Posts Tagged ‘dave cogdill’

The California GOP Senate caucus is undermining California democracy.  In a democracy, voters pick their representatives.  But, apparently GOP leaders believe politicians pick their voters.  This is evidenced by a majority of the Senate GOP caucus endorsing an assembly candidate who doesn’t even reside in the district they are running for.  It appears the fix is in.

A majority of the Senate GOP caucus has endorsed Linda Ackerman for the Fullerton seat (AD 72) abandoned by Mike Duvall. The rogues gallery endorsing her include Senator Roy Ashburn, and former Senate Republican Leaders Dave Cogdill and Dick Ackerman.  Both Senators Ashburn and Cogdill voted to approve the California state budget that created the largest tax increase on any state in the history of the United States. As a result, Sen. Cogdill was forced to resign his leadership post and  outraged taxpayers attempted to recall Sen. Ashburn.  As Senate Leader, Dick Ackerman (former Senator turned political fixer) broke ranks with Republicans to vote with Democrats for increased spending and budget gimmicks that worsened California’s financial crisis.

GOP leaders are no different than Democrat leaders in their disdain for democracy.  Apparently, GOP leaders believe politicians pick their voters.  The fact is that Linda Ackerman does not reside in district AD 72.  Instead, she lives in Irvine with Dick Ackerman, her political fixer husband who is pulling the strings in this charade.  Yet, GOP leaders support this, just as they have supported redistricting that gives them safe districts, protecting them from voters and taxpayers.

While it appears that the political fix is in (courtesy of Dick Ackerman), voters may yet reject Linda Ackerman.  Polls show her well behind Orange County Supervisor Chris Norby.  Unlike Linda Ackerman (who has never held elective office), Norby actually lives in district AD 72, and has a long track record of protecting taxpayers (both as an Orange County Supervisor and Fullerton City Councilman).  Meanwhile, Linda Ackerman and her supporters (Dick Ackerman, Dave Cogdill, Roy Ashburn) represent the leadership that created California’s fiscal crisis and raised taxes on struggling Californians in the middle of the worst economy since the Great Depression.