We look forward to many more years of the same ahead.
Posted on 05/21/2006 3:38:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Tom McClintock was 14 when he first presented himself to the Ventura County Republican Party, eager to work and, as he told the grown-ups at the time, "to do something important."
Friday night in Thousand Oaks, Ventura County Republicans affirmed that McClintock had achieved that objective over the past 35 years. For his work at important things, they inducted him into the county's Republican Hall of Fame.
The honor recognized a lifetime of accomplishments that have been achieved by a middle-age man who still has much on his agenda. McClintock was chairman of the county Republican Party in his early 20s and elected to the Assembly at 26. He has represented portions of Ventura County in the Legislature for 19 years.
In between, he has run twice unsuccessfully for state controller, lost a campaign for Congress and, most famously, finished third in the 135-candidate campaign for governor during the 2003 recall.
It was during that campaign that McClintock's political stock soared statewide. Appearing on countless talk shows, he earned a reputation as an articulate, sincere advocate of returning California to something like the Thousand Oaks of his youth: safe, with good schools, little traffic and low taxes.
Although he finished with just 13.5 percent of the vote, subsequent polls have shown that McClintock's name is remembered favorably by an unusually high percentage of California voters.
This year, McClintock has set his sights on becoming lieutenant governor.
He is running unopposed in the June 6 primary and if he is ultimately successful in November he would be well positioned to make a bid for the party's nomination for governor in 2010.
By that time, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will either have been out of office for four years or prohibited by term limits from running again.
"This is the perfect year to do this," said Peggy Sadler of Simi Valley, a member of the Central Committee. "He's running unopposed and — who knows? — in the future it might be difficult to get him here."
Sadler was on the committee back when the young McClintock first got involved in party politics. "He blew us away," she recalled.
The event, held at Sunset Hills Country Club in Thousand Oaks, was attended by about 100 party loyalists who each paid $75 for the fundraiser for the county party. McClintock attended with his wife, Lori, and two children.
Emcee of the ceremony was former Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga.
"I've always considered Tom the North Star of conservative politics," Brulte said. "If you want to know what the conservative position is on something, look to Tom."
In the years since he's been in the Legislature, relations have not always been smooth between McClintock and county party establishment, but Friday was a night to put all that aside.
Supervisor Judy Mikels of Simi Valley, who ran against McClintock in the 2000 Republican primary for the state Senate seat, said she's since forgotten that rivalry.
"I've supported him since that election," she said.
Mikels is now engaged in another tough campaign, facing two challengers in the June 6 election.
One of them, Peter Foy, was also in attendance. Foy has been endorsed by McClintock.
"I know he's endorsing my opponent," Mikels said. "I have no problem with that."
This was the 15th year the party has inducted someone into its Hall of Fame. Previous inductees include Rep. Elton Gallegly, former Rep. Bob Lagomarsino, former Assemblymen Brooks Firestone and Nao Takasugi, former Ambassador Robert Nesenb and former District Attorney Michael Bradbury. rancher Paul Leavens, and former state GOP Chairman Frank Visco.
We look forward to many more years of the same ahead.
Congratulations to Tom.
I voted for him in the primary (2006), I'll vote for him in November.
Bu you hae to remember he is supporting Schwarzenegger for governor.
It's not Venture county, it's Ventura county.
Just north of L.A. county, nice plae to camp on the beach drink beer and light a campfire, whereas in L.A. county they arrest ya for beer or fires or camping or breathing or walking or walking a dog or even having a fat ugly girl with ya.
Oops, Thanks for catching that. it is a beautiful area.
Hmmm,, now that you mention that, Have you seen the Gub's official endorsement of Tom yet, or a couple others conservatiove republicans also running for spots on the June primary and hopefully , the November ballot.
Norm you do a very good job on your posts, thank you.
"Have you seen the Gub's official endorsement of Tom yet,"
===
You know there have been multiple articles the Arnold and Tom are running as a team and campaigning together.
twist twist twist,,
I expected as much. You are just so predictable.
Oh well, it was worth a shot.
I know you will be backing Abel (he of minimum wage increase fame) and anyone else the New Majority is backing. The CRA candidate will suck hind tit as usual.
Thanks, Practice Practice Practice. ;-)
McClintock on bond spending:
"Bonds are seductive. They promise immediate gratification but they conceal a heavy price. They are certainly the most expensive way to finance projects, costing two dollars to retire every dollar of debt. Moreover, the state’s borrowing capacity is finite, requiring careful attention to priorities, since debt once issued cannot be rescinded – only repaid. And every dollar borrowed by this generation reduces the ability of the next generation to meet its own needs."
On immigration:
Our immigration laws were not written to keep people out. Our immigration laws were written to assure that as people come to America, they come to become Americans. That they assimilate into American society. They acquire a common language, a common culture and a common appreciation of American constitutional principles and American legal traditions. Illegal immigration undermines the process of legal immigration that makes our country possible in the first place; and blurring the distinction between legal and illegal immigration is an insult to the millions of legal immigrants who right now are obeying our laws, who are doing everything our country asks of them, who are waiting in line to become Americans helplessly as millions and millions of people cut in line in front of them.
Thanks!
Too bad the GOP didn't support & all vote for McClintock in the recall...
we wouldn't be in the mess we're in today.
Semper Fi,
Kelly
WE need him in the Governors' office and The state is so whacko it may be impossible. The 13% who voted for him should be prepared to open their wallets enough so that money is NO problem. I'm not counting on it.
SoCal ping
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