Is Pougnet's congressional gambit a mistake?
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Desert Observer's Page - Is Pougnet's congressional gambit a mistake? Palm Springs, California. Palm Springs mayor Steve Pougnet has declared he's now an official candidate running against incumbent 45th Congressional District representative Mary Bono Mack. Mayor Pougnet has expressed no plans to step down from his current position in order to run for another office and will add campaign duties to his already crowded activities schedule. It appears the mayor will be a very busy man for quite some time. |
The City of Palm Springs upped the salary for it's mayor to $40,000 in recognition of the time and energy requirements on the individual holding the office. The job of mayor is an executive position with lots of responsibility and the city council, along with the mayor at its head, has a full plate of important issues. Whether it's the reported $12 million budget shortfall, tourism slowdown, the vacant Desert Fashion Plaza shopping mall, downtown storefront vacancies, neighborhood needs, crime, expensive street resurfacing or local effects of the economic slowdown, residents look to city leadership to provide solutions. Residents expect their mayor to devote as much time as possible in dealing with the many responsibilities that go with the position. It's probable few would include running for congress as an acceptable addition to the list of mayoral job activities.
The decision of mayor Steve Pougnet, in office less than 17 months, to devote time over the next 18 months to running for a seat in congress may not sit well with his constituents. He campaigned on a platform of promises that included early resolution of the empty Desert Fashion Plaza site. That promise remains unfulfilled and The Desert Sun in an editorial showed it's lack of confidence in his leadership by recommending that a mediator be brought in to help find a solution to the Desert Fashion Plaza impasse. That recommendation appears to have been ignored and few expect to see early solutions to the downtown business district's economic needs. Campaign promises need to be met and a successful candidate should be able to tout a list of important, successful accomplishments from his time in office. Failures don't count!
The 45th Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Mary Bono Mack. She's held the office since 1998 and her name recognition is extremely high. The district is solidly Republican and she won reelection last November 58% to 41% over Democratic challenger Julie Bornstein. The underfunded Bornstein candidacy proved the difficulty a Democrat faces in challenging the incumbent, even in 2008, a year with a heavy voter turnout that allowed Barack Obama, at the top of the ticket, to win a majority of the county vote. The 2010 election is not expected to equal the 2008 turnout and lowered voter interest usually favors Republican candidates. In 2010 a successful Democratic candidate will need lots of money, high name recognition, a very favorable image, and a bit of luck wouldn't hurt.
The big gorilla in the room facing a Pougnet for Congress candidacy, not mentioned in politically correct circles, is the same-sex gay marriage issue. A big majority of Riverside County voters remain steadfastly opposed to same-sex marriage and candidate Pougnet is on the opposite of the fence in that issue. He took advantage of the Supreme Court decision to wed his male partner, performed numerous same-sex marriages and is a strong advocate for same-sex marriages to be made completely legal. This is an issue that will probably have its own spot on the 2010 ballot, but it's a safe bet same-sex marriage won't receive majority support in Riverside County in 2010 and maybe not even in 2012. If anything, this county is Rush Limbaugh country, and a gay, Democratic, same-sex advocate running for congress faces the equivalent of a Mt. Everest climb. It's one that needs experience, financial support and, most assuredly, lots of luck. Under such circumstances, there's not much reason to believe Pougnet will succeed in his quest.
There may be additional fallout resulting from mayor Pougnet's campaign for another political office. The time spent away from his mayoral duties campaigning for congress may be held against him by resentful constituents. He could end up getting blamed for unresolved problems by those who will believe inattention to his duties while campaigning to be the cause. The fallout may occur during his 2011 campaign for reelection as mayor, for his foray into the congressional race could give a challenger enough political ammunition to satisfy voters that another, with limited political ambitions, would do a better job.
"Is Pougnet's congressional gambit a mistake?"
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Posted by Desert Observer at 4/30/2009 3:19 PM 
Categories: Opinion
Tags: Palm Springs 45th CD Politics
Categories: Opinion
Tags: Palm Springs 45th CD Politics
I agree 100% with your arguments. I do not buy the argument of those that say that Pougnet is "too inexperienced" , (after all what was Mary Bono's "experience" before she was elected ?), but I do agree Pougnet has not even finished one term as mayor and doesn't seem to have accomplished much. He should slow down a bit, get out of the Palm Springs echo chamber, and take a hard look at the numbers.
This is a very difficult district for a Democrat to win in. My feeling is if it couldn't be done after 8 years of Bush and economic meltdown, it's not going to be done in 2010. Even though Bono's numbers seem to come down in every election and more and more moderate folks are voting in the desert, it will take some time before it changes.
I also agree with your analysis of the "gay issue". Sad but true, there are plenty of people in our area who will hold it against Pougnet as a married gay man with two kids. The prejudice won't be overt, but it will be there. Especially if there is a Prop on the ballot to reverse Prop 8.
I remember driving to LAX last October and even before I reached Redlands the number of vehicles with "Yes On Prop 8" stickers surprised me. The ratio was about the same as "No on 8" signs one saw in Palm Springs. That is what I mean by living in the Palm Springs echo chamber.
In addition let's not forget , although it pains me to say it, Bono could be a lot worse (for a Republican), on gay issues. She has been able to manipulate her support on issues like Hate crime legislation and AIDS funding into something more than it is without getting the wackos angry.
Can Bono be beat ? I sure hope so but not sure Pougnet is the one to do it.
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Pougnet has done NOTHING to help bring business to Palm Springs. It appears he is attempting to use he Mayoral position as a springboard to higher office. He along with FOAT and MILLS do not get our family's vote
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