Posted on 12/15/2005 6:51:19 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday set an April 11 special election to replace former San Diego area U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
Cunningham, a 64-year-old Republican, officially resigned his 50th Congressional district seat Dec. 1 after pleading guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors and others in exchange for government business and other favors.
If no candidate wins a majority in the primary, the top vote-getters in each party will face off June 6, the date of a statewide primary. County officials had asked Schwarzenegger set the April 11 special election to consolidate the possible run-off election and save the county $1.3 million.
Several candidates have announced their candidacy for the seat in the heavily Republican district, including former San Diego-area Rep. Brian Bilbray; former state Sen. Bill Morrow and former California Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian. Democrat Francine Busby, who lost to Cunningham in 2004 by 22 percentage points, is also running again.
Schwarzenegger also set a special election on June 6 to replace California Sen. John Campbell of Orange County. Campbell was elected to Congress earlier this month to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Christopher Cox, who resigned to head the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Howard Kaloogian For Congress '06
http://www.kaloogianforcongress.com/
*Bump for Kaloogian*
The guy we shoulda picked to take on Barbara Boxer instead of ol' what's-his-name *
* Yes, I know what his name is...
It's hard for me to forget his last name. *cough*
California has so many "special" elections they can just abolish regular elections and save taxpayers money. Abolish the November 2006 election because I gurantee the politicians will find a way to drag voters out to a taxpayer funded "special election" before '08 anyway.
I'm supporting Bill Morrow at this point on the strength of his battling to get the Carlsbad immigration forum held.
Already the first election mailer for some "Conservative Republican" candidate (Alan Uke) came early this week.
Brian Bilbray only brings his roll-over seniority to the table (his past support for gay rights, when he represented that area of San Diego, may hurt him in a district including a Marine base). There's something in his personality that I don't respond well to. Any time I've been to an event where he speaks, I feel like I should be hiding my money.
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