CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANTHONY PORTANTINO?

There is an old truism that says in effect: "Don't mess with the people I love." "Mess" with me but not with my kids, my parents, my friends...

So I will disclose that while he may be as obscure as Sally Kerns, one reasons California State Assembly Member Anthony Portantino
is this month's recipient of the "Into the Dust Bin of History" award is because he messed with "one of mine."

Winning an election in the Democratic primary in my district means you will win the general election. And Mr. Portantino did just that by employing what some have described as a "scorched earth" policy and utilizing among other things malicious "Push Polling" techniques. His victory gave me real meaning to the concept of "political fratricide."

Instead of running on a record, highlighting his work experience or demonstrating his knowledge of the communities he was to represent, Mr. Portantino ran on twenty years of being an effective house husband, a successful glad-hander and a meeting attender. To top it off he was then ordained by a small, local political clique that believes in the "right of secession."

This week, however, news sources throughout the entire state have reported that he had been demoted; relieved of his committee chairmanships and "punish" for his "impudence" by the current Speaker of the Assembly, Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles). Apparently Mr. Portintino forgot that the leader of the lower house can boost or bust careers.

But why would a first-term assembly member challenged Speaker Núñez's decision regarding his successor and insult his opinions? And do that despite that fact that the Speaker supported him in the primary? The capital buzz is that he has money but despite his apparent fund raising abilities Mr. Portantino was notified of his demotions in the lest noble of ways by FAX!

Politics is not a game, nor is it for the faint of heart, but it should be a place of honor especially among friends. Where there is no honor, there is not integrity.

California State Assembly Member, Anthony Portantino: recipient of this month's "Into the Dust Bin of History" award for lack of integrity.