CA: Special election will be odd, too - 50th District seat may require 3 races

San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 12/16/05 | Dani Dodge

[NormsRevenge]

An election schedule to replace disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham caused at least one candidate to drop out of the 50th District race yesterday and could force those seeking the seat to run in as many as up to three races in two months.

Candidates will vie in a special primary election April 11 to serve the last six months of Cunningham's term. Then, on June 6, there could possibly be a runoff, the same day as a separate primary for the full two-year term.

"We're sort of in uncharted waters," said Joe Justin, a consultant for state Sen. Bill Morrow, one of the congressional candidates.

Justin said he is hopeful voters won't be too confused: "Anyone who is going to show up on Election Day in April will know what they are doing and if they come back in June, they will definitely know what they are doing."

The strange election became necessary when Cunningham, 64, stepped down from office last month after pleading guilty to bribery and tax evasion charges. Yesterday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger set the special election run-off in June after county officials asked him to consolidate it with the statewide primary and save the county $1.3 million.

In the April 11 election, all candidates, regardless of party, will compete. If someone garners 50 percent or more, that candidate will serve the last months of Cunningham's term. If no one wins 50 percent, the top candidate from each party will participate in the June 6 runoff.

June 6 also will be the date for the 50th district primary election for the 2007 term. As a result, it's possible someone could win the special election, serve six months, then turn over the seat to the winner of November's general election.

"It's happened before, and the interesting thing is it could be someone in the same party," said Gary Jacobson, professor of political science at University of California San Diego. "Special elections are odd."

The district, which stretches from northern San Diego to Escondido, is heavily Republican – 44 percent to 30 percent Democrat. Party affiliation among candidates is even more unbalanced. There is only one Democrat currently running, Cardiff school board member Francine Busby, while a slew of Republicans have been jockeying for position.

Busby's spokesman, Brennan Bilberry, said Busby would try to take advantage of the situation by garnering more than 50 percent of the vote in the special primary election in April and winning the seat outright.

Five Republicans – Morrow of Oceanside, former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian of San Marcos, former Rep. Brian Bilbray of Carlsbad, former Del Mar Mayor Richard Earnest and businessman Alan Uke of Del Mar – are raising money for their campaigns. Uke has sent his first mailer to Republican voters in the district and plans to unveil television commercials after the holidays.

Two other Republicans – San Diego resident Edwin L. Folsom and Assemblyman Mark Wyland of Del Mar – also have filed papers to run, but Folsom has made no announcements, and Wyland said yesterday he is running in the state Senate race to replace Morrow.

County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister dropped out of the Republican field yesterday because the election date conflicted with his re-election bid.

"It was flattering to have others in the district encourage me," McAllister said, "but because of the late nature of the special election, it's out of the question. I can't run two races at once . . . and I want to continue to serve the people of the county."

[NormsRevenge]

I'm pickin' Special K by a nose in the 3rd..

http://www.kaloogianforcongress.com/

[johnmecainrino]

Arnold did us no favors by picking it for June. This will be a competitive dem primary for governor's race and no competitive gop primary.

Thanks a lot Arnold for costing a house seat.

[Impeach98]

GO HOWARD GO!

My pick for the CD 50 Special Election: Republican Howard Kaloogian

*Represented the same area in the State Assembly (Republican, 1994-2000).

*Launched Recall Gray Davis Committee and helped dump corrupt, failed Democrat Governor, Gray Davis - and made history in the process.

*Founded and Chaired pro-troop group, Move America Forward - working with Melanie Morgan of KSFO 560 AM.

*He's pro-2nd amendment, pro-life, secure the border, fiscally conservative (and willing to call out his GOP brothers and sisters who are spending like drunken sailors).

Disclaimer: I work for Howard and have worked with him on a number of causes he cares about over the past several years.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

The 50th is gerrymandered to be strongly Republican--it will not go Democrat under any circumstances.

[Impeach98]

Yes, but it might save you from a RINO. Brian Bilbray and Alan Uke are the 2 least conservative candidates running who are both self-funding their campaigns.

Had Arnold picked a late January/early February date for the election than they would have likely won because no other candidate would have had time to raise money.

That would have meant the conservative candidates - Former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian and State Senator Bill Morrow - would have been left out in the cold.

[Impeach98]

Note I should clarify that Bilbray isn't "self-funding" as much as he is using money from an old congressional account (from the opposite end of San Diego County) to fund his campaign.

The point is Bilbray and Uke will have the money without having to raise it.

[calcowgirl]

Arnold did us no favors by picking it for June.

He followed the county's request

Officials Ask Governor to Set April Election to Replace Cunningham
December 14, 2005 , Associated Press

(AP)--San Diego County officials are asking Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to set an April 11th special election to replace former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

Cunningham, a 64-year-old Republican, officially resigned his 50th Congressional district seat December 1 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, bribery and tax evasion.

The April special election would make it possible to consolidate a possible run-off election in the June 6 statewide primary. That would save the county one-point-three (m) million dollars.

A spokesman for Schwarzenegger said he plans to announce the election date tomorrow but has not indicated if he will honor the county's request.

Under state law the governor has 14 days from the date of Cunningham's resignation to call a special election. Once the date is announced, potential candidates have 20 days to file the necessary paperwork.

[scrabblehack]

I do not think a situation like this is completely unprecedented nationwide. In fact, whenever there are House vacancies in the 2nd year of a term, there usually are concurrent elections. It makes sense to schedule a special election on a day when there is already scheduled to be an election.

[newzjunkey]

You are a buffoon. The County of S.D. requested the April primary date; Arnold agreed. I actually reside in the district, it won't go Dem; the April primary date will determine the winner no matter how few Republicans bother to vote in June. The party gets what they wanted: an incumbent running in November.

You're obviously one of those "Arnold can do no good" types.

[Holden Magroin]

It looks like the Republican field is dominated by career politicians. I would've liked to have seen a veteran run as a counterbalance to media darlings like Murtha and Kerry.

[newzjunkey]

It's not on the "opposite end" of S.D. county. Don't be overly dramatic. His district bordered Duke's to the south and east. Bilbray did move into Duke's district specifically to run for the seat and as far as I'm concerned the *only* thing he brings to the table is roll-over seniority from his past stint in the House. I've always felt a compulsion to hide my money around him.

Alan Uke has already sent out multi-page full color "introduction" mailers in the district and claims prominently to be "Conservative Republican."

It's early on but I'm supporting Bill Morrow, not Howard K.

[newzjunkey]

We have a veteran running: State Sen. Bill Morrow was a Marine.

After earning his degree, the Senator was recruited by the United States Marine Corps. For eight years he served with distinction as a commissioned officer and military judge advocate. As the Chief Trial Counsel and prosecutor at Camp Pendleton, he prosecuted crime, waste and corruption in the military. Captain Morrow left active duty with the USMC in 1987 and entered the private sector as a small business attorney.