Conservatives Face Bigger Election Battle in 2012

As former Beaumont Mayor Jan Leja wrapped up her presentation to the Redlands Tea Party Patriots on the complicated issue of redistricting, she dispensed an important piece of advice.

“Be prepared to knock on doors,” she said. “Be prepared to walk the precincts.”

It going to be a tough year due in large part to the way California Citizens Redistricting Commission’s redrew Assembly, Senate and Congressional districts, she said. Some of maps make no sense. In other districts, Leja said the commission stacked the deck.

Leja made her presentation Thursday during the Redlands Tea Party Patriots general meeting at Mill Creek Cattle Co. The restaurant’s room was filled with residents from around the region looking to understand how the new maps impacted them.

It is a dry and difficult issue and it was going to take time to sort through all the changes, she told the crowd.

Groans could be heard as she described what was happening with the redrawn Assembly District 40, in which incumbent Mike Morrell will face off against democratic challenger Russ Warner, a Redlands businessman. It was an example of hampering the conservative candidates.

Many had anticipated Senator Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) would run for assembly as he was termed out of the California Senate. But he chose to run for the Congressional District 31 sat that Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands) is vacating.

“That district was designed with Bob Dutton on mind,” Leja said.

“(Morrell) is also a guy who has a target on his back,” Leja said. “The liberals hate him. And I think he deserves our complete support. Be prepared to walk precincts for him.”

The race for the 31st congressional seat that serves Loma Linda and Redlands is a huge target for the Democrats who have Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar in the running.

Both Dutton and Congressman Gary Miller (R-Diamond Bar) are running for the seat. Both can raise money, but are running for a seat that has become bluer thanks to redistricting.

“It’s going to be a battle and you guys are going to be right in the middle of it,” So you guys need to be get these candidates to come speak to you,” Leja said.

In November, it is possible a Democrat and a Republican will face off for the seat because the registration favors the democrats, she said. But there is some hope that some Democrat registration that is part of this district, not a lot but some of it, they were first time registrations that got behind then candidate Barack Obama, she added.

“They might be disillusioned this time and might just stay home,” she said. “So it’s going to be imperative when the general (election) comes that you get out the vote for whoever the nominee is that is conservative or almost conservative. You’re going to have to work really hard because we can’t afford to lose this seat to the liberal side.”