the image of those candidates with ties to him.
One of the most bruising Assembly races is expected to be the battle between Joe Baca Jr., son of Rep. Joe Baca (D-San Bernardino), and David Roa Pruitt, chief of staff of San Bernardino Mayor Judith Valles, who are competing to replace Assemblyman John Longville (D-Rialto).
Longville, leaving office because of term limits, is a candidate to replace Eaves.
Baca Jr., 34, and Pruitt, 31, have the backing of two of the region's most influential politicians. Valles donated $3,200 to her aide, according to records. Joe Baca is sharing his campaign office with his son.
Pruitt leads the fundraising race, having amassed more than $132,000 in 2003, compared to Baca Jr., with $97,000, according to campaign statements. Baca Jr., a high school teacher, and Pruitt are battling to represent the 62nd Assembly District, a working-class area that includes Colton, Rialto, San Bernardino and Bloomington. Democratic voters outnumber Republicans 54% to 30%.
Both candidates say they have the skills needed to help sort out the fiscal problems in Sacramento while protecting important social programs. Pruitt said his experience working behind the scenes as chief of staff for state Sen. Nell Soto (D-Pomona) and Valles would allow him to be effective immediately after taking office.
Baca said his background as a teacher and baseball coach gives him the sensitivity to work well with people.
Also on the 62nd District ballot are Walter Hawkins, a Democrat and member of the Rialto school board; and Marge Mendoza-Ware, a Republican and member of the Colton school board.
In the 63rd Assembly District race, eight candidates want to replace Assemblyman Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), the freshman lawmaker who hopes to succeed state Sen. Jim Brulte (R-Rancho Cucamonga), the Senate majority leader being forced out by term limits.
In the district, which includes Upland, Redlands and portions of San Bernardino, Republican voters outnumber Democrats 48% to 36%.
The front-runner in the 63rd District fundraising race is Bill Emmerson, a Redlands dentist who raised nearly $366,000 in 2003, according to campaign statements.
He is followed by Elia Pirozzi, a Rancho Cucamonga resident and real estate executive, who raised $301,000. Mike Morrell, owner of a home financing business, amassed $217,000, according to campaign statements. All are Republicans.
Several of the candidates have begun promoting their ideas for taming state finances.
"We need to protect the revenues that are reserved for the local cities," said Pirozzi.
Also on the 63rd District ballot are D'Andre McNamee, a Democrat and small-business owner from Upland; Geoff Lyon, a Republican and judge pro tem from Rancho Cucamonga; Sylvia Ann Robles, a Republican and retired budget analyst; Sam Stavros, a Republican and teacher from Rancho Cucamonga; and Maureen Keedy, a Libertarian and teacher from San Bernardino.
Another strongly contested campaign is the race to replace Eaves, who pleaded no contest in 2001 to a charge of official misconduct.
As part of a settlement, Eaves agreed not to seek reelection when his term expires in December. But shortly after he settled that case, he was charged with new felony corruption charges involving a billboard scheme. He has agreed to plead guilty and leave his post.
Longville is considered the favorite among the 10 candidates because of his history in the region, including two decades as a councilman and mayor of Rialto and three terms in the Assembly. Longville is also the fundraising leader, having collected $189,000 in 2003, according to campaign statements.
"If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on Longville," said Michael LeMay, a political science professor at Cal State San Bernardino.
In the fundraising race, Longville is followed by Josie Gonzales, a Fontana councilwoman whose campaign took in $168,000 last year, including a $150,000 loan from herself, according to campaign statements. MartÃn Valdez, Eaves' former chief of staff, raised $107,000 in 2003, according to campaign records.
Eaves is the highest ranking official to be indicted in a series of corruption scandals in San Bernardino County over the past five years, so it is not surprising that several candidates are now distancing themselves from him.
Former Rialto Councilman Ed Scott, another candidate for the supervisorial post, has promised to make an issue of Eave's ties to Valdez and Longville. Longville and Eaves served together on the Rialto City Council and have endorsed and donated funds to each other in previous campaigns. Valdez worked for Eaves for three years, starting in December 2000.
Longville said he doesn't believe his reputation will be hurt by his relationship with Eaves, whom he describes as a colleague.
Longville said he hopes voters will judge him by his history as a legislator, including his efforts to create the Metrolink commuter train system.
Valdez also has sought to separate himself from Eaves, saying: "All of the crimes he committed were all before I got there."
Also on the supervisorial ballot are Victor Edinburgh, a college teacher; Esther Estrada, a San Bernardino councilwoman; Robert Kidwell, a retired veteran; Maria Lopez-Carson, a business development specialist; Danny Tillman, a school district trustee; and David Zamora, a community development director in Colton.
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