Free Republic

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....

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...

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...

Politics 2003 Week of June 30 by John Gizzi Posted Jun 27, 2003 DAVID TOWELL, R.I.P. Although Tom Larainger and Hal Furman had both been interns and then full-time staffers for former Sen. (1974-86) Paul Laxalt (R-Nev.)—easily the most durable politician in modern Nevada history—neither had any strong memories of David Towell, who was the silver state’s lone U.S. Representative from 1972-74. For that matter, Towell himself—who died June 11 at 66 following a long illness—likened his own political career to a rocket ride that "went straight up and straight down." But, as dim and remote as he was from...