Mervyn Dymally

The California Fair Political Practices Commission released a report Thursday showing that independent expenditures on state races since 2001 have nearly topped $100 million, with more than $11 million being spent in the June 2008 primary campaign.

An FPPC report on independent expenditures noted that state laws that took effect on Jan. 1, 2001 limited direct contributions to legislative candidates, and similar laws took effect for statewide office candidates on Nov. 6, 2002.

The commission's chairman, in a press release, noted that such independent expenditures would seem to thwart the will of the voters, who enacted those contribution limits by passing Proposition 34 in November 2000.

Saturday's debate among three of the four contenders vying to replace state Sen. Ed Vincent (D-25) doubled as an early indication of the support they can expect among hardcore Democrats, and in which regions. Former Gardena Mayor Don Dear was not present for the event, which pitted current 52nd Assembly District seatholder Mervyn Dymally against former Assemblyman Rod Wright and community activist Kevin Biggers. Wright gained the most votes during the straw poll, but Dymally and Biggers both drew enough support that neither can be counted out - especially Dymally.

Republican Greg Aghazarian has an almost 5-1 fundraising edge over Democrat Lois Walk in the 5th district Senate race
In the race for an open State Senate in District 5, where Democrat Mike Machado is term-limited, Republican Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian had a big fundraising lead: his $501,642 warchest is substantially more than the $108,263 Democratic Assemblywoman Lois Wolk has in the bank, according to campaign finance records filed with the Secretary of State on Monday.

Republicans view the 5th district as one of their best chances for a pickup. The San Joaquin-Solano-Yolo-Sacramento seat went Democratic in 2004 by a narrow 52%-48% margin.

Outside California, the name Mervyn Dymally means nothing, but since 1966, Merv has been in the public life in the State. Elected as California’s first African American State Senator, Merv became Lt. Governor under Jerry Brown. Defeated for re-election in 1982, Merv went on to unseat Democratic Congressman Charlie Wilson (not the Texas Charlie Wilson, the one Tom Hanks played in the movie) to serve a few terms in Congress before becoming the Ambassador to a forgettable Caribbean country.