Arnold, Dana together again

Alicia Robinson

In an effort to ensure that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s congressional

career isn’t terminated, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will flex his

political muscles at a fundraiser for the congressman’s campaign on

Friday.

The $1,000-per-person event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at

the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach.

“We think it’s going to be a hugely successful event,”

Rohrabacher’s wife, Rhonda, said. “We’ve had an overwhelming

response.”

The surfing congressman also has a big event planned for February:

a breakfast with House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.). Rohrabacher

may need to pull out all the stops to raise cash since he’s facing

former Congressman Bob Dornan, a fundraising leviathan, in the

primary.

Federal Election Commission reports show Rohrabacher has

consistently raised about the same amount, banking close to $317,000

for a 1998 election and $393,000 to keep his seat in 2002. But Dornan

recorded nearly $3.8 million in donations in 1998, the last time he

ran for office. It’s worth noting, however, that deep pockets didn’t

prevail that year -- Dornan lost for the second time to Rep. Loretta

Sanchez.

A chance to vote early

Beginning Tuesday, Orange County voters can cast March ballots

early at 16 locations using the new electronic voting system, the

county Registrar of Voters announced Wednesday.

In Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, early voting will be available

weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair

Drive, and weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Newport Beach City Hall,

3300 Newport Blvd. Voters also can cast ballots at the Irvine

Spectrum and Westminster malls, the county Registrar of Voters office

and several other locations.

Anyone who has moved or changed political parties or is not yet

registered to vote must submit registration material by Feb. 17 to be

eligible to vote. Early voting locations will offer registration

materials. Early voting will be offered through Feb. 22.

Campbell, Maddox get high marks from taxpayers’ group

The California Taxpayers Assn. gave high marks to 70th District

Assemblyman John Campbell and 68th District Assemblyman Ken Maddox

for their votes on 20 tax and spending bills in 2003. Each legislator

received an A, with Maddox voting against tax and spending 95% of the

time and Campbell earning a perfect score, according to the group’s

legislative report card.

The bills covered topics such as property tax increases by local

governments, repeal of agricultural tax exemptions and vehicle

license fee increases. Maddox wrecked his perfect score by voting for

a bill to modify how the Board of Equalization decides appeals from

the Franchise Tax Board, something the association recommended voting

against.

This week’s endorsement in Assembly race just a snowflake

Republican 70th Assembly District candidate Cristi Cristich

announced this week her endorsement by the California Young

Republicans. The announcement, which proclaimed that Cristich will

continue “her march toward victory” with the endorsement, was the

week’s single snowflake after the blizzard of endorsement

announcements that have come in over the past several months.