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McClintock's foe making residence an election issue
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State Sen.Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, announces his candidacy to run for the Republican nomination to fill the seat of retiring Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville in Auburn, Calif., Tuesday, March 4, 2008.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
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More from Conejo ValleyDuring the great gubernatorial recall campaign of 2003, state Sen. Tom McClintock made a statewide name for himself by evoking his nostalgic vision for a return to California's Golden Age. He talked often about the home in Thousand Oaks his parents purchased in 1965.
"On a modest income, they bought a four-bedroom, ranch-style home with a 40-foot swimming pool," McClintock often said during his unsuccessful run for governor. "They bought that home for $35,000."
Five years later, McClintock is running in a tough Republican primary campaign for Congress in a Northern California district that stretches from the Sacramento suburbs to the Oregon border. And that home in Thousand Oaks has again become a key part of the campaign.
The difference is, this time it's McClintock's opponent who keeps bringing it up.
Former Congressman Doug Ose is trying to make political hay by asking voters in Roseville, Tahoe City, Susanville and points north: If McClintock lives down there, why is he asking to represent you up here? And if he doesn't live down there, why has he been accepting special pay for out-of-town legislators designed to compensate them for their living expenses in Sacramento?
McClintock is registered to vote at his mother's house in Thousand Oaks. Although he and his wife spend nearly all their time at their home in the Sacramento suburb of Elk Grove, it is the residency in Thousand Oaks that makes him eligible to serve as the state senator representing Ventura County's 19th Senate District.
He must keep that as his residency to finish his final term in the Senate, so on June 3, McClintock will be unable to vote for himself in the congressional district he seeks to represent.
Ose, a multimillionaire who is largely self-funding a $1 million-plus campaign, has saturated television airwaves with one commercial that depicts McClintock as a man with a shopping cart traversing California in search of a new job, and another that assails him for accepting more than $300,000 in tax-free per-diem pay as a legislator, even though he actually lives just 14 miles from the Capitol.
"It turns out Tom McClintock doesn't live in the house where he's registered to vote," the announcer says. "His mother does."
The issues of McClintock's true residency and his acceptance of per-diem pay aren't new. They were raised in 1996 when McClintock, after a four-year hiatus from the Legislature and having moved to the Sacramento area, returned to Ventura County to campaign again for his old seat.
Voters in Ventura County paid the issue little heed.
Former Republican Central Committee Chairwoman Leslie Cornejo of Oxnard, who helped organize a 2006 event inducting McClintock into the Ventura County Republican Hall of Fame, said the residency issue was always a point of some concern.
"He was always able to operate within the technicality of the law," she said. "But it really did annoy some people that he basically lived in a mailbox in Ventura County."
Cornejo said there is poetic irony in the fact that his official residency in Thousand Oaks has become a liability in a campaign for Congress in a district near his actual home.
"It may hurt him in reverse for having insisted he is from Southern California," she said.
Bob Larkin of Westlake Village, one of McClintock's opponents in the 1996 Assembly primary, said Ventura County voters would have cared if only the media had called greater attention to the issue.
"The voters didn't give him a pass," Larkin said. "The Star has never made a big deal of the issue, and one would have thought that it would. To draw that per-diem when you live 10 miles from where you work, that's a welfare cheat anyway you look at it."
McClintock's longtime supporters in Ventura County disagree. They say McClintock, who was raised in Thousand Oaks and represented the county in the Legislature for a decade before moving away, long ago established his bona fides as a representative of the district.
"My wife and I have known Tom since he was in intermediate school," Thousand Oaks Councilman Dennis Gillette said.
"I don't feel that the per-diem issue really resonated in this county," Gillette said. "Tom McClintock is perceived as very intelligent and an accomplished legislator. I can't see him, given his integrity, doing something that he thought was inappropriate."
Julie Chase, a board member of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, agreed. "It's not a concern of mine. He's a competent and ethical guy. He's not breaking the law."
McClintock has never hidden his preference for living near the Capitol while representing Ventura County. He said he did it for his family, and that being a full-time legislator didn't require him to become "a part-time father."
He seems perplexed that Ose would try to make such an issue of it now.
During a debate last month, McClintock assailed his opponent for raising the issue.
"For you to bring this up during a campaign speaks of a recklessness and desperation that I until now have not correctly calculated," he told Ose.
Based on county and state records, the facts of McClintock's residence and per-diem circumstances are these:
Since 2000, he has been registered to vote at a Thousand Oaks home owned by the McClintock Family Trust. He purchased a home in Elk Grove in 2004 and sold a Newbury Park home in 2005.
During the years he has represented Ventura County and lived near Sacramento, he has routinely accepted the $170 per-day payment that legislators receive as compensation for having to maintain two households. Many lawmakers who live in and represent areas near Sacramento accept no per-diem pay.
However, each year McClintock has collected about $30,000 in per-diem pay, topped by $36,012 last year, when the Senate spent an extra month in the Capitol as the result of a budget stalemate. The money is in addition to his $114,000 annual salary as a senator. McClintock's per-diem payments are not subject to income tax.
In many respects, McClintock is unique among lawmakers in that after four campaigns for statewide office, he has developed a constituency that encompasses all of California. At this year's state Republican Party convention, activists who were urging McClintock to seek the Northern California congressional seat carried placards calling him "California's Congressman."
McClintock's standard response to the residency issue is that voters "care more about where a candidate stands than where he lives."
— Scripps-McClatchy News Service contributed to this story.
Posted by sokol_kiev on May 7, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess they do come dumber, jw1000, as I agree with Caucasiod! And I'm a support of Tom McClintock's.
It's a true shame that you, jw1000, constantly resort to cheap, immature name-calling just because someone may not agree with your particular point of view. Hummm... sounds like the same tactics McClintock's opponent, Ose, is using! Try sticking to actual facts and less name petty name calling jw1000. And when you start stating something of relevance, readers will start paying attention to your posts.
Posted by KatieTeague on May 7, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tom McClintock can't have it both ways. I had no idea until about 2 years ago that he didn't really live here. I was very dismayed to read that he has been collecting the per diem check. That shows a lack of integrity and now I find I can't trust him on the bigger issues.
Posted by shaver_one on May 7, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Think about it this way:
If McCintock loses his election up North, he may be forced to sell his Sacramento-area house and move BACK to Ventura County.
Posted by jdub17 on May 7, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Like the article said, McClintock stated that he was a family man when he ran for the Senate. Being a state senator requires the legislator to be in Sacramento Monday-Thursday. When they travel home Thursday evening until Sunday they are busy attending events and meetings in the district. So, we should be glad to be represented by a senator who hold such strong family values.
Also, State Senators do not receive a pension. So, even if McClintock did not use the per diem pay to travel back to the district as much as expected or to maintain a second home in the district, I think he is entitled to that amount anyway.
Lastly, Doug Ose does not live in the 4th congressional district either! He was a congressman for the 3rd congressional seat. Sounds like Ose is shopping for a district.
If Gallegly wouldn't have run again, McClintock would have certainly ran down here.
Posted by THX1138 on May 7, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
IMO, Were he actually lives makes little difference. If most of what he does takes place at the state capitol it makes sense to have a home there too.
It would be nice if candidates would focus on issues rather than trying to dig up dirt on others.
Posted by Mr_E_Man on May 7, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem isn't that McClintock lives elsewhere. The problem is that he is collecting money for living in Ventura County, although he clearly lives near Sacramento.
That is theft, plain and simple. And since he likely had to submit paperwork to collect the per diem, it might also be construed as fraud.
Posted by horsespinner on May 7, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Your missing the point, dump dems and the GOP, vote for anyone except them. The Govenator was not a member of either party when he started, and was OK. Now he is a member of both, and look what we got now. Dump them all
Posted by wfallen on May 7, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
One word. Carpetbagger! McClintock has never held a job in the real world. He prefers feeding at the public trough to working for a living.
Those of us who oppose him should write letters to the editor of the community newspapers in that district letting the people there know the truth about Traveling Tom.
Besides being a carpetbagger, he is way out of touch with reality, and represents the lunatic right wing fringe of the Republican party.
Posted by moondoggie on May 7, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
McClintock is a phony, through and through. How sad it is that a man who once had integrity would rip off the taxpayers using what he determined to be a loophole. In fact, it isn't a loophole, it is a crime and Tom should make sure he keeps a good supply of soap-on-a-rope.
Posted by jdub17 on May 7, 2008 at 4:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jw...i hope you're just playing devil's advocate b/c the stuff that you write is just pure insanity. Where is your proof to back your stuff up? You just make obscure comments w/out any proof. You wrote above and in many past comments things about the Stricklands like: "If you think Tom is bad just wait until you study up on Audra and Tony Strickland!!!!" WHAT? What are your direct concerns and allegations? Where is your proof?
Do you write this stuff in between warming up your Hot Pockets and playing video games?
Posted by jdub17 on May 7, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Again, no direct answer...that's what liberals do best- NEVER GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER!!!
Posted by Face on May 7, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is common, remember Lorreta Sanchez? They all do it, nothing new here. Next.
Posted by Face on May 7, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We should stop voting and do it the Democrat way.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - What will it take for a Democratic presidential candidate to win the support of California superdelegate Steven Ybarra?
Say, $20 million.
The Democratic National Committee member doesn't parse his words when it comes to what he wants from Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton - an ironclad promise to spend that heady amount to register Mexican-American voters and get them to the polls in November.
In a telephone interview Wednesday, he said he plans to remain undecided in the tight contest until "someone shows me the money."
When will he settle on a candidate?
"Nobody showed me any money yet," he said.
He's not kidding. To Ybarra, a Sacramento lawyer, the stakes are no less than winning the presidency in November.
He predicted that as many as 1.3 million Mexican-Americans could be added to voter rolls in New Mexico, Colorado, Florida and other swing states, a potentially decisive edge for the eventual Democratic nominee.
With that investment of funds, Mexican-Americans would realize Democratic leaders "care about us," Ybarra said, referring to Mexican-Americans.
Is $20 million a lot to ask?
Posted by johnjgriffin on May 7, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Who is Audra?"
mm: Have you been living in a cave? She is one half of the Strickland team of professional politicians who are entrenched in the 37th District. Tony represented Thousand Oaks in the Assembly until he termed-out. He then handed the seat over to his wife, Audra. She will be termed-out if she wins in Nov. Both are political allies of McKlintock. I have no doubt that they even swap notes about how best to rip-off California taxpayers. Audra has sure learned how to take unfair advantage of the franking priviliges (free mail) just before the election. It's truly shameful that we cannot seem to produce best-of-breed elected representatives from our generally affluent and educated community.
Posted by kdmven on May 7, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Democrat Jill Martinez doesn't live in the congressional district she is running in: she lives in Oxnard outside the district. When does the Star make any mention of that?
Posted by jenwilliams1781 on May 7, 2008 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Audra was a teacher before an assemblywoman...how does that make her a career politician?
Posted by sparks240 on May 7, 2008 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Next time any of these political con artists tells us that there is no money and they need to cut services/raise taxes, vote them out.
Posted by Face on May 7, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Throw them out, keep them in. The only thing that CHANGEs is which pocket the special interests need to fill.
Posted by sokol_kiev on May 7, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not quite article related... but I have to give a shout out to Mmshoot for his posts.
sokol_kiev accuses mmshoot of making me laugh hysterically with his extremely funny comments.
Next charge?
Posted by Face on May 7, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh Look! An article about Clinton-Obama we can comment on! I'm outtie
Posted by Tony95683 on May 7, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ose lives in a glass house for he lives in Woodland, many miles from the 3rd Congressional District.
Ose is attacking Tom for being a carpetbagger and
quess what he is one too!
Tony Andrade
Posted by Tom_Johnston on May 7, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
McClintock is a phony. His actions is seeking to keep his privleged job as a legislator...I guess that is a job...say it all.
Honestly I have, and would have liked to continue to see him as a True Believer, even though I don't agree with him much.
He isn't. He is a phony. I don't think he's ever had a real job and is desperate to keep the quasi-job he's had as a "legislator".
I'm not a conservative by any means, but I respect those of true vision and principle. Names like Barry Goldwater, Ron Paul, and even though flawed Ronald Reagen come to mind.....you can strike McClintock from that list forever.
My guess is that the Strickland syndicate won't be far behind.
Posted by dragstripgirl on May 8, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Get over it people. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but if you dislike a politician, don't vote for him/her.
I, personally, will support McClintock in whatever he chooses to do. He is an intellegent business man, in my opinion and deserves the job. I think that he would be successful in any district.
Posted by jdub17 on May 8, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mmshoot...FYI- that link you gave for the district that you said Ose represents is actually the 4th Congressional district. That is the district he & McClintock are running for, not the one he formerly represented which was the 3rd district. The weblink you provdied is Ose's campaign website.
So to be fair and balanced, here is Tom McClintock's campaign website: http://www.tommcclintock.com/
Posted by bugmenot on May 8, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jw1000,
I question not only your intelligence, but also your familiarity with this site and with the internet in general. I submit to you several links that are only vaguely related to my point as concrete evidence that you are wrong.
I contest that it is your words and opinions that are akin to the nazis. I further suggest that you are an over-enthusiastic fanatic of the institution that you are defending and hence your opinion is irrelevant.
I speculate as to what news stations you watch, what music you probably listen to and what you probably do with your spare time. I also suggest that you are single and probably cohabitating with your parents.
I end this post with a declaration that I will not be replying to your retorts even though in actuality, I will!!!
I also critique minor spelling and grammatical errors in your post.
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