2010 campaign notes

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi "wouldn't mind scratching the lieutenant off his title. At least that's how it seemed at a meet-and-greet in Watsonville on Monday. ... The 62-year-old Garamendi, who ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1982 and 1994, didn't rule out another run for governor in 2010. 'I'm not making an announcement,' Garamendi said, 'but it would be a natural progression.' ... Patti Garamendi, however, is all for taking the gamble. 'I think he should run,' she said." Santa Cruz Sentinel.

The last days of disco

Dig this picture of Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and his family in 1978 at his Touch the Earth Ranch near Mokelumne Hill, which is a bit southeast from Sacramento. His hair hasn't changed a single strand in three decades.

This year is the 30th annual Garamendi Basque BBQ, which attracts hundreds of people for the pony rides, petting farm and barn dance. Garamendi said he also would have "several green technology displays that will be a terrific addition to the day" and music by The Waybacks. Entrance fee $50. Today, Garamendi is continuing his "listening tour" of California at Cal State East Bay.

Elected Officials Duck Controversial Vote On College Fees

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi issued a statement today calling the fee hikes at the University of California and Cal State University system "an unfair tax on California's youth, and a dangerously shortsighted move." California, he said, has a "moral obligation to invest in our future generations."

Yet Garamendi skipped a vote yesterday by the UC Board of Regents that raised college fees 7%, and he missed the Cal State University trustee meeting that hiked fees 10%.

In fact, not a single elected official with a vote showed up yesterday at the UC meeting in Westwood and the Cal State meeting in Long Beach. Garamendi and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (pictured together), Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and schools chief Jack O'Connell were elsewhere. All four serve as voting ex officio members of the two boards.

The final vote on the UC Board was 13 to 6, so any opposition to the fee increases by the elected officials would not have mattered to the final outcome. The CSU vote was 15-1.

But Garamendi, Nunez and O'Connell lost an opportunity to persuade other members to change their vote, or simply exercise the power they have been granted. At the very least, they could have scored some well-publicized political points among the 626,000 public college students and their parents affected by the fee increases.

Nunez himself made a fuss about the fee increase last year, complaining that a vote was being delayed for political purposes. (More after the jump.)

John Garamendi Is Manlier Than You

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi looks like a guy playing the president in the movies. He's really the only statewide elected official in California with this persona. He should be in politics.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger looks like that actor in "Twins." State treasurer Bill Lockyer is being played by Dan Aykroyd. Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner sort of seems like the president's top-level aide, the one with the briefing book and a scary back channel to the NSA.

But John Garamendi: He's got that look. He's also a real man. The Lodi News-Sentinel reports today:

"It's Saturday, and Garamendi has been up mending fences and repairing roads on his 1,000-acre cattle ranch here in the brown Sierra Nevada foothills. Garamendi lifts a bale of hay onto a wagon to feed his cattle on a recent weekend at his ranch in Mokelumne Hill.

"He has traded his dark suit for a faded pair of Levi's, a jean jacket and dirty work boots. He's wielding a heavy metal hook, which he uses to hoist bales of hay onto the back of a trailer. The biggest worry on Garamendi's mind right now is feeding his 50 Black Angus cattle during the recent, unseasonably dry weather.

" 'It's troublesome,' Garamendi said. 'This lack of rain is bad for the cattle.' "

We find out that Garamendi built a barn in 1980 using pilings from a San Francisco Bay pier. By this point in the story, you can imagine Garamendi hoisting the pilings on his shoulder, walking out of San Francisco, wading across the Bay, and marching over the hills to Touch the Earth Ranch in Mokelumne Hill.

(Photo: Garamendi.org)

Garamendi Daughter Faces Lesser Charge

Ashley Garamendi, the daughter of Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, won't face a DUI charge after an accident that rolled her Chevrolet Blazer off a country road and knocked her unconscious. A passer-by reportedly pulled her from the wreckage before it went up in flames. Ashley was headed home Dec. 16 to visit her parents when the car flipped on the rural country road.

Twenty-year-old Ashley instead faces an infraction of being a minor driving with a blood-alcohol level over 0.05, which could cost her about $400 in fines and fees. The Bee reports that Garamendi's driver's license also was suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles for one year. Her blood-alcohol level was 0.04 when tested, but the Yolo County District Atty. assumes that she was over the legal limit at the time of the accident.

In an earlier interview with KCRA, Lt. Gov. Garamendi said about the incident: "Our daughter had a very serious accident, but by the grace of God somebody was nearby who was a good Samaritan and she was pulled unconscious from a burning vehicle. A few more minutes and it could have been a very difficult and very different outcome."

Garamendi Puts His Name In Gold, Like Arnold

One of Arnold Schwarzenegger's first acts as governor of California was to put his name in gold lettering above his doorway in the state Capitol. Beforehand, a more modest "Governor" was etched in the marble above the doors. But as usual Schwarzenegger demanded his name above the title. (See photo below.) At the time, the Arnoldarcissism prompted Times' reporter Joe Mathews to inquire whether busts and statues of Schwarzenegger would be erected around the state. (No.)

Across the hallway from Schwarzenegger, a set of anonymous double doors coldly blocked what looked like it could be the Capitol morgue. And it was: the office of Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante. But now, newly inaugurated Lt. Gov. John Garamendi has installed his own California and U.S. flags outside and put his name in gold lettering above his doorway - just like Schwarzenegger.

And Garamendi has ordered that his doors be kept open so people can wander inside to chat. On a tip, I went by to see the new digs and it turned out that Garamendi was available! We chatted in his office about global warming, which he worries could raise the seas and send saltwater into the state's precious delta. He also is concerned about the new LNG terminals being planned for the California coast, and wonders if natural gas is the best way to go anyway.

Garamendi said he has already talked with Schwarzenegger in person two times and on the phone three times, which is probably five times more than Bustamante chatted with the governor. He said he knows most of Schwarzenegger's staff very well. Garamendi showed me a long and dangerous-looking Sikh sword that Bustamante left behind. We shook hands (he has big hands) and I came back to the office.

(Photo: Robert Salladay / LAT)

Garamendi Campaigns in State Building

Democrat John Garamendi, candidate for lieutenant governor, participated in a campaign rally in a state government building today — something long considered a no-no for politicians. The cafeteria rally was sponsored by the powerful Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which represents about 87,000 state workers.

But the insurance commissioner didn't get far before someone started recording him and collecting evidence. The Republican Capitol worker did not get photos of Garamendi speaking at the rally, but secured an audiotape and snapped him entering the elevator.

Using a Garamendi campaign logo and its own letterhead, the SEIU passed out flyers promoting a "General Election Forum: Special Guest Speaker Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi." It promised a free buffet luncheon and directed people to the Legislative Office Building, sixth floor café, for the forum. The meeting was "for SEIU Local 1000 members."

"Free lunch? Free lunch?" an SEIU volunteer said while distributing flyers outside the state building before the rally. Inside, Garamendi made a few remarks about his "tough race." The crowd chanted, "Garamendi! Garamendi! Garamendi!" A volunteer then told union members to sign up for a phone bank "to help elect our candidates."

Jon Waldie, chief administrative officer of the Assembly, said state law prohibits anyone from accepting contributions in a state building. But campaigning in a state building is a gray area since these are public buildings. Generally, he said, Wednesday's rally could not have impeded access to the cafeteria for other people.

Danny Beagle, spokesman for the SEIU, said the union frequently holds meetings in government buildings. As for the cafeteria event Wednesday, he said: "It's a nonissue for us because the cafeteria is leased back to private operators and open to the public."

Jason Kinney, a Garamendi advisor, said "it was a closed union meeting for union members...and was well within the law."

Governor Lite Race Heats Up

Looks like a tight race between Democrat John Garamendi and Republican Tom McClintock for lieutenant governor. Both men have won statewide before, so voters feel comfortable with them. McClintock has a considerable GOP following because of his high-profile appearance during the 2003 recall and other races, and Garamendi has been around forever as well. The Sacramento Bee reports:

"The latest survey shows 41% of likely voters supporting Garamendi, and 39% favoring McClintock. In July, the same survey showed Garamendi had 48% support, compared to 38% for McClintock. The numbers suggest that California's ever-growing camp of voters who decline to state a political party will play a pivotal role in deciding who becomes the next lieutenant governor."