When informed businesses are importing foreign workers that can actually read English while the government run schools fail to teach American kids how to spell, Perata lambasted business instead of poor school performance, “What the hell kind of sense does that make,” he railed while pounding the podium with a shoe.

Here’s a good one: “Can we afford to pay more taxes,” Perata asked? “No. But do we have to pay more? Yes, and we will.” If this guy keeps answering his own questions like this, California will be bankrupt before the guys in the white coats come with the meds.

Perata and his thralls in the Assembly have built the structural budget mess California is currently in by spending $400 million to $600 million a month more than it takes in.

There have been no surprises so far in the filing of nomination papers for the June 3 primary election. The top candidates, even with few incumbents running, were pretty much decided when Prop. 93, the term limits extension, failed in February. Most of these had announced their intentions last year.

The February election left all five of the incumbents in legislative districts in the county termed out of their respective offices as of early December. Three of the five are seeking to switch legislative houses. State Sen. Don Perata of Oakland is collecting funds for a run at the State Board of Equalization in two years. Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, is going down the ladder, looking for a seat on the county Board of Supervisors.

Candidates have until this 5 p.m. this Friday, March 7, to complete their nomination papers and turn them in, except in the cases where incumbents do not file for re-election. They then have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 12.

Candidates in the county’s three congressional districts will all have to file by this Friday, since all the incumbents are seeking re-election. All are multi-county districts, so the list here is incomplete, including only Contra Costa candidates.

In addition to the partisan primaries, voters will decide three county supervisor seats , nine Superior Court judgeships and seats on political party county central committees. None of the nine incumbent judges is being opposed so far.

As of last Friday, most candidates for partisan office or supervisor have taken out nomination papers, but have not filed them to get on the ballot. The Contra Costa Elections Office listed the following candidates. Other would-be candidates can take out papers and complete filing by Friday or, in the case of extensions, March 12. (*=incumbent)

CONGRESS
7th District
(not including Solano County portions)
Democrat — *George Miller, D-Martinez
Republican — Virginia O. Fuller-Kendall, Pinole
— Roger A. Peterson, Clayton (filed final papers)
Libertarian — Camden McConnell, Pittsburg
Peace & Freedom — William Callison

10th District
(not including Alameda, San Joaquin and other county portions)
Democrat — *Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo
Republican — David Peterson, Walnut Creek
— Nicholas Gerber, Moraga (filed final papers)
Peace & Freedom — Eugene Ruyle, Oakland

11th District
(not including Alameda, San Joaquin and other county portions)
Democrat — *Jerald McNerney, D-Pleasanton
(Republicans and others are expected to file in other counties.)

STATE SENATE
7th District
(*Tom Torlakson not running)
Democrat — Mark DeSaulnier, Concord
Joe Canciamilla, Pittsburg

9th District
(not including full Alameda County filings)
(* Don Perata not filing)
Peace & Freedom — Marsha Feinland, Berkeley
Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, and former Assemblywoman Wilma Change are expected to be the main candidates.)

ASSEMBLY
11th District
(* Mark DeSaulnier not running)
Democrat — Tom Torlakson, Antioch

14th District
(not including Alameda County filings)
(* Guy Houston not running)
Democrat — Joan Buchanan, Alamo
— Stephen Filson, Danville
— Ted Ford, Walnut Creek (filed final papers)
— Seven Thomas, Danville
Republican — Abram Wilson, San Ramon
Judy Lloyd, Danville

COUNTY SUPERVISOR
2nd District
*Gayle Uilkema, Lafayette

3rd District
*Mary Nejedly Piepho, Discovery Bay
Guy Houston, San Ramon

5th District
*Federal Glover, Pittsburg
Donald Parscal, Brentwood
Erik Nunn, Oakley
Gary Agopian, Antioch

Information on the filings in Contra Costa County can be obtained from the elections office at (925) 335-7800.

Filing papers which are available to the public include state and local candidates’ declarations of intent to run, pledges to stay within state or local voluntary mandated funding limits, conflict of interest statements and other materials. Congressional candidates file only nomination papers locally. Other requirements are met with filings with the Federal Elections Commission or the House of Representatives.

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Pat Keeble is former Political Editor of Lesher Newspapers, Inc., now known as Contra Costa Newspapers, and is editor and publisher of her own online news site Contra Costa Insider.

The debate will take place at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, and starts at 8:00 p.m. after a half-hour business meeting of the Club. Admission is $5; bring a dessert to share. For more information call 925-210-7337 or visit www.lamorindademoclub.com for more information.