59th Assembly District News

MONEY RACE

Now that the primary elections are over, the November general election for the 59th Assembly District, which includes Claremont, is shaping up. Republican Tim Donnelly will square off against Democrat Darcel Woods.

The money race usually tells a lot, though this year the dynamics may be different. Donnelly won a very close primary race over Chris Lancaster in June. Donnelly's margin of victory was 631 votes and can be viewed as a sign of grassroots voter discontent this year with Donnelly, a self-described "tea party Republican," beating his party's insider candidate. Lancaster spent far more money than Donnelly ($167,000 to $23,500, respectively), but Donnelly still won.

According to the California Secretary of State's records, as of June 30 Donnelly's campaign had $626.78 in cash. The largest donor was Anna McBride in Palm Desert, who donated a total of $3,400.

Darcel Woods' campaign reported raising a total of $22,575 for the period from 1/1/10 to 6/30/10. Woods had $3,789.35 in cash remaining at of June 30. Woods' big contributors were unions:

• Service Employees International Union United Long-Term Care Workers Local 6434 State PAC - $7,800
  
  
• United Domestic Workers of America Action Fund - $3,900
  
  
• SEIU Local 721, CTW CLW State and Local - $3,900
  
  
• Service Employees International Union 121RN PAC - $1,500
  
  
• UAW Region 5 Western States PAC - $1,000
  
  
• California Teachers Association for Better Citizenship - $500
  
  
• United Transportation Union PAC - $500

The money Woods has raised is almost certainly an indication that Democratic Party supporters feel that Woods has a chance against Donnelly. This is certainly a change for an assembly district that has traditionally been a safe Republican seat. With redistricting on the horizon, it's likely that whatever replaces the 59th will be much more evenly divide between the two parties, so if Woods were to get in, she would presumably have an incumbent's advantage in subsequent elections.

A win by Woods might put a crimp in Claremont Mayor Pro Tem Sam Pedroza's long term plans. We suspect Pedroza may have been planning his own campaign in the 59th or its successor district. If Pedroza were ever to get elected from this area, he'd break a long losing streak by Claremont city council members in state legislative races. Sandy Baldonado, Al Leiga, and Corey Calaycay all failed in their bids to get represent our area in Sacramento.

The Daily Bulletin has an article today on the 59th Assembly race that mentions the idea that Woods may be able to appeal to moderate Republicans in the district. However, CMC's Jack Pitney thinks the election dynamics this year favor Republicans, and that may blunt any advantage Woods would traditionally have with moderates over Donnelly:

This is the kind of race where Democrats might have a very strong shot in another year," said Jack Pitney, a Claremont McKenna College political science professor who has said Democrats are battling Republican momentum this year. "But even so, it's not completely out of reach for them."

If Woods wins, she might represent the final vote Democrats in the Assembly need to solidify a two-thirds majority, an important benchmark in California politics. That thinking played a part in the union's decision, [SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers Local 6434 spokesman Wyatt] Closs said.

ADAMS ON SOCIAL NETWORKING

Speaking of the 59th district, current Assembly 59 representative Anthony Adams was quoted in the Daily Bulletin today. You'll recall that Adams chose not to seek reelection after angering Republicans for supporting last year's state budget agreement. Because he was one of a handful of Republicans in the state legislature who crossed the aisle to get the budget passed, Adams drew the ire of a good many Republican voters and would probably have faced a tough primary campaign.

The Bulletin article quoted Adams' comments on the possible regulation of campaign-related content on social media sites like Twitter or Facebook. The Bulletin piece said that California's Fair Political Practices Commission asked one of its subcommittees to look into the issue. The commission will consider the suggestions from the subcommittee next week.

Here's what the Bulletin said about the recommendations (we've included the Adams' quote):

Campaigns would face the same disclosure rules they do now, such as identifying who is financially behind an ad, but, for the first time, they would apply to Internet communication.

The report draws a line between paid political activity and unpaid grass-roots efforts. Political commentary by people unconnected to a campaign would not be affected, nor would sending or forwarding e-mails, linking to websites or creating independent websites.

....

"In order to keep our system honest, we need watchdogs," Adams said. "What these disclosures end up achieving is putting watchdogs, self-appointed or otherwise, in a position to maintain some integrity in the political campaigning area."

Jack Pitney, by the way, was quoted in this article as well.

June 8 Primaries

From Assemblyman
Anthony Adams' website
California's 59th Assembly District sprawls along most of the San Gabriel Mountains out to the west tip of the San Bernardino Mountains. The district, gerrymandered to guarantee a reliably Republican seat, covers parts of two counties, running eastward from La Crescenta. The district picks up Altadena, then goes on to Arcadia and Monrovia, continues east through La Verne and Claremont, reaches a finger out to Redlands, heads north into Crestline and Lake Arrowhead, and then out into the high desert to catch Hesperia and Apple Valley.

Our current Assemblyman is Anthony Adams, who last year avoided a recall election when recall petitioners failed to gather sufficient signatures to initiate a recall. The recall effort stemmed from conservative voters' anger over Adams crossing the aisle to vote with Democrats to temporarily raise taxes in order to resolve last year's state budget crisis.

Adams decided not to run for re-election, probably because he knew he stood a good chance of losing the June Republican primary. Given Republicans' 43% to 35% edge in the district's registered voters, the Republican primary effectively decides who will represent the 59th.

Adams' decision to step down left the district seat up for grabs. As a result, there are six Republican candidates (their occupations are taken from smartvoter.org) :

• Iver Bye, attorney (Apple Valley)
• Corey Calaycay, councilman/businessman (Claremont)
• Tim Donnelly, small business owner (Twin Peaks)
• Ken Hunter, real estate broker (Lake Arrowhead)
• Chris Lancaster, business executive (La Verne)
• Anthony Riley, businessman/school trustee (Hesperia)
  

The Riverside Press-Enterprise had a rundown of the field for the Republican primary. The article also notes that there is also Libertarian primary with two candidates: Dan Fernandes from La Verne and Apple Valley's Tony Tyler.

Darcel Woods, also from La Verne, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. American Independent candidate Robert Gosney from Hesperia is running unopposed as well. Both will be on the ballot in the November general election.

There's a website called 2010californiaracetracker.com that breaks down all of California's local and statewide elections. The site has links to the candidates' campaign finance disclosures (if they've filed one). In the Republican primary, Chris Lancaster raised the most money for the 1/1/10 to 3/17/10 reporting period. Lancaster collected $116,974. Corey Calaycay was next with $73,097 for the same period. At the end of that reporting period, Lancaster had $70,513.50 remaining, and Calaycay had $54,416.44.

The election is in two weeks on June 8. Whatever your political inclinations, don't forget to vote.

Local News

COUNCIL COMINGS AND GOINGS

Well, as we predicted, at their meeting Tuesday night, the Claremont City Council appointed Councilmember Linda Elderkin mayor and named Councilmember Sam Pedroza mayor pro tem. Outgoing mayor Corey Calaycay was honored by a representative of State Senator Bob Huff's office, and Calaycay is off to make a run for the state assembly.

Calaycay hopes to fill the 59th Assembly District seat vacated by Anthony Adams, who, after avoiding being recalled for supporting last year's state budget agreement, decided not to run again.

The Claremont 400 is hoping Calaycay wins the Republican primary in June. Given the gerrymandered nature of our district, winning that race pretty much guarantees a win in the November general election. If Calaycay should win, that would free up the council to appoint a replacement or hold a special election to fill Calaycay's seat. We suspect that they would opt for naming a replacement, and the 400's candidate of choice, former Claremont Assistant City Manager Bridget Healy is waiting in the wings.

Healy couldn't win in last year's council election, so getting a free pass through a council appointment might just be her one chance at finding a seat at the council dais.


THE SCOOP ON JOHNSON'S PASTURE

A reader wrote in to request a public service announcement about Johnson's Pasture. The reader requests that the City install a doggie bag dispenser at the pasture's trailhead. Apparently, dog owners have not been picking up after their pooches, which makes for a mine field experience for walkers and runners.

Come on people, show some class. Pick up after your pets.

Claremont Fourth of July, 2009

A friend sent a few pictures of the Fourth of July Parade on Indian Hill:

12 Blocks on Stilts

Bike to Emphasize the Gams

'Da Mare, and Vice Mare

More Local Pols...

...And More. What's with the shirtless kid in the truck?

Don't Tread on Us, Anthony.

The Bird is the Word.

Code Pink?

Gay Marriage Advocates

"...All we are saying, is give peace a chance..."

Claremont's Politics are decidedly Left: Anti-Death-Penalty Marchers

Assemblyman Adams Defends Vote

Our area's State Assemblyman, Anthony Adams, spoke before the local Mountain View Republican Club last night at Harvard Square restaurant and explained his reasons for supporting the state's budget compromise in February. The agreement, which included a mix of budget cuts, tax increases, and borrowing, was supposed to balance California's then-$42 billion budget deficit.

The budget fix didn't last very long, as you know. Two things quickly threw the budget back out of balance. First, state tax revenues declined more than expected because of the ongoing recession. Second, the ballot propositions that were supposed to have provided the final pieces of the budget puzzle failed in the May 19 special election.

Adams said that by June 15th the State needed to come up with some $17 billion in cuts against a projected $23 billion deficit. He argued that there is no legal provision to allow California to go bankrupt and thus renegotiate its contracts and write down its debt; instead, he invoked the specter of insolvency and Federal receivership, accountable to no one, similar to the prison health care receiver J. Clark Kelso who under the aegis of the district court is demanding $7 billion of the $9 billion California corrections budget for prisoner healthcare.

Adams defended his vote last February by saying that California would not have qualified for "payday" loans--tax "revenue anticipation notes" that had become SOP in financing State operations between tax collection dates. (This sounds more than a little suspect to us; don't most of our readers match their expenditures to their income cash flow? Why can't the State do that? And doesn't your employer withhold state tax weekly?) Adams claims that Wall Street made him break his "no tax" pledge.

This sounds a lot like our Congressman David Dreier who kept saying he hated his votes even as he supported the huge stimulus packages last fall--"Somebody stop me before I vote again"

In any event, the state's Republicans were incensed at Adams and five other Republican State legislators who supported the February budget agreement. Adams was berated on KFI AM 640's John and Ken Show (recall the head-a-stick business), and he is now the target of a recall petition campaign.

The Daily Bulletin covered Adam's remarks:

Adams admitted Thursday that he knew his vote was unpopular and "dangerous."

"I have no allusions [sic, Bulletin error] about that," he said.

"I made a decision to keep my state alive."

Adams said passage of the state budget was vital to generate new tax revenue in order to keep credit available to the state.

"I did not raise taxes because I thought it would stimulate the economy," he said.

"If we cannot make our state run, we run the risk of having the federal government take over."

Adams Faces Recall Petition Drive UPDATED

Claremont's Assemblyman, Anthony Adams, will face the prospect of a recall. Secretary of State Debra Bowen said that the recall petition has been certified. Proponents say that they will begin circulating petitions for signature as soon as they are printed.

Adams derided the effort as the brainchild of two "outsider" Orange County businessmen, Mike Schroeder (no relation to Claremont councilmember Larry) and Lee Lowery.

A Hesperia proponent of recalling Adams, Ed Laning, said that getting the required 35,825 valid 59th District voters would be like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Update: Anthony Adams' response to recall petition.]

Whittier Daily News story.

Press Enterprise story.

Capitol Alert story.

Anthony's Excellent Evening with Arnold

As this is written Claremont's Assemblymember, Anthony Adams, is the feted guest at a lavish fundraiser in Glendora. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the draw. Adams faces a potential recall and in fact was served with the legally-required recall papers this afternoon prior to the gathering of the guests by Mike Schroeder, a leader of the effort.

The drum for this recall effort is being beaten by KFI Radio's John and Ken, who in Fall of 2004 went after Congressman David Dreier (unsuccessfully).

This whole tempest, including the fundraiser, is due to Republican (RINO?) Adams going back on his promise not to raise taxes, and voting with Democrats to allow the recent budget deal and huge tax hike to pass in the Assembly. This action has stirred a hornets' nest of opposition within his own party. As part of the deal, Governor Arnold promised Adams tangible help. Like this fundraising event with himself as the draw.

Adams now has 7 days for to prepare an answer to the recall. From the documents filed by the proponents and Adams' answer, a petition will be prepared. When it is approved, the proponents have 150 days to collect some 50,000 signatures to ensure they meet the legally required number, which is nearer 30,000. They are shooting for an election, which must be called by the Governor between 47 and 62 days after the petitions are certified, sometime around November.

A reader sent some photos taken this evening as a very small group of protesters gathered at the entrance to the estate. No word on whether Sam Pedroza attended, as he co-hosted a fund-raiser for Adams just two years ago (see flyer, right).

There's a lot more to this story and to the personalities, but for now just enjoy the pictures of a pleasant Spring afternoon in Glendora:

The protesters never numbered more than about fifteen.
Leaders Lee Lowrey and Mike Schroeder in middle distance

The protesters might well have been outnumbered by the police

The mansion on the hill where the fundraiser was held

The gubernatorial motorcade approaches

Is that Governor Schwarzenegger?

Is it?

* * * * * *

A H/T to a reader for the photos

An Adamant Adams

Anthony Adams
Website Image

It's old news but still worth noting that there continues to be fallout for the so-called Sacramento Six, those Republicans in the state legislature that went voted with Democrats to approve the state budget agreement.

The LA Times reported Sunday that State Senator Dave Codgill and the other five Republicans to crossover with their budget votes are catching hell from upset constituents in their respective State Senate and Assembly districts:

Just weeks after Cogdill and five other Republican lawmakers joined the Legislature's majority Democrats to raise sales and income taxes and vehicle license fees, the "Sacramento Six" are facing a backlash from conservative activists and regular voters alike.

State Republican Party leaders have voted to cut off campaign cash to the six, and three are facing recall threats from furious activists.

Cogdill, 58, is bracing for a challenge in the 2010 Republican primary; a group in his district is trying to find a candidate to run against him. He has already been deposed as Senate minority leader by Republican colleagues, been booted from a big office and had his pay slashed by $17,000 a year.

"I don't think there is any doubt . . . that our careers are in jeopardy," Cogdill said.

And the Daily Bulletin had an article by Will Bigham last week about our area's assemblyman, Anthony Adams, having to resign as chair of the San Bernardino County Republican Party because of his budget vote. Adams may be down, but he's not completely out. He's sticking to his fiscal guns:

GOP furor over his vote, which made him one of six Republican legislators to join Democrats in support of the budget, resulted in his resignation at the county party's meeting Thursday night.

After the meeting, Adams, R-Claremont, did not back down from his support of the state budget, which included $13 billion in tax increases.

"I absolutely made the correct decision," Adams said. "The state was facing insolvency, and there was no way I was going to let teachers, firefighters and small business owners in the state pay the ultimate sacrifice because of our lack of action."

The Bulletin reports in today's paper that Upland City Councilmember Ken Willis will replace Adams as chair of the S.B. County Republican Party.

Play Money

In case you missed it, on Sunday the state of California stopped making payments on a number of things, including money owed to state contractors, Cal Grant recipients, and taxpayers awaiting refunds.

Also, California will begin mandatory two-day per month furloughs of 238,000 state employees to conserve cash. Even with these measures, the state will be out of cash by the end of this month, and then the trouble will really begin.

These emergency measures, enacted by Governor Schwarzenegger and State Controller John Chiang, are happening because the State Legislature and the governor's office have not been able to come up with a budget compromise to close the $42 billion chasm the state currently faces.

In the latest developments, state Republicans are threatening to censure any of their members who vote for tax increases. The state's super-majority rule on budgets means the Republicans can hold up any budget compromise, provided they keep their legislators from crossing the aisle to vote with the Democratic majorities in the State Assembly and State Senate.

Anthony Adams, the Republican Assemblyman for the 59th Assembly District, which includes Claremont, has indicated a willingness to vote for some tax increases. Adams, whose district had trended ever more center-left in recent years, by necessity has to be more moderate than some of his Republican colleagues in districts with safe seats. Thus, Adams has signaled an openness to tax increases even though it could mean the end of his political career since it would give anti-tax opponents in a Republican primary election ammunition to attack his record.

On Sunday, a Daily Bulletin editorial defended Adams' stance, saying:

Adams is a Republican, and it's GOP heresy to admit that any tax might ever have to be raised. Never mind that no Republican legislator can or will tell you how to cut $42 billion in spending from state government spending over the next 18 months. Shall we close all the University of California and Cal State University campuses and shut down the state's prisons, releasing all the inmates? Sorry, that's not enough.

So Adams, whose district includes Claremont, La Verne and San Dimas, said a very reasonable thing: that it would be worth raising some taxes in this fiscal emergency if the return were some guaranteed restraint in the future on the kind of past overspending that put California in this mess.

We find that a sensible position, exactly what Republican legislators should be seeking instead of just repeating their simplistic "no new taxes" pledge. They have leverage, and they should use it to protect the fiscal future; but there's no getting
around the emergency faced right now without more revenue from some sources.

Adams took considerable heat from KFI AM-640 talk show hosts John and Ken last week, as Rebecca Kimitch reported in Bulletin on January 28th:

Adams' statements, and similar comments made by several other Republican legislators, flies in the face of a "no new taxes" pledge most Republicans signed last year.

The change of heart has inspired the John and Ken Show radio program on KFI AM-640 to castigate Adams - and three other Republican lawmakers - on the air.

Hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou have started a "heads on a stick" campaign calling on listeners to tell Republicans to "stand firm on taxes or else."

"Listeners think (the campaign) is right on, they are ready to run out with sticks themselves. There is going to be a tax revolt if (lawmakers) do this... there is going to be a big backlash," Kobylt said. "We'll see propositions to reverse the taxes, and efforts to throw these guys out."

Sacramento's budget impasse prompted 11 of Dean Singleton's MediaNews Group-owned California newspapers to run a front-page editorial excoriating our political leaders this past Sunday. Here's part of the San Jose Mercury News' version:

Today, the state will stop paying some of its bills and start issuing IOUs. It will stiff taxpayers due refunds, students depending on Cal Grants to stay in school and contractors who have performed work. If the days without a budget lengthen, economic havoc will spread like a virus, and the state's bad faith and credit will infect cities, counties and schools.

The governor and all 120 legislators share responsibility for this. But most of the blame for the immediate crisis falls on Republicans in the Legislature, who this past summer — to a person — signed a pledge to not raise taxes. That was before an already large deficit mushroomed, making the need for more revenue imperative. Since then, Democrats and the Republican governor have offered significant compromise, but GOP lawmakers cling to ideological purity — schools, health care and other essential responsibilities be damned.

These lawmakers constitute barely over one-third of the Legislature. But because the California Constitution requires a two-thirds vote on the budget, it enables the tyranny of a minority to trump majority rule.

This day didn't sneak up on anyone. It's the result of too much borrowing and too little political courage over too many years — lavish spending in good times and insufficient restraint in bad. For this, Democrats, who've controlled the Legislature, and the governor share responsibility. Compounding the problem are spending initiatives that bind the Legislature's hands. Voters have themselves to blame for these.

The governor and legislative leaders were scheduled to meet again yesterday to try to figure a way out of this mess. There was no word of any resolution, however. Oh, the games people play.

Down-ballot Election Results

A smattering of some of the down-ballot results of interest to Claremont. It's hard to get reliable links to the official elections websites, so take these with a grain of salt. (Results compiled between 6 and 7 a.m. on Wednesday, November 5)

David Dreier, incumbent congressman from the 26th district, which includes Claremont, appears to have withstood a challenge from Democrat Russ Warner. With 318 of 469 precincts reporting, Dreier had 53.5% of the vote to Warner's 40.2%. We commented here on one of the mail pieces opposing Dreier. The Federal Election Commission has now posted the campaign finance disclosure from the Blue America PAC for the hit piece. It cost $19,652.44 to prepare and mail.

click on image to enlarge

See here for latest results in Dreier's race.

In a district adjacent to Claremont, the north Pomona division of Three Valleys Municipal Water District, carpenter John Mendoza appears to have trounced incumbent Fred Lantz, 55% t0 45%. This has a lot of the look of the election two years ago when Xavier Alvarez took his seat from the then-incumbent: a relative unknown versus a long-time water wonk. We don't know much about Mendoza, he has no website and didn't fill out the League of Women Voters Smartvoter information. Mendoza didn't come off all that well in an article in last month's San Gabriel Valley Tribune, where he rapped the current board for "making a lot of decisions about water but they are just sitting there at the top, collecting pay and benefits." The article goes on to say that Mendoza, if elected, would still collect benefits, "but I won't take advantage of them." Huh?

Lantz is husband of Pomona councilmember Paula Lantz. Maybe some of our friends in Lincoln Park (Meg?) can elaborate on this race. [Update: John Clifford over on M-M-M-My Pomona points out that John Mendoza not only ran for and won the Three Valleys seat, but also ran unsuccessfully for a city council seat in this election, losing to Stephen Atcheley but edging out the Daily Bulletin-endorsed Querubin. Mendoza was busy; he also sponsored an increase in the Utility Tax in Pomona, Measure PC, which failed by nearly three to one.]

In incomplete returns, 21 of 25 precincts reporting, Glenn Southard nemesis Michael Wilson is trailing by 900 votes in Indio's city council election. Try this link for updated results--no guarantees it will work. The margin against Wilson has widened as more returns have come in. According to the Desert Sun, Wilson was outspent by the two leaders by four or five to one. Leader Wilson raised more than $60,000; incumbent Watson raised some $45,000, and Wilson raised around $12,000.

Measure R, the new Los Angeles County half-cent sales tax increase, squeaked by 67.4% to 32.6%. It needed 2/3 to pass. It was opposed by Claremont Mayor Ellen Taylor, the Claremont City Council, and many local politicos. It's a win for LA Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa and the MTA and the Westside. Whether we will see much out here in the San Gabriel Valley is doubtful, according to opponents.

Norma Torres, police dispatcher and Pomona mayor, and "Friend of Xavier", is on her way to the State Assembly. With about 2/3 of the votes counted, she leads by more than 15,000 votes, 60.6% to 32.8% for Wendy Maier.

Anthony Adams and Bob Huff both are leading comfortably in their races as Claremont's State Assemblyman and State Senator, respectively.

For you national political junkies, here is an interesting set of maps on the Obama-McCain race, with analysis.

Strange Bedfellows

The Goddess of Pomona has a brief breakdown of the 61st State Assembly District race, complete with an image of Pomona Mayor Norma Torres posed like a counterweight on a bit of heavy construction machinery.

The 61st is safely Democratic, so the winner will be decided in the June primary election. There are four candidates vying for the chance to be the Democrat in the November election: Torres; attorney, teacher and Claremont Graduate University alum Ken White; Ontario community activist Paul Vincent Avila; and Chino business man Maurice Ayala.

Claremont, by the way, is in the 59th Assembly District and is represented by Anthony Adams (R-Hesperia). The 59th District has been a fairly safe Republican district, just as the 61st has been reliably Democratic, though in Claremont, the traditional party labels don't always apply.

On the Goddess of Pomona's post, there are are a number of comments, including one from Calwatch, who says that Torres will win the primary because the other primary candidates will split the non-Torres vote. We've seen this phenomena in Claremont municipal elections, often with the Claremont 400 intentionally supporting losing candidates simply to help split up the opposition vote (think Mike Maglio 2007). Divide and conquer really sums up this campaign strategy - Norma's taking one right out of the Claremonsters' play book.

Calwatch also gives his take on how Torres was elected mayor of Pomona:

Torres received 1,651 votes, out of a city of 170,000. Even granting that half the population is too young and half of the rest are not citizens, that is horrible (44,000 registered voters in Pomona). Torres is literally representing 1% of Pomona's population.

Another Claremont phenomena - non-representative government!

This non-representativeness might actually be more widespread than we thought. It might also explain an article we saw recently in the Daily Bulletin reporting on a UC Riverside study that found inequities in the way Inland Empire local governments fail to adequately speak for large segments of citizenry. The UCR study focused on race, and that may indeed still be a factor in Claremont, but we Insiders believe the root problem really seems to lie with the elites, here and elsewhere, that control the avenues to office.

Those elites, whether they have their base in party affiliations as in Norma Torres' case, or in social and service organizations as in Claremont (the League of Women Voters or the Claremont Community Foundation, to name two), tend to be disconnected from the problems and opinions of many voters.

Because they only include people of like minds, their ideas are never really tested, and they develop an arrogant, insular close-mindedness. Intellectual inbreeding, just like the genetic sort, has dire consequences for a population. The pool of available ideas becomes narrower and narrower, and the decisions become ever more disconnected from reality.

A possible solution the UCR study proposes is outreach to outside groups:

One key to bridging the gap between political power and some emerging advocacy groups is simple contact. Referring to one of the report's overall assessment - that the region in many ways still embodies the small-town mentality of power couched in a few small circles - the authors call on public officials to enlarge their base and contacts with what are now essentially fringe groups.

Claremonsters, if they were really concerned about outreach and inclusiveness, might try sitting down with some of these "emerging advocacy groups" and incorporate them into the community dialogue. Instead, as Mayor Ellen Taylor and Councimember Sam Pedroza did earlier this month, they handpick a group of the usual suspects, throwing in a token opposition person, to study the problem of affordable housing in Claremont - a problem created in part because most of these same people refused to listen to the community in the first place, insisting without reason that they knew better.

Here, as is apparently the case in the rest of the Inland Empire, the people running the show practice exclusion on a regular basis and consider it a virtue. Just ask Claremont historian and former mayor Judy Wright, who has devoted a couple books to mythologizing Claremont's town fathers and mothers.

But none of this is new. It's just not a race-based exclusionary policy; rather, it's a closing of the mind by keeping out people who think differently: "We made this town. We know better than you."

The process, though, is the same sort of small-minded intolerance whether here, or in Colton, or in rural West Virginia (almost the hickiest place, according to one Claremonster). It's a bit like the difference between the inbreeding that might have gone on in an isolated rural community compared to that of the Hapsburgs, Bourbons, and Wittelsbachs of Europe. There may be class differences, but it's all the same process and has the same consequences. The Claremont 400 may consider themselves a sort of local aristocracy with a divine right to rule, but that doesn't hide the webbed feet and pig tails.