Summer in California is usually quiet with no real interest in politics.  This year is different - and it's not just the summer heat that's making people delirious.  They want change - and it's not in the form of Barak Obama.

I was part of an incredible team that helped Sam Blakeslee prevail in not just one election, but two in two months.  When I started, few were aware of the Special Primary Election on June 22nd where Blakeslee nearly won the race outright in an 8 point Democrat district.  Sam had help from Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina, and Governor Schwarzenegger. 

In fact, nearly every notable Republican offered some form of assistance.  They backed him wholeheartedly not just because he's a Republican.  Sam represents a new California - he's an innovator and researcher with a deep understanding of budgets and how to rally people towards a common cause.  His impressive record of bi-partisan legislative accomplishments gave voters confidence.

On Saturday night, a crowd of 400 or so GOP stalwarts gathered in Atherton at "The Rising Tide" to see Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina, Damon Dunn and Abram Wilson.  This event, an annual ritual for many years, brings together GOP stalwarts and elite for a fun night of barbecue, dancing, and fun.  For years, the event has been short on real politics and long on fun, largely due to a lack of serious, viable candidates for key positions.

This year was different.  Republicans have two women business icons in Silicon Valley running as heads of their ticket.  Adding flair and common sense were are two amazingly competent African Americans running for Secretary of State and Assembly in the 15th District.  For once, this event wasn't about a bunch of white guy career politicians - instead it focused on achievers who are different, who have solved problems, and who can win.

I know it sounds weird to most progressive Democrats.  It's not like Republicans have shined in California elections with women and minorities.  But - here's the thing.  It's a new California and Republicans somehow seem ready to embrace this change:

Last week, Meg Whitman made an appearance on behalf of Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, the Republican candidate in Senate District 15's Special Election on Tuesday.

The event for Sam was a fundraiser featuring Meg in what I believe may be her first appearance on behalf of a partisan candidate since becoming the Republican nominee for Governor of California.

It took place at the lovely gardens of Peter and Dennise Carter in Los Gatos.  Their home, built in the 1890s, is a lovely old Victorian that they have refurbished. Their neighbor, Mayor Mike Wasserman came by to greet guests and was part of the program.  State Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth was on hand as well as a number of local elected officials and candidates.

Today, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the addition of new jobs "at the fastest pace in a decade" with "the largest gain since March 2000".  

The reality is that the May jobs figure was only boosted by hiring 411,000 temporary public sector government workers for the 10-year count of the U.S. population by the U.S. Census Bureau. The private sector added only 41,000 jobs.  

From 2002 to 2006, I served as the U.S. Labor Department's Regional Representative for California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam, and learned a lot about labor laws and high growth sectors of the economy in our state as well as our neighbors.

As we focus on primaries in California, it appears across the country that voters - sick of politics as usual and career politicians - are staking their claim by voting for newcomers.  

California has always prided itself on its independence.  When you look at the drama that has unfolded in primaries and special elections across the country, it makes you wonder if California Republicans will stake their own independence by voting for new leaders - the likes of Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina - or stick with tried and true career politicians - like Tom Campbell, Chuck DeVore and Steve Poizner.

While you were sleeping on the way to California's June 8th primary, here's what happened:

Meg Whitman hosted a fundraiser in Silicon Valley with some of the most influential political leaders in America on Friday night. Whether you agree with them or not, it is no small task to get former Secretary of State George Schultz, former MA Governor’s Mitt Romney, former FL Governor Jeb Bush, and U.S. Senator John McCain in the same room to talk to titans of technology like Bill Draper, John Chambers, Ray Lane, and John Chen. This is not a passing fancy. Meg is the real deal.

Superstars who have played important roles in past Presidential Administrations from Ford to the current regime were on hand. More than 550 attendees came out on a Friday night to raise another $1.5 million plus to support Meg Whitman.

Secretary of State George Schultz, who served under Reagan, only sang a few bars of “California Here I Come” but reminisced about how Governor Ronald Reagan loved that song as well as the California State song. (What is the CA state song again?) Many may not remember that Schultz was the Secretary of Labor under Ford but I do – I saw his rendering in the U.S. Department of Labor when I was the west coast labor rep. Schultz represents Reagan more than any other national figure I can think of. He fought the evil empire and won. He is a living legacy and he is supporting Meg Whitman.

In 2000, I did a rally at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds as Bay Area Chairman for Bush-Cheney that drew 5,000 people. I remember at the time, Bush Chairman Gerry Parsky told me that the soon-to-be-Vice President of the United States Dick Cheney “felt like a rock star” speaking before such a large crowd in the Bay Area.

My estimates when I spoke at Thursday's rally was about 1,000 attendees, but according to the Contra Costa Times, the rally drew 10,000 throughout the day. Those are police estimates – not organizers’ estimates.

The Pleasanton TEA Rally received statewide press this week in the LA Times and San Francisco Chronicle due to organizer Bridget Melson’s un-invitation to “birther movement” leader Orly Taitz, who believes President Obama is not constitutionally qualified to be president. This is crazy talk, and the organizers did the right thing in ousting her from the program. Dr. Melson held an orderly rally – complete with radio talk show hosts, comedians, bands, and oh yeah – political speeches.

Yesterday, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher (R-“Rock Star”-San Diego) introduced “Chelsea’s Law” – targeted legislation that would provide a new one-strike life without parole penalty for those sexually violent predators who commit the most heinous of violent sex crimes against a child. The law includes lifetime parole with active GPS monitoring for those convicted of felony sex crimes involving physical contact with children and “safe zones” where sex offenders may not go.

Fletcher calls the legislation “a first step in a long term commitment to better protect our children…focused on the worst of the worst, the most dangerous and most likely to re-offend…the ones likely to pose the greatest risk to our children.”

Fletcher’s law, AB 1844, is a disciplined legislative proposal named for 17-year old Poway High School student Chelsea King, who disappeared on March 25th after going for a run in a local park. Law enforcement and thousands of volunteers searched for days until they finally found her in a shallow grave at Lake Hodges – a victim of unspeakable terror having been raped and murdered.

The curious campaigns of Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina have been a topic of discussion among women’s organizations and GOP activists for several weeks. Both were prominent at this weekend at the California Republican Party Convention in Santa Clara, where people wonder what’s more relevant – tactics or talk?

I don’t think women are the best fit in every case, nor do I back a woman only because she is female. Unlike Democrat primaries where they heavily recruit women, gender works against women in GOP primaries. Women are portrayed as less ideological and challenged at the bargaining table. This tactical strategy has been used dozens of times to convince Republican voters that women aren’t prepared.

In the case of Meg and Carly, this strategy will backfire as both have business credentials that are far and above most who have ever sought the offices of Governor and United States Senator.

This past Friday, I had the opportunity to meet with 40 innovators and entrepreneurs at a 1.5 hour innovators roundtable with Carly Fiorina, candidate for the United States Senate from California.

Among the discussion points was the President’s stimulus package, the need to educate our children for 21st century jobs, access to capital for small businesses, health care and immigration policy. Carly was engaging, energetic, charming, articulate, and appears to be a real problem solver.

Among attendees was Saman Dias, who was named head of “Entrepreneurs and Small Business” for Carly. Saman is a dynamic young entrepreneur and friend who cares deeply about the state of our economy in California. I’ve never known her to be involved in politics before – but Carly inspired her – and now she’s engaging.