Posted on 12/01/2005 1:59:45 PM PST by LdSentinal
SOLANA BEACH – Former South Bay Congressman Brian Bilbray said Thursday he would run for the 50th District congressional seat to be vacated by admitted felon Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Cunningham resigned Monday after pleading guilty to conspiracy and income tax evasion for accepting bribes from defense contractors. He had said in July that he would not run for re-election.
Bilbray, 54, made his announcement in the parking lot of Solana Beach's lifeguard headquarters at Fletcher Cove with his wife, Karen, daughter Brianna and son Patrick by his side and his 85-year-old mother, Mavis Clute, looking on.
He said there were three key issues he wanted to focus on in his campaign, the first being illegal immigration and securing the U.S. Mexican border.
"Seventy-seven million dollars comes out of the health-care pockets of San Diegans alone and is given to people who should not be here," he said.
Bilbray said his other priorities would be getting the budget process in Washington, D.C., under control and reducing traffic congestion in the North County.
Bilbray called Cunningham's misdeeds a "tragedy" that "boggled the mind," but said it was time to move forward and leave the scandal behind.
"I have been in the sunlight and not the shadows, and everyone in San Diego knows this and knows me," Bilbray said. "They know my triumphs, defeats and tragedies. I am not a follower."
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The three-time Imperial Beach congressman said if he was returned to Congress he would maintain the seniority he had when he left office in 2001, and that would give him the sway to get things done.
"The other candidates have no seniority in D.C., in a town where seniority is everything," he said. "How will freshmen get anything done?"
Bilbray is the second of several candidates to officially announce his run for Cunningham's seat.
Last month, former state Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian of Carlsbad, who served northern San Diego County in the Legislature from 1994 to 2000, announced his intention to run for the open seat.
Other Republicans who have expressed interest in running include state Sen. Bill Morrow of Oceanside; businessman Alan Uke of Del Mar; Assemblyman Mark Wyland of Del Mar; county Supervisor Pam Slater-Price; county Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister; and Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler.
The only announced Democratic candidate is Francine Busby, a Cardiff schools trustee who ran a spirited campaign against Cunningham last November but lost.
The 50th District includes Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, Del Mar, Escondido and large portions of San Diego. Republicans make up 45 percent of the registered voters in the district and Democrats make up 30 percent.
The special election to replace Cunningham is to be held next year, possibly in April. Setting the date is up to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who must decide if it should be held early in the year or combined with the June 6 state primary election. If the election is held early, a runoff if necessary could be held with the primary.
Once the seat is officially vacated, the governor has 14 days to issue a special election proclamation.
Bilbray said he has been living with his mother in La Costa for the last three or four months and splits his time between there and Washington, D.C., where he has been working the last few years as a lobbyist on behalf of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. There is no residency requirement for congressional candidates.
An avid surfer known for his political trademarks – a Hawaiian shirt and a wet suit – Bilbray represented the 49th Congressional District in the South Bay for 6 years from 1995 to 2001.
He narrowly lost his re-election bid in 2000 to Democratic Assemblywoman Susan Davis.
Bilbray also served as a San Diego County supervisor from 1985 to 1995, as the mayor of Imperial Beach from 1978 to 1985 and a city councilman from 1976 to 1978. He is married and has five children
I remember that. It wasn't just a photo op, either.
He rolls up his shirt sleeves and doesn't promote anything he's not willing to do himself.
I dunno. Do you consider 27 to be a teenager ? ;-)
hiya, sure Howard is a good guy but Bilbray I think
would be far better and has first hand knowledge how
Congress runs and a proven record.
Just came back to this thread. From 3 to 5:00 I listen
to Mark Levin, one of the very few talk shows worth hearing
and we have a great live thread on FR
Sure I do.
In fact, I consider myself to be a teenager. But you are right, I guess I heard it wrong. But still, it shows gumption.
Coming from someone who has not only met them both, but actually worked with and witnessed Bilbray in action, you're assessment means a LOT.
Have to check out that live thread. Thanks.
You're not kidding.
Everything that will come out about Bilbray shows his devotion to action.
Since leaving Congress, he's been a lobbyist in DC, working with the very same folks he worked with before. He says the only difference is that he hasn't had to sit through all the sessions.
"He lost, plus I like Howard better."
Mr. Creel, we Californians won't tell you North Carolinians who to put in Congress if you refrain from telling us who to send there. I suspect that Mr. Bilbray is far more electable than Mr. Kaloogian, and I respect both men.
You better be careful with that tagline, they may stick their pins in their doll with your name on it. =8-0>
Cunningham beat Busby easily-- 169,025 to 105,590.
Hurt to bust your bubble, guys, but Bilbray scored a fairly paltry 71% lifetime Conservative rating from the ACU (and 68% in his final year before his 2000 defeat). That was fine for a seat that he took from a liberal 'Rat, but not in a very Conservative GOP seat. This district can send someone with a 100% score without worry about a backlash. Kaloogian is the man for this seat.
You know San Diego, right? What about these guys, Bilbray and Kaloogian? Any thoughts?
I can't vote for him, I live in Issa's district next door, but i'm sending my money to Kaloogian.
Good point.
I'm going to butt out ~ it's not my district either.
Local news ping.
If Bilbray is going to defend the border, I'm 100% for him!
Danger is my middle name...
I don't see him as a RINO. He ain't a tree hugger, and he's conservative enough to fill the Duke's seat.
I hope he wins!
See my post #27.
How about that RAT Francine Busby? Howard Kaloogian sent the following in an e-mail dated 12/3/05 -
The Washington, D.C. publication "The Hill" reports on the political maneuverings of Democrat leaders: [Excerpt: "Since Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) resigned Monday after admitting to bribery charges, Francine Busby, the Democrat seeking his seat, has been flooded with calls from leading Democratic officials encouraged that she can now win..."]
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