Visiting Carl DeMaio's Campaign

Mrs. Daddy and I visited Carl DeMaio's campaign headquarters today, meeting up with family there.  I got a minute to chat with DeMaio about the campaign. I told him that I appreciated his work on Proposition D and Proposition B.  He related that the effort to reform county pensions in Ventura County had run into problems because of unions trying to block signature gatherers.  A little research on that issue revealed that the Ventura County sheriff had joined the union protestors, which any taxpayer or advocate of free speech should find disturbing.  DeMaio said that "we" had been able to get the intimidation and blocking to stop.  I was not clear as to whom he was referring to, as this was not an interview.

He also discussed the possibility of a future ballot measure to fix pensions state-wide, which would include public votes on pensions.  His take was that politicians get re-elected with union help, in part by approving generous pension benefits.  When the bill comes due, those politicians are long gone, having reaped the electoral benefits, but leaving the taxpayer holding the bag.  This is why the public should get to vote on pensions.  He also said that pension increases should be limited to the increases of the CPI.

Tony Krvaric was also there, it was good to shake his hand.  I congratulated him on his win in the San Diego Rostra mayoral prediction contest.  He described Faulconer's mayoral campaign as "flawless." 

What You Should Be Reading:

• Costa Mesa city council members are involved in a fight with the police union over contract negotiations.  The truth about whether the union and its legal team were behind a false report of drunk driving against a council member may come out soon when the P.I. who phoned in the complaint is deposed. 
• Not Craig Gustafson, formerly of the U-T, who is now Mayor Faulconer's Press Secretary.  I thought he had done a great job covering local politics at the U-T. Congratulations and sorry to see him leave reporting.
• Kathy Hamilton at CalWatchdog.com provides details that prove there is really no money for the high speed choo-choo.

Reporters who want to receive Mayor Faulconer's news releases, please email me at cgustafson@sandiego.gov if u don't get them already.
— Craig Gustafson (@gustafsoncraig) March 7, 2014