For GOP Senate candidate Chuck DeVore, tilt to the right came early

http://www.sacbee.com ^ | April 5, 2010 | By Jim Sanders

[Maelstorm]

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore wasted no time after his Republican caucus conceded to a three-year package of tax increases last year totaling $18 billion – he promptly resigned as minority whip.

"It was untenable for me," he said.

That snapshot reflects one side of DeVore, a fierce advocate of cutting taxes, not raising them.

But like a Rubik's Cube, there are many twists to the personality of the Irvine Republican fighting Carly Fiorina and Tom Campbell in the June 8 primary for the right to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer in the fall:

• A stir-things-up campaigner, DeVore has surprised Fiorina with challenging phone calls while she was on radio talk shows, and he was sued for altering the lyrics of a Don Henley song, "All She Wants to Do Is Dance," to a ditty critical of Boxer, "All She Wants to Do Is Tax."

• A self-described geek in high school, DeVore was the guy who read the Wall Street Journal while buddies scoured baseball box scores. He lettered in football and basketball, although he was so rail-thin as a freshman that friends feigned concern during windstorms, joking, "Grab Charlie so he doesn't blow away."

• His mother, Sharron Gill, remembers him vowing as a fifth- or sixth-grader to become president someday. He was so unbendingly honest that after receiving a haircut and finding himself about a dime short of the amount due, he promptly walked home and back again, a mile or two, to repay the debt, she said.

[Maelstorm]

I recommend everyone read this.

[Ev Reeman]

I think California may be ready to elect a real financial conservative who would pull out all the stops in order to set California on the right course financially. I think even democrats are ready to elect such an individual for governor in order to save the state from immense financial ruin.

[jessduntno]

“I recommend everyone read this.”

Can you say why?

[q_an_a]

What I wonder about Calif - where I was born and where I served in the USAF - is how does Campbell, a tax loving GOP, with serious efforts to help convicted arabs, lead in the primary? I know that it is this type of crazy politics and business that made me leave 30+ years ago, but what is wrong now??

[johnthebaptistmoore]

Chuck DeVore is so behind in the primary polls that I don’t see him able to successfully recover, and that’s really a shame. I do want to be wrong about this prediction, please.

[excopconservative]

how does Campbell, a tax loving GOP, with serious efforts to help convicted arabs, lead in the primary?
- - - - - - - - -
It’s solely name recognition. Campbell has been around forever running for office. Fiorina had a high profile CEO job. It’s amazing that Chuck already has about 10% to their low 20s considering little funds for advertising. He sorely needs a money bomb and some high profile endorsements.

This was a good article. I think he would be proud to be called a Boy Scout.