FORMER GOP ASSEMBLYWOMAN CATHARINE BAKER APPOINTED TO FPPC
Former East Bay Assemblywoman Catharine B. Baker has been appointed to serve on the Fair Political Practices Commission, California’s election watchdog. She will be sworn in at the Commission’s next meeting on January 21.
Baker, who served in the Assembly from 2014 to 2018, will serve a four-year term on the Commission. Baker has practiced election law and served as special counsel at the firm Hoge Fenton. She currently resides in Alameda County.
The Commission was created by California’s Political Reform Act and has jurisdiction in the areas of campaign finance, lobbying, and conflict of interest.
The FPPC is composed of five members appointed for staggered four-year terms. The Chair and another member from a different political party are appointed by the Governor. Other members are appointed by the State Controller, Secretary of State and the Attorney General. No more than three Commissioners may be from the same political party.
Gavin Newsom Recall Petition
Volunteer to Recall California Governor Gavin Newsom
UPCOMING GOP EVENTS
Featured Event:
- CCR, SPARC & Other Chapters Virtual Meeting Featuring Rep. Mike Garcia and Jessica Patterson
Monday, January 18, 2021 / 6:30 pm – Online, Via Zoom, In Partnership with SPARC, Villages Club, Central Coast and East Valley CCR
- Independent Institute Presents: What’s Ahead for the U.S. Under One-Party Rule? California Provides a Peek
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / 2:00 pm – Online, ,
- The Hoover Institution Presents: India-Taiwan Ties in an Era of Chinese Expansionism
Thursday, January 21, 2021 / 4:00 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- The Lincoln Network Presents: The Future of U.S. Semiconductor Policy (Virtual Discussion)
Friday, January 22, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Commonwealth Club Presents: Michael Boskin and Laura Tyson with an Annual Economic Forecast
Friday, January 22, 2021 / 12:00 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Pacific Research Institute Presents: How Students Can Overcome Learning Disabilities Through Science and School Choice
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- SVARW Presents: Lets Fix California! Featuring Shannon Grove
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 / 8:45 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Marin Republican Women Federated Presents: Andrea Widburg on What Do We Need To Do Now?
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 / 11:30 am – Online, ,
- The Hoover Institute Presents: Eighth Annual State of the West Symposium
Thursday, January 28, 2021 / 1:00 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Pacific Research Institute Presents: Third Annual California Ideas in Action Conference
Thursday, February 4, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Pacific Research Institute Presents: Third Annual California Ideas in Action Conference
Friday, February 5, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- The Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley Presents: The Permanent Coup Continues
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 / 7:00 pm – Online, ,
- CCR, SPARC & Other Chapters Virtual Meeting Featuring Prof. Michael McConnell on What’s Next for the Supreme Court
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 / 6:30 pm – Online, Via Zoom, In Partnership with SPARC, Villages Club, Central Coast and East Valley CCR
View more details for events on the Calendar of Upcoming Events or view the Monthly Calendar of Events.
JESSICA PATTERSON FOR CAGOP CHAIRWOMAN
Jessica Patterson has delivered the best results the California Republican Party has seen in decades. She deserves re-election as Chairwoman of the California GOP.
-
Flipped four Congressional seats from Democrat to Republican
-
Reclaimed an additional GOP assembly seat.
-
Raised $37.5 million to fund GOP candidates and our party
-
Helped register over 600,000 California Republicans
-
Implemented new Get-Out-The-Vote tactics to level the playing field with Democrats
-
Defeated Democrat Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in court when they tried to prevent the CAGOP from implementing their GOTV program
-
Delivered on the most important priorities for President Trump and the Republican National Committee.
-
Brought us a step closer to defeating Nancy Pelosi and making Kevin McCarthy Speaker of the House
-
Rallied the GOP to stop the Democrat split roll tax increase
-
Helped roll back the Democrats’ plan to restrict our right to work independently
-
Successfully mobilized Republicans to defeat the reintroduction of racial discrimination in college admissions, public employment and public contracting
Republicans Win Mayor’s Races in the Bay Area
by Roger Riffenburgh
While there were many Republicans who won local office around the Bay Area, often with the support of their county Republican party, we report on some who won races for mayor.
Marie Blankley won a big victory in the race for mayor of Gilroy. She is a lifelong Gilroy resident, a mother of two grown kids, and a Certified Public Accountant. Since she came onto the Gilroy City Council in 2018, she has been building a record of achievement and fiscal conservatism. At a time when many cities are in fiscal crisis due to Covid-19, and Gilroy is still overcoming the pain of the 2019 Garlic Festival shooting, she successfully made the case that she is well prepared to lead the city and return it to financial stability.
Dave Hudson campaigned on his experience, and voters were impressed, as he won the race to become San Ramon’s next mayor. Hudson is serving a record seventh term as a councilmember. He has also represented the city on many boards and commissions, including the League of California Cities and various transportation boards, where he has successfully worked to reduce traffic congestion and promote bike sharing. He had also served earlier on the Planning Commission, as well as in Vietnam.
In the northern Solano County town of Dixon, Steve Bird defeated the incumbent to win the mayor’s race. Bird is completing 8 years on the city council and previously was in law enforcement for over 20 years, having retired as a Dixon police captain. Bird’s campaign plan for Dixon focused on a transparent and balanced budget, partnerships for jobs and the economy, and fair & reliable water delivery. After Bird won, the Vacaville Reporter quoted him: “I’m your mayor in this community. I’m here for everybody and everybody has a place at the table.”
In Gonzales, in the Salinas Valley of Monterey County, Jose Rios was elected mayor, defeating the longtime incumbent by over 10%. He graduated from Gonzales High School and from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in economics. Rios and his wife raised four children, and he retired after working for a utility company. He has been active in the community as a former city councilman, a volunteer firefighter, a city planning commissioner, and a middle school basketball coach. Rios walked almost every door in town during his campaign and opposed the rezoning of a downtown site from a proposed community center to affordable housing.
In the News
CALIFORNIA’S WORSENING RECYCLING WOES
California fell far short of meeting its ambitious goal of recycling, reducing or composting 75% of solid waste by 2020, according to a new report from the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling. In fact, the state’s recycling rate has steadily decreased for years, from 50% in 2013 to a projected 37% in 2020. Meanwhile, the state’s annual waste disposal shot up from around 40 million tons in 2013 to around 50 million tons in 2019. And the pandemic dealt yet another financial blow to California’s recycling industry, which was already struggling to stay afloat: Nearly 1,000 recycling centers across the state have closed since 2013, the report found.
Employment Development Department another name for titanic disaster
By Dan Walters
calmatters.org
January 6, 2021
“Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic” is an overworked cliché, but it certainly applies to California’s Employment Development Department.
The name itself is a farce. There’s no evidence that EDD ever developed any jobs, other than employing thousands of bureaucrats to pay out unemployment insurance benefits — and that’s been a titanic disaster.
This week, EDD suspended payments to many Californians in its latest effort to deal with massive fraud that erupted when Congress pumped many billions of dollars into the unemployment insurance system for workers who lost jobs due to COVID-19.
A Stinging Setback in California Is a Warning for Democrats in 2022
By
nytimes.com
December 26, 2020
Two years ago, Democrats celebrated a sweep of seven Republican-held congressional seats in California as evidence of the party’s growing ability to compete in swing districts here and across the nation.
But this year, Republicans snatched back four of those seats even as Joseph R. Biden Jr. swamped President Trump in California. The losses stunned Democrats and contributed to the razor-thin margin the party will hold in the House of Representatives this January.
The turnaround is testimony to how competitive the seats are, particularly in Orange County, once a bastion of conservative Republicanism that has been moving steadily Democratic over the past 20 years.
Oracle Is Moving Its Headquarters From Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas
By Jessica Bursztynsky
CNBC.com
December 11, 2020
Oracle is the latest tech company to move its headquarters out of California. The company said on Friday it’s moving its headquarters from the Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas.
“Oracle is implementing a more flexible employee work location policy and has changed its Corporate Headquarters from Redwood City, California to Austin, Texas. We believe these moves best position Oracle for growth and provide our personnel with more flexibility about where and how they work,” a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC.
Bloomberg first reported the move.
A bulk of employees can choose their office location, or continue to work from home part time or full time, the company said.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the latest tech company to leave Silicon Valley, and is moving to Houston
By Jessica Bursztynsky
CNBC.com
December 1, 2020
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the latest tech company to shift its focus away from Silicon Valley, announcing Tuesday that it will relocate its headquarters from San Jose, California, to Houston, Texas.
“HPE’s largest U.S. employment hub, Houston is an attractive market to recruit and retain future diverse talent, and is where the company is currently constructing a state-of-the-art new campus,” the company said in its fourth quarter earnings release. It’s unclear how many employees the move will affect, though the company said no layoffs will be with the move.
Jessica Patterson for CAGOP Chairwoman
Feature Article: Ritesh Tandon for Congress: A Voice of Sanity, Moderation, and Innovative Solutions
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FORMER GOP ASSEMBLYWOMAN CATHARINE BAKER APPOINTED TO FPPC
Former East Bay Assemblywoman Catharine B. Baker has been appointed to serve on the Fair Political Practices Commission, California’s election watchdog. She will be sworn in at the Commission’s next meeting on January 21.
Baker, who served in the Assembly from 2014 to 2018, will serve a four-year term on the Commission. Baker has practiced election law and served as special counsel at the firm Hoge Fenton. She currently resides in Alameda County.
The Commission was created by California’s Political Reform Act and has jurisdiction in the areas of campaign finance, lobbying, and conflict of interest.
The FPPC is composed of five members appointed for staggered four-year terms. The Chair and another member from a different political party are appointed by the Governor. Other members are appointed by the State Controller, Secretary of State and the Attorney General. No more than three Commissioners may be from the same political party.
Gavin Newsom Recall Petition
Volunteer to Recall California Governor Gavin Newsom
LIST OF UPCOMING GOP EVENTS
- CCR, SPARC & Other Chapters Virtual Meeting Featuring Rep. Mike Garcia and Jessica Patterson
Monday, January 18, 2021 / 6:30 pm – Online, Via Zoom, In Partnership with SPARC, Villages Club, Central Coast and East Valley CCR
- Independent Institute Presents: What’s Ahead for the U.S. Under One-Party Rule? California Provides a Peek
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / 2:00 pm – Online, ,
- The Hoover Institution Presents: India-Taiwan Ties in an Era of Chinese Expansionism
Thursday, January 21, 2021 / 4:00 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- The Lincoln Network Presents: The Future of U.S. Semiconductor Policy (Virtual Discussion)
Friday, January 22, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Commonwealth Club Presents: Michael Boskin and Laura Tyson with an Annual Economic Forecast
Friday, January 22, 2021 / 12:00 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Pacific Research Institute Presents: How Students Can Overcome Learning Disabilities Through Science and School Choice
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- SVARW Presents: Lets Fix California! Featuring Shannon Grove
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 / 8:45 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Marin Republican Women Federated Presents: Andrea Widburg on What Do We Need To Do Now?
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 / 11:30 am – Online, ,
- The Hoover Institute Presents: Eighth Annual State of the West Symposium
Thursday, January 28, 2021 / 1:00 pm – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Pacific Research Institute Presents: Third Annual California Ideas in Action Conference
Thursday, February 4, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- Pacific Research Institute Presents: Third Annual California Ideas in Action Conference
Friday, February 5, 2021 / 11:00 am – Online (Via Zoom), ,
- The Liberty Forum of Silicon Valley Presents: The Permanent Coup Continues
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 / 7:00 pm – Online, ,
- CCR, SPARC & Other Chapters Virtual Meeting Featuring Prof. Michael McConnell on What’s Next for the Supreme Court
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 / 6:30 pm – Online, Via Zoom, In Partnership with SPARC, Villages Club, Central Coast and East Valley CCR
View more details for events on the Calendar of Upcoming Events or view the Monthly Calendar of Events.
In the News
CALIFORNIA’S WORSENING RECYCLING WOES
California fell far short of meeting its ambitious goal of recycling, reducing or composting 75% of solid waste by 2020, according to a new report from the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling. In fact, the state’s recycling rate has steadily decreased for years, from 50% in 2013 to a projected 37% in 2020. Meanwhile, the state’s annual waste disposal shot up from around 40 million tons in 2013 to around 50 million tons in 2019. And the pandemic dealt yet another financial blow to California’s recycling industry, which was already struggling to stay afloat: Nearly 1,000 recycling centers across the state have closed since 2013, the report found.
JESSICA PATTERSON FOR CAGOP CHAIRWOMAN

-
Flipped four Congressional seats from Democrat to Republican
-
Reclaimed an additional GOP assembly seat.
-
Raised $37.5 million to fund GOP candidates and our party
-
Helped register over 600,000 California Republicans
-
Implemented new Get-Out-The-Vote tactics to level the playing field with Democrats
-
Defeated Democrat Secretary of State Alex Padilla and Attorney General Xavier Becerra in court when they tried to prevent the CAGOP from implementing their GOTV program
-
Delivered on the most important priorities for President Trump and the Republican National Committee.
-
Brought us a step closer to defeating Nancy Pelosi and making Kevin McCarthy Speaker of the House
-
Rallied the GOP to stop the Democrat split roll tax increase
-
Helped roll back the Democrats’ plan to restrict our right to work independently
-
Successfully mobilized Republicans to defeat the reintroduction of racial discrimination in college admissions, public employment and public contracting
Republicans Win Mayor’s Races in the Bay Area
by Roger Riffenburgh
While there were many Republicans who won local office around the Bay Area, often with the support of their county Republican party, we report on some who won races for mayor.
Marie Blankley won a big victory in the race for mayor of Gilroy. She is a lifelong Gilroy resident, a mother of two grown kids, and a Certified Public Accountant. Since she came onto the Gilroy City Council in 2018, she has been building a record of achievement and fiscal conservatism. At a time when many cities are in fiscal crisis due to Covid-19, and Gilroy is still overcoming the pain of the 2019 Garlic Festival shooting, she successfully made the case that she is well prepared to lead the city and return it to financial stability.
Dave Hudson campaigned on his experience, and voters were impressed, as he won the race to become San Ramon’s next mayor. Hudson is serving a record seventh term as a councilmember. He has also represented the city on many boards and commissions, including the League of California Cities and various transportation boards, where he has successfully worked to reduce traffic congestion and promote bike sharing. He had also served earlier on the Planning Commission, as well as in Vietnam.
In the northern Solano County town of Dixon, Steve Bird defeated the incumbent to win the mayor’s race. Bird is completing 8 years on the city council and previously was in law enforcement for over 20 years, having retired as a Dixon police captain. Bird’s campaign plan for Dixon focused on a transparent and balanced budget, partnerships for jobs and the economy, and fair & reliable water delivery. After Bird won, the Vacaville Reporter quoted him: “I’m your mayor in this community. I’m here for everybody and everybody has a place at the table.”
In Gonzales, in the Salinas Valley of Monterey County, Jose Rios was elected mayor, defeating the longtime incumbent by over 10%. He graduated from Gonzales High School and from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in economics. Rios and his wife raised four children, and he retired after working for a utility company. He has been active in the community as a former city councilman, a volunteer firefighter, a city planning commissioner, and a middle school basketball coach. Rios walked almost every door in town during his campaign and opposed the rezoning of a downtown site from a proposed community center to affordable housing.
In the News (Cont)
Employment Development Department another name for titanic disaster
By Dan Walters
calmatters.org
January 6, 2021
“Rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic” is an overworked cliché, but it certainly applies to California’s Employment Development Department.
The name itself is a farce. There’s no evidence that EDD ever developed any jobs, other than employing thousands of bureaucrats to pay out unemployment insurance benefits — and that’s been a titanic disaster.
This week, EDD suspended payments to many Californians in its latest effort to deal with massive fraud that erupted when Congress pumped many billions of dollars into the unemployment insurance system for workers who lost jobs due to COVID-19.
A Stinging Setback in California Is a Warning for Democrats in 2022
By
nytimes.com
December 26, 2020
Two years ago, Democrats celebrated a sweep of seven Republican-held congressional seats in California as evidence of the party’s growing ability to compete in swing districts here and across the nation.
But this year, Republicans snatched back four of those seats even as Joseph R. Biden Jr. swamped President Trump in California. The losses stunned Democrats and contributed to the razor-thin margin the party will hold in the House of Representatives this January.
The turnaround is testimony to how competitive the seats are, particularly in Orange County, once a bastion of conservative Republicanism that has been moving steadily Democratic over the past 20 years.
Oracle Is Moving Its Headquarters From Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas
By Jessica Bursztynsky
CNBC.com
December 11, 2020
Oracle is the latest tech company to move its headquarters out of California. The company said on Friday it’s moving its headquarters from the Silicon Valley to Austin, Texas.
“Oracle is implementing a more flexible employee work location policy and has changed its Corporate Headquarters from Redwood City, California to Austin, Texas. We believe these moves best position Oracle for growth and provide our personnel with more flexibility about where and how they work,” a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC.
Bloomberg first reported the move.
A bulk of employees can choose their office location, or continue to work from home part time or full time, the company said.