Matt Ortega

Remainders

Posted on February 5, 2010

Carly Fiorina defended and promised more of the wildly popular (and widely-mocked) "demon sheep" advertisements.

In a video released on the web, Meg Whitman received flack from the conservative base for disavowing a supporter that said they were a "proud racist." Whitman released a television ad that begins airing today.

Fresno Bee: Steve Poizner backed a voter initiative that led to $40 billion in more taxes.

A new poll showed Gavin Newsom leading the field of Democrats -- Janice Hahn and Dean Florez -- for lieutenant governor. Newsom "shot down" such a run a month ago but the San Francisco Chronicle believes the San Francisco mayor ain't out yet.

Jackie Speier ruled out running for the state's top cop job. Kamala Harris raised $1 million in the last six months but Chris Kelly leads the field in cash-on-hand, while Republican Steve Cooley is getting hammered by conservative activists.

Republicans collectively raised several hundred thousand to unseat Jerry McNerney in CA-11 while most lent themselves a huge chunk of their campaign cash.

Richard Pombo raised $260,000 campaigning for a return bid to Congress in CA-19.

San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson (R) outraised the AD-15 Democratic incumbent, Joan Buchanan.

San Ramon Mayor Wilson (R) Runs Unopposed (Again)

Posted on October 14, 2009
Wilson will not be challenged in his tune-up for Buchanan's Assembly seat.

Wilson will not be challenged in his tune-up for Buchanan's Assembly seat.

Abram Wilson, mayor of San Ramon and failed Republican candidate for the State Assembly, is running unopposed this cycle.

A robust economy, city transparency and green energy are just handful of issues four San Ramon City Council candidates plan to pursue if elected.

Four San Ramon men — two incumbents and two challengers new to the city's political scene — are squaring off for two spots on the council. Mayor H. Abram Wilson is running unopposed for the open mayoral seat.

This may sound familiar because two years ago, San Ramon wasn't offered any alternative to Wilson then, either.

As I write this post, the City Council of San Ramon is appointing two incumbent council members, Carol Rowley and Scott Perkins, and the current mayor, H. Abram Wilson, to new terms.  All three of these appointees are Republicans, including Wilson, who has announced his plans to leverage his mayoral office to run for the Republican primary in AD-15 (this appointment will give the Republican front-runner an extra two and a half months to campaign for AD-15).

These three seats were scheduled for a November 2007 election.  So why are the incumbents being appointed rather than having to face the voters in November?  Because nobody challenged them for their seats. [original emphasis]

Guess what -- Wilson is running for Assembly (again) and local Democrats will let him walk into the AD-15 general election unscathed (again) but this time to challenge a Democratic incumbent, Joan Buchanan, who is slow to come off her failed congressional bid.

There's often talk about "more and better Democrats" but sometimes you just wish for Democrats to show up at all.