Election Rhetoric Heats Up at Republican Fundraiser

Republican candidates for local state and congressional seats who won their party's nomination in the June 5 primary ramped up their election rhetoric this weekend at a fundraiser held by the Mountain View Republican Club.

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Jack Orswell, who is running against Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu for the 27th District, spoke at the event, which was held at Claremont City Council Member Corey Calaycay's ranch on Base Line Road.

Orswell tried to draws differnces between himself and Chu on the economy and religion. 

"She was one of eight members of Congress that voted against the resolution affirming the motto of the United States is 'In God we trust,' so that kind of shows you the difference," Orswell said. 

"So we have a tremendous difference in philosophy. We have a whole lot of differences on taxation and the economy and building jobs."

Gil Gonzales, a Pitzer College alumni and political consultant who is running against incumbent Democrat Carol Liu for the 25th State Senate District, spoke out against his opponent. 

"People are tired of Carol Liu. No doubt about it," Gonzales said.

Gonzales noted that he was working hard not only to reach out to his Republican base in the area, but to Democrats who are frustrated with the economy.

"Democrats need jobs just as much as we do," Gonzales said. "Democrats want access to quality education just as much as we do."

State Assmeblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, who was recently charged with illegal possession of loaded firearm after trying to take a handgun onto an airplane in January, also attended the event as a guest speaker.

Donnelly, a staunch conservative, railed against the passage of the Dream Act, which was signed into law last year.

"I stood up and said we're not going to tolerate this Dream Act," Donnelly said.

"We're going to repeal it. It's taking money we don't have. We're going to tax you to give illegals a college dream, instead of our kids."

Donnelly also rallied for the candidates at the event, pleading the attendees to support them through donations and volunteering.

"We shot down the enemy time and time and time again," Donnelly said, speaking of Republican victories in the primary vote.

"I've got candidates out there you've never even heard that ran for school board in Orange County. We got a guy on there who's a hardcore Christian conservative. We got people like Donna Lowe who went against the establishment and tons and tons of money spent and now she's in the race. She's in for the fight of her life…they are going to target that seat. There's going to be a million dollars spent in that seat, I guarantee you. Because as she gets closer and closer, they're going to take out their .50 calibre machine guns…and they're going to spray attacks at her."

During his speech, Donnelly campaigned hardest for Donna Lowe, another Republican candidate who was in attendance. Lowe is running for the hotly contested 41st State Assembly District. Like Donnelly, Lowe is running as an outspoken conservative. 

Claremont City Council Member Opanyi Nasiali was also in attendance.