ELECTION 2014 | ASSEMBLY | 18TH DISTRICT | After just a year in Sacramento, Assemblymember Rob Bonta is firmly entrenched within the Democratic leadership. In fact, a few tweaks here and a few arm pulls here and Bonta could have been in the conversation to become the next speaker. That job went to Southern California Assemblymember Toni Atkins. But, for the time being, no Democrat will dare challenge Bonta in the 18th District. However, a tough-talking libertarian with a biting sense of humor wants a shot.
San Leandro’s David Erlich is often seen at City Council meeting with a wicked Tea Party rejoinder ready for launch during the public comment period. In recent years he’s sort of taken over the mantle of town naysayer once belonging to the irascible Lou Filipovich, who passed away last year. Erlich, however, doesn’t badger staff or admonish council members with a crooked pointing of the finger like Filipovich. “I know what you’re up to,” Filipovich often said in the best old codger voice you would expect from a person who ran for every office from Congress to City Council and lost over two dozen times.
This week, as the San Leandro City Council heard a report from its Washington lobbyist, Erlich couldn’t help himself as he listened to the list of various federal grants potentially available to the city. “Let’s have a little fun with this, tonight,” Erlich declared, as he appeared before the council in an orange t-shirt evoking thoughts he had just escaped from Santa Rita. Joking aside, Erlich has honed his small government message over the past few years railing against the massive regional housing and transportation plan, known as Plan Bay Area. (Watch video below of Erlich speaking last Monday.)
“We’re actually going to the federal government and asking for money and we’re $17 trillion in debt,” he said. “We’re like hooked on heroin.” Later, Erlich criticized a comment made earlier by the city’s legislative lobbyist about President Obama using executive powers to move forward certain policies. “That’s no longer a president, that’s a dictator,” he said. “Maybe it’s a good thing we have a little gridlock in Washington.”
Near the end of his two-minutes, however, Erlich said instead of seeking grants from what he called a bankrupt federal government, the city should be fiscally self-sustainable. Erlich, in fact, might be running for the wrong office. In 2010, Stephen Cassidy upset the sitting mayor in San Leandro by employing the same rhetoric. Where was Cassidy last Monday night? He was in Washington with hundreds of other U.S. mayors bending over backwards in hopes of bringing home a little piece of the federal pie.
I've heard Erlich speak before——what a joke. He has two chances——slim and none. None is the Vegas odds on favorite.
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The Democrat political machine runs haywire here. We need a conservative with good old fashioned values. Erlich seems to be willing to speak truth to power, and it's about time.
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Erlich is a joke and Bonta won't even consider him a viable opponent. If you think Rob Bonta is worried, you are as mental as Erlich.
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Erlich is a joke and Bonta won't even consider him a viable opponent. If you think Rob Bonta is worried, you are as mental as Erlich.
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Wow that's 2 votes for the looney tune Erlich. I'm sure Bonta's shaking in his boots. LOL
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I'm convinced. Will be voting for Dave Erlich.
Enough already. You got my vote!
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Election prediction is Rob Bonta 80%, Extreme right-wing Tea Party Erlich 20%. Almost all are extremely happy with Rob. If you ever heard Erlich talk you would know he's a looney tune.
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Thanks to Dave for NOT packing in the ass!
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David “ha ha” Erlich…………..What a Nut…………..No chance!
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Wow! They're shitting in their pants over Dave Erlich. He gets our support.
Great man, Dave Erlich!
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You heard wrong! He's a wacko Republican like Lou Filipovich and those of us who have heard him talk know he's even loonier than the Tea Party.
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David is a “has no chance” joke and a candidate for a mental hospital.
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David MR tea Party erlich=20%. Rob Bonta=80%. LMAO
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You heard wrong! He's a wacko Republican like Lou Filipovich and those of us who have heard him talk know he's even loonier than the Tea Party.
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I hear Mr. Erlich is a liberty guy… meaning he'll stand up for your; personal liberties,
free markets,
and smaller government.
There in the Bay you folks could use someone like this “new Republican”
(A challenge to the folks talking about the guy being crazy… check out what he's talking about and prove him wrong)
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Election prediction is Rob Bonta 80%, Extreme right-wing Tea Party Erlich 20%. Almost all are extremely happy with Rob. If you ever heard Erlich talk you would know he's a looney tune.
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I hear Mr. Erlich is a liberty guy… meaning he'll stand up for your; personal liberties,
free markets,
and smaller government.
There in the Bay you folks could use someone like this “new Republican”
(A challenge to the folks talking about the guy being crazy… check out what he's talking about and prove him wrong)
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I've heard Erlich speak before——what a joke. He has two chances——slim and none. None is the Vegas odds on favorite.
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Erlich has NO chance, and the only thing he is—-is mentally unstable. He is a flat-earth society kind of guy.
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I hear Mr. Erlich is a liberty guy… meaning he'll stand up for your; personal liberties,
free markets,
and smaller government.
There in the Bay you folks could use someone like this “new Republican”
(A challenge to the folks talking about the guy being crazy… check out what he's talking about and prove him wrong)
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Erlich is a joke and Bonta won't even consider him a viable opponent. If you think Rob Bonta is worried, you are as mental as Erlich.
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dedicated to whom?
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Bob continues to pack…in the ass.
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Heard him talk in San Leandro and he is a space cadet. Sometimes he doesn't even know what he's talking about.
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David Erlich is a mental midget. He might get 10-20 per cent of the vote at most.
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Heard Erlich speak in Sacramento today maybe he's not such a looney tune after all.
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My family will be supporting Mr. Erlich–good old-fashioned values.
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Election prediction is Rob Bonta 80%, Extreme right-wing Tea Party Erlich 20%. Almost all are extremely happy with Rob. If you ever heard Erlich talk you would know he's a looney tune.
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Bob continues to pack…in the ass.
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Erlich is o.k. Ain't no stinking union whore.
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Heard him talk in San Leandro and he is a space cadet. Sometimes he doesn't even know what he's talking about.
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Election prediction is Rob Bonta 75-80%, Extreme right-wing Erlich 20-25%. Almost all are extremely happy with Rob. If you ever heard Erlich talk you would know he's a looney tune.
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Don't know Dave Erlich, but seems o.k. to me.
At least he won't take one up the ass like Bob does, repeatedly.
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The only stupid ones are you and anyone who would vote for Erlich over Bonta. Thank god there are very few of you.
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Bonta will be re-elected not because he's a great leader and dedicated public servant (cough) but rather because he's the anointed golden boy of the local Democratic machine in a district that is 64% Democratic Party members.
Behind closed doors, many people will tell you they hate Bonta.
Many people in Alameda stupidly voted for Bonta because they wanted him off City Council, not bothering to think about the damage he can do at the state level. But then, we know that voters have short memories, and little foresight.
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Election prediction is Rob Bonta 75-80%, Extreme right-wing Erlich 20-25%.
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Mr. Bonta will have no problem being reelected. He is a strong leader and dedicated public servant.
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Dave Erlich=looney tune. It's not that he's Republican. It's that he's not all there!
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Our city needs some cleaning up! I wish erlich was running for Mayor then we would have some hope for our future in San Leandro. We could use a little economic discipline around here instead of just always trying to get the national government to give us money all the time.
– Tom P.
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Wow some people will say anything thats how much they hate republicans
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You're right. Heard Erlich speak before and thought he had some mental problems.
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David Erlich is the new wacko from San Leandro!
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Want someone with a spine?
Want someone that doesn't have 'goalongitis'?
Not only would you have someone that is actually representing citizens interests…the response, regardless of what happens with Dave's campaign will prove very educational. -James Bennett
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Anybody who thinks erlich can get over 30% of the vote against Bonta is fooling themself.
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David knows what he's talking about. He will be a gift to California, when he gets to Sacramento. Pay attention to him as he continues his attempts to reign-in “out of control” government checkbooks (at all levels) & unelected regional abuse. Thanks David!!
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Lou actually won some republican primaries, but just barely. RIP Lou.
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Orange is the new loser.
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