The political knives are coming out in the mail to carve up Glazer and Bonilla. I don't get as many anti-Bonilla fliers, probably because I'm registered Republican and Bonilla supporters want to discourage Republicans from voting for Glazer and probably from voting at all in this special election.
On Wednesday, I received a mailer accusing Bonilla of auditioning for the next episode of "Lifestyles of the political wasters." Humm, no. I may be supporting Glazer, but I really don't like these phony attacks on either candidate.
Glazer has been accused of being supported by "BIG Tobacco," being a "PROFESSIONAL Political Consultant," and running a "sneaky . . . campaign" that enriched LA politicians with a $25K pay raise.
I mentioned this latest hit piece to Jason Bezis from Glazer's campaign and he said that was over 25 years ago. The opponents are reaching back to another generation to dig up attacks. This piece was "Sponsored by firefighters, doctors, dentists, and building trade organizations." Translation = Unions.
I've seen comments on the Express that no one can prevent BART strikes. Hello? The BART Union had a No Strike clause in their contract. Oh, so how were they able to strike? They went on strike after their last contract expired and before the new one was agreed upon. Now that they have a new contract, also with a No Strike clause, they won't, or can't, or shouldn't go on strike for the term of this contract.
But when the current contract is up for renewal or negotiations, they could strike again. That's why our Assemblywoman, Republican Catharine Baker, introduced a bill, AB528, to prevent unions that have agreed to a no strike contract in a past contract, from striking during contract negotiations.
That's so sensible even the union backed Democrats in the Legislature could support it, but don't bet on it. We need a representative in the State Senate that we KNOW will support Baker's bill, and that's Steve Glazer.
Some voters don't like either of the candidates. They plan a write-in vote for primary looser Joan Buchanan. I don't know if it is possible to elect a candidate who isn't running, Republican Michaela Hurtle dropped out of the primary and endorsed Steve Glazer, but she still garnered over 16% of the votes.
Hurtle's name was still on the ballot and Buchanan's isn't. So I don't know if dissatisfied Buchanan supporters could muster enough write-in's to elect her to the Senate when they couldn't get enough votes to nominate her in the Primary.
It's not clear which candidate Buchanan write-ins would hurt or help. As the candidate endorsed by the Tri-Valley Democratic Club, Buchanan endorsed fellow TVD Bonilla after losing in the Primary. Still I consider Buchanan in the middle politically between Glazer and Bonilla; so her supporters could find reasons to vote for one or the other or just stay home and not vote at all.