As the Coachella Valley continues it's shift from red to purple, much of the credit has to be given to the local Democratic Clubs who have united to build a candidate base. Using their 6 year old headquarters in Cathedral City, Dems came together and helped elect a local congressman in 2012.
All this makes some recent moves by local Democrats in the area's State Senate race and the local Supervisor's race strange to say the least. In the 28th State Senate race, some local Democrats and a labor council have endorsed Glenn Miller a Republican Indio councilman who is running in the June primary. Spearheading this effort is Cathedral City Councilman Greg Pettis. Local Democratic leaders Ginny Foat and Rick Hutchinson have also endorsed Miller. There is a Democratic candidate in the race Phil Drucker who is given little chance of advancing to the November run off but has been endorsed by the state party.
Apparently Drucker bombed in his interview with the Stonewall Democrats but it puzzles me as to why local Dems are putting any effort into this race. Even if Miller were to win, he would a freshmen Senator in a minority party in Sacramento. He will have to move quickly to re-establish his conservative bonafides and also will have little if any influence in state policy.
Meanwhile, you would think that Democrats would be flocking behind Manny Perez's bid for Supervisor in his race against John Benoit. Even though the race has the fig leaf of being non-partisan, it really a straight GOP vs Dem race. Owing to his personal dislike of Manny Perez, Greg Pettis has endorsed Benoit in the race. Many local Democratic leaders are scratching their heads at this. Remember Benoit spent 2 grand of taxpayers money to hear George W Bush speak at a closed meeting.
You have to wonder whether or not there is any benefit in this for local Democrats in the long or short run. And come primary night, will they have blown a real chance to elect a Supervisor by getting sidetracked in a minor Senate contest.
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