Greg Pettis- Mr. Pettis is a longtime Cathedral City Councilman who has worked for or still works for Mr. Stone. Pettis has served as a Democratic Presidential elector. (Thanks Bond Shands for a correction.) He has rankled local Democratic leaders by appearing to use Equality California as a quasi-political party in Cathedral City. He too is up for re-election this year and will try to downplay his connection to Jeff Stone.
Chad Mayes- Mayes (R-Yucca Valley) is the Minority Leader in the State Assembly. He has given Stone 25 k for the campaign. Mayes is being challenged for his seat by the hard-working Greg Rodriguez, a former Ruiz aide. One of the great political ironies is that LBGT friendly Palm Springs is represented by Mayes, a Liberty University graduate. Obviously Mayes feels Rodriguez is not a threat or he wouldn't have given Stone the money. Will local Democrats make him pay?
Riverside County Elected Officials- Jeff Stone is a former Riverside County Supervisor. At least 3 of the Supervisors plus Sheriff Stan Sniff Jr. and various county officials will endorse him. Why? Despite the fiction of non-partisan political offices in the county, they are occupied by conservative Republicans. Also expect the RSA (Riverside Sheriff's Association) to support Stone. Our local Supervisor John Benoit is already salivating at the prospect of a Ruiz loss.
Just another quick thought. Most people are not aware that after he was defeated in 2014 by Raul Ruiz, Brian Nestande got a lobbying job from the county that PAYS MORE THAN A CONGRESSIONAL SALARY. Yes, he makes more than Raul Ruiz.
Local Democrats- Will Stone's race make them less single issue voters whether that be immigration or gay rights? If so will they finally start taking back local offices?
While Jeff Stone has more baggage than Imelda Marcos ever had, all in all this promises to be a lively election contest.
Steve Kelly can be reached at skelly@rrbroadcasting.com or on Twitter @skellynj
Hi Stephen Vericker, seems to me there's a bit of unsubstantiated reporting with respect to your comments about Cathedral City councilman Greg Pettis. Your remarks about him included the following:
ReplyDelete1) Pettis was a Barack Obama elector in 2008.
That's not correct. He was an Al Gore elector in 2000.
2) He has rankled local Democratic leaders by appearing to use Equality California as a quasi-political party in Cathedral City.
I can't comment about Democratic leaders being "rankled" but have to question using "Equality California as a quasi-political party in Cathedral City". That one needs a bit of documenting substantiation.
3) He too is up for re-election this year and will try to downplay his connection to Jeff Stone.
Wouldn't it be better to wait and observe the Pettis candidacy in action before unequivocally stating what he will or will not do?
Bond Shands
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