The following is a press release we received yesterday regarding the 46th Congressional District Democratic Primary.
Seal Beach native Dan Kalmick (D) is pleased to formally announce his run for Congress in California’s 46th district. The 25-year-old business leader’s campaign for the House of Representatives seat began on Jan. 17, making him the first democrat to set out to unseat the incumbent, Dana Rohrabacher (R).
“Public service is a Kalmick family value,” said Kalmick, who has worked as a business technology consultant from the time he was 11. “I decided to run after several of my clients expressed dissatisfaction with the status quo in Washington, particularly over the policies of Congressman Rohrabacher. With so many people wanting change, it seemed like a good time to step up and do my part to serve America; and with young people energized and getting to the polls this year, I thought I’d go a step further.”
Before he can win that seat and start serving America, Kalmick will have to defeat fellow Democrat and Huntington Beach Mayor, Debbie Cook, who recently got into the race. “I welcome the challenge,”Kalmick said.
“One of the reasons it was important for me to run was because it’s undemocratic for an incumbent to run unopposed. The same holds true for primaries. The voters deserve an election with real choices, and being the only candidate with complete, comprehensive plans on truly national issues, I think I represent a pretty good choice.”
Those plans involve lowering taxes for all working Americans, ensuring that each American has proper and adequate healthcare, and making education affordable again.
“These goals can be achieved by broadening America’s tax base, which can be accomplished by providing legal opportunities for immigrants to work and pay taxes in America, and by making sure that our economy encourages innovation rather than discouraging it,” Kalmick said.
According to Kalmick, this innovation will be fueled by green industries and responsible technology regulations that unburden small businesses and individuals.
For more information on Kalmick’s positions, or to donate or volunteer, visit www.kalmick2008.com.
I’m confused. Maybe that’s because its too early in the morning for me to string thoughts together. Here’s what I gleaned from his release. He wants there to be a genuine race in both the general and the primary. He joins Debbie Cook, a Democrat, already declared and running. How can he be the first Democrat in the race? I’m not suggesting he’s dishonorable or anything else negative. All I’m saying is I’m confused.
This person needs to drop out of the race and run for a local seat first. Just because you can make a snazzy website does not mean you should be running against a well liked Democrat who has done more for the party.
Mr. Kalmick, do not embark on this mission. It is only going to hurt your standing in the party, not help it.
Now I’m confused.
Apart from showing up at this year’s convention to announce her candidacy, can anybody tell me exactly what Debbie Cook has ever done for the party?
Lovable C– That’s a clever comment. Interesting to see what comes up in a response. Watch out though, they will say you’re going negative.
Debbie Cook has been a leader among councilmembers on a number of issues. Specifically environmental and energy issues. She has led activities to address power generation and socially responsible solutions.
Her longtime involvement in discussions on housing and services to OC residents is real. This sounds like a nice young man, but we need to take our B-1 Dan, we need Debbie’s background and experiance to get it done. The party needs to take these battles seriously, this is the year we can take out a real wingnut. I’m writing my check out to Debbie’s campaign as soon as I fire this off…
BTW, did Dan get his papers filed? How many signatures did he submit? While not that critical, its a good indicator of how wide the support is for a candidate. Especially important with one who we have not heard of before in OC politics.
Debbie has fought for environmental issues in HB for the better part of two decades.
She also sings at the Flag Day events… What have you done?
Sounds like Debbie has done some good work on the HB city council.
I’m not saying a person should be a party hack in order to run. Those types tend to make poor candidates.
My question was in response to Anon@9:02 am who asserted that Dan Kalmick should not “be running against a well liked Democrat who has done more for the party.”
So my inquiry (not attack) was to find out what Ms. Cook has done for the party (as claimed). I’ll concede that she must be well liked to get herself elected in HB.
So far singing at Flag Day doesn’t impress me.
I’m mixed on this one. I believe everyone who thinks they can represent citizens should be able to run. That’s why we have a primary. That said, Dan should ensure that he runs a serious campaign, since his presence takes resources away that will be needed in the general by the winner, should he not win. I have not heard of him before, and Debbie is well-known in Huntington Beach and has a solid track record.
To Bill, I believe that Dan did formally announce his intention to run in January, while Debbie did it in early February at the local convention. To me, though, that’s just semantics on this part.
I don’t know Dan, so I’ll hear him out. But my gut tells me I’d prefer that he use his skills and energies to support the campaign of the person with more political experience and record of achievement for many people in the district. That’s going to be key in any challenge to Rohrabacher.
Apologies to Dan K., I did of course mean we need to take out B1-Dana!
I’ve heard Debbie speak at engagements and I was not impressed. i’m registered as an Independent and make up a large portion of a base that Debbie needs in order to unseat Dana. Honestly, I think she’d get destroyed by him in an open debate. She doesn’t seem to have the mental recall to conjure up references to specific studies that she uses in her arguments. If she’s to win, why not engage in an open discourse with Dan and hone her not-so-strong debate skills? If nothing else, his candidacy should be seen as beneficial.
And last I checked, the measure that Debbie was pushing for in City Council (pet licenses) fell through. Really?
Vanessa, I’ve checked you out and you’re pretty obviously Dan Kalmick’s girlfriend. Would you please disclose that in all your future comments here? Thanks.
I’ve witnessed Debbie presenting and speaking off the cuff to large ballrooms filled with people (mostly Republican) and she does quite well. Debbie speaks about very specific issues while showing respect for alternative opinions. This would be a welcome change from Dana R.’s slash and burn style of debate.
and BTW I’m nobody’s girlfriend or boyfriend and don’t consult for SunCal!
It’s Jill Hardy who sings so beautifully at various events.
Although Debbie isn’t a singer, she was a college athlete, PTO President, Neighborhood Watch volunteer, and small business owner before she became a grassroots activist, and later an elected official who ably represents her community, locally and regionally.
Mayor Cook represents the values of this district and inspires volunteers. Her history in the district is the perfect antithesis of Dana Rohrabacher, a dope-smoking college slacker who has never had a real job in his life, and has been in Washington for twenty-eight years.
Dan Kalmick is a very intelligent young man, with well-articulated positions on issues, but he’s challenging one of the region’s true grassroots heroes, who started her activist career in 1989 leading a group that gathered 18,000 signatures to put an initiative on the ballot to protect parks and beaches from commercial development. Measure C passed with 75% of the vote, and Debbie’s been winning battles and elections since then.
Congress at 25? How about State Assembly first or State Senate
The fact that nearly every elected Democratic official in Orange County including Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, as well as leaders from throughout Southern California, have endorsed Debbie is a testament to the leadership abilities and the respect that her colleagues have in her.
These endorsements speak volumes and they don’t come lightly. It’s not easy to find Democratic candidates in Orange County who are viable and have a record of winning votes across the political spectrum in one of the most Republican cities in Orange County.
In fact, in her 2004 city council re-election, Debbie received the most votes of any candidate and 10,575 more votes than the nearest competitor. She’s a proven vote getter.
But besides being supported by all these elected officials, and winning elections decisively, she’s a PTO mom and small business owner who became a grassroots warrior with a lengthy record of accomplishment.
In 1989, she led a citizens movement from her living room to get 18,000 signatures for an initiative to save parks and beaches that won by a three-to-one margin, despite a heavy spending nasty campaign to defeat it.
To circumvent the measure, the HB city council fast-tracked a proposal to build a massive retail development in the place where Pier Plaza is today. The Coastal Commission approved it and Debbie sued the Coastal Commission and won a settlement that prevented the development on the beach.
Later, Debbie was part of a team of Bolsa Chica Land Trust lawyers that sued the Coastal Commission and set precedent that protects wetlands throughout California.
On the City Council, Debbie once again stepped to the forefront and led efforts that stopped the Orange County Sanitation District from dumping untreated waste into the ocean.
She was influential in HB becoming one of only seven cities in Orange County to pass the U.S. Mayor’s Agreement on Climate Protection.
And if that isn’t enough, she’s an respected speaker on the impending energy gap, giving presentations across the country and internationally.
Her record speaks for itself. Unlike Dana Rohrabacher, a career politician whom taxpayers have been supporting for nearly 30 years, while doing nothing but running his mouth and grandstanding for talk radio, Debbie has been working hard and getting results.
She fought public corruption while Dana was accepting gifts and going on junkets with Jack Abramoff and Tom Delay.
She is exactly the right person to send to Congress so the residents and cities of the 46th Congressional District can finally get the representation they need.
(Also I’m living proof that Debbie has really good taste in planning commissioners.)
Funny, i met Dan the other night, Seems like a bright guy, a nice guy, a bit too serious. I checked out his website, pretty dry. And that picture (the one posted above) is so corny. He needs to loosen up.