DeSaulnier mailer irks opponent
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 am in 2009 CD10 special election, Congressional District 10.
Congressional candidate and State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier mailed out a fat glossy brochure outlining his
Mark DeSaulnier
accomplishments but instead of using his federal campaign bucks, he paid for it with his Senate re-election account.
There’s nothing illegal about that. DeSaulnier may well be running for re-election as a senator in 2012 if he fails to win the congressional seat.
DeSaulnier and any other candidate with a state campaign account, including Lt. Governor John Garamendi and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, cannot transfer most of those state-raised dollars into their federal campaign coffers due to different rules and limits.
That said, there’s no question that DeSaulnier put out the mailer — 3 1/2 years before his next Senate election — to raise his name recognition in advance of the 10th District special election primary, which will mostly likely be set for Sept. 1. (Contra Costa has requested a Sept. 1 election date but it is up to the governor, who has been a little busy declaring state fiscal emergencies.)
Here’s what Democratic opponent Adriel Hampton had to say about DeSaulnier’s brochure in a pretty funny press release this morning:
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10: HAMPTON CONGRATULATES DeSAULNIER ON CA SENATE RE-ELECTION BID
Antioch, Ca. — As the Democratic candidates vying to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Ellen Taushcher prepared for tonight’s debate, grassroots reformer Adriel Hampton congratulated rival Mark DeSaulnier on his bid for re-election to the State Senate. Hampton was alerted Wednesday to DeSaulnier’s impressive multitasking skills when voters throughout Contra Costa County reported receipt of a 12-page glossy “District Health Service Guide” paid for by DeSaulnier’s 2012 Senate campaign.
Adriel Hampton
“Amazing,” said Hampton. “I thought I was working hard, running for Congress, raising a family, advocating for a more responsive government, and working full time as an investigator. But here we have Senator DeSaulnier, running for Congress, trying to stay on top of his day job dealing with the economic mess in Sacramento, and actively running for re-election to keep on representing the people who elected him to the California Senate eight months ago.”
DeSaulnier’s impressive resource guide alerts voters to his progressive positions on health care, and features President Barack Obama, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Vice President Joe Biden, and a glowing endorsement from AssemblymanTom Torlakson. It also has 15 full-color photos of Senator DeSaulnier, if you count shots of his arm in the frame.
On the stump for the District 10 Congressional seat, Senator DeSaulnier has proudly stated that he and his sons are members of the Contra Costa County Health Plan. Echoing that biographical point, the Senate District Health Services Guide also points out that Senator DeSaulnier has completed an impressive 22 marathons.
While DeSaulnier continues his early bid for a new term in the Senate, he is also expected at tonight’s debate sponsored by East County Democrats for Action, 7 p.m. at Antioch City Hall, along with grassroots Democratic candidates Hampton, Anthony Woods, Tiffany Attwood, and Anthony Bothwell.
“I’m fighting hard for a new kind of politics,” said Hampton. “But I feel like a bit of a slacker. Here’s Lt. Gov. John Garamendi with campaign accounts open for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Congress, Senator DeSaulnier running for two seats, and Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan doing the same.”
Adriel Hampton is a journalist, Gov 2.0 and new media strategist, public servant, and licensed private investigator. His innovative campaign has been covered by the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Fog City Journal, Politico, Washington Examiner, Lodi News-Sentinel, All Things Reform, The District of CA, Politicoholic, and Shared Sacrifice Radio.
For more information, visit http://www.adrielhampton.com.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Smells fishy to me (if there are any fish left in the Delta)! Cleaver way to get around the federal campaign finance rules.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:13 pm
What would happen if our busy Governor dropped dead, or got so sick from overwork that he couldn’t call this Special Election. I asked Steve Weir’s Office this question, and after being put on hold, the response was, “Good question; call the Secretary of State for the answer.”
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Adriel Hampton is the Stevan Thomas of CD10.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
I dunno if this violates the letter of the law, but it definitely violates the spirit of it, especially if he’s raising money for both accounts.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
We can save our Government $850,000.00 if we vote DeSaulnier for CA Senate. 850K saved is 850k earned.
Now, who to pick for Congress, Mmmm.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Labor leaders, enviromental groups, and most local Contra Costa County elected officials are supporting DeSaulnier for Congress. This is no accident. He’s got a proven track record, he has produced for local voters on countless issues as a Mayor, a Supervisor, an Assemblyman, and as a State Senator. In areas like smart growth, improving air quality, safety in the work place, saving jobs, he’s been a fighter for local people. Like Tom Torlakson and George Miller – who both are supporting him in his run for Congress – he’s a fighter for regular working people. I’m a longtime super market checker – just a regular working stiff – and I think Desaulnier is the kind of leader who will be an advocate for working people. Go Mark! Working people are with you all the way!
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Rich, thanks for giving us all the reasons to vote for someone other than Mark! It is not surprising to see a UFCW member supporting DeSaulnier
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Mark’s not the only one supporting DeSaulnier — Lisa V doesn’t have the chops to publish this little PR tidbit: California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) just endorsed DeSaulnier (he was alone in that honor — Garamendi and Buchanan were NOT endorsed) in the 10th CD race. Perhaps Lisa V is in the tank for someone else given her omission of this fairly important political event taking place on Monday of this week.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I have never heard of Adriel Hampton, but he just became my new favorite politician. Mark DeSaulnier is at best a ladder-climber, trying to work his way up in ploitics. At worst, he is a conniving fraud. I have had the misfortune of being represented by Mark on almost every rung of his climb, and have never seen or heard of a positive action he has taken. His political positions are calculated. Out of shear coincidence, I think I am on the same side of some of his major positions right now. That does not influence me in the least to vote for him.
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
“fairly important”
“fairly important” is in the eye of the beholder and hardly sufficient grounds to impugn the objectivity and integrity of a reporter.
Just more dimmiecrat machine BS which is only just beginning for the beloved Markie Mark.
Look for more Markie Mark love letters and attacks on those who do not love Markie sufficiently in the eyes of the true believers.
July 6th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Elwood,
Very good point. I love when people make value judgments on subjective topics.
Plus, Lisa V loves Warren Rupf, not Markie D.
Lisa, I am still trying to explain to my daughter why she can’t cuss, but I can cuss in the newspaper.