THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:Giving 100% on immigration

Just in time to give it that pre-election spin, a conservative group supporting a tougher stance on illegal immigration gave Huntington Beach Rep. Dana Rohrabacher a perfect score for voting the right way on 11 immigration-related bills.

Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Grassfire.org this week put out an “immigration scorecard” that grades every member of Congress and ranks states based on their legislators’ votes.

With immigration likely the No. 1 or 2 issue in November elections, the conservative group’s goal is to inform the public and make sure the grass-roots voice is heard, said Ron De Jong, Grassfire.org’s communications director.

Newport Beach Rep. John Campbell also earned 100%, but since he was elected in December, he was only judged on four votes. California landed in 42nd place, based on the cumulative votes of the state’s congressional delegation.

MOVING UP IN THE WORLD

And Campbell moved up the world this week also — at least, the world of pundits, wonks and political junkies.

The website www.congress.org in May listed the freshman rep dead last — 438 out of 438 House members then — in terms of power and influence. But now Campbell has been in his seat for nearly a year, and Wednesday the site issued new rankings that placed him at No. 165 of 437, showing the biggest gain of any member since the May list.

Campbell also was labeled seventh most powerful among his 47-member freshman class, and 18th in California. He even beat out fellow Orange County Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a nine-term House member, who ranked 29th in the state and 266th overall.

For those scratching their heads about the number of U.S. House members in the rankings, your civics class wasn’t wrong. There are only 435 voting legislators in the House, but five nonvoting delegates — from places such as Washington, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico — push www.congress.org‘s rankings to 440. But wait, the numbers still don’t add up. Of the five nonvoting delegates, there are three vacancies. When Campbell was first ranked by the website in May, there were two vacancies.

SPARE CHANGE FOR VOTES

Bring extra change when you go to mail your absentee ballot, because a 39-cent stamp won’t cut it. Several Newport Beach voters report being charged 24 extra cents to mail extra-thick ballots — and while the Orange County Registrar of Voters will cover you if you toss it in the mailbox unawares, in a post office you’re on your own.

The registrar’s office announced again Wednesday that all absentee ballots will be forwarded to election officials and none will be discarded for not having enough postage. But please, the registrar urged, put enough stamps on and make sure to mail them so they arrive on or before Nov. 7. They don’t check the postmark date.

SURPLUS CRITICS COMING TO TOWN

A taxpayer watchdog group will visit Newport Beach today to criticize the state for failing to sell surplus properties, including a portion of the Fairview Developmental Center’s 148 acres in Costa Mesa.

Americans for Prosperity is set to hold a news conference at 10 a.m. today on a parcel at West Coast Highway and Superior Avenue, which was itself a surplus property that was just sold to Newport Beach to become a park. As part of a multi-city tour pointing out government waste, the group plans to complain that 32 acres of the Fairview Developmental Center were declared surplus in 1996 but have not been sold, although the property could be worth $20 million.

That could be music to Costa Mesa officials’ ears, since many say the city is in desperate need of sports fields. The city recently worked out a deal to share a piece of developmental center land, but more would undoubtedly be welcome.

ENCOURAGING NEWS

And in political news that’s not about someone running for office, Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley on Wednesday was honored by the state and Orange County chapters of the Young Democrats for encouraging young people in politics.

Foley was picked for the California Dreamin’ award because “Katrina has actually been really good at mentoring young people in her City Council office,” said Tim Steed, vice president of membership for the California Young Democrats.

“A few of her mentees have gone on and become active in the Democratic party … and also [she won] just for kind of being our lone voice out there in Costa Mesa, in fierce territory,” he said.

HOSPITAL BACKS MEASURE V

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian officials this week announced they’re backing Measure V, the update of Newport Beach’s general plan that’s appearing on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The plan allows the hospital to expand and add medical office space. “Measure V affirms that the availability of healthcare services in Newport Beach is a top priority to the city and its residents,” hospital President Richard Afable said in a statement.

CANDIDATE CALLS ON BIG-NAME DEMS

Democratic congressional candidate Steve Young is calling in the big guns for a rally Monday at UC Irvine.

Young, who is challenging 48th District Rep. John Campbell, is planning an event with the Progressive Democrats of America and one of its better-known members, anti-Iraq war activist Cindy Sheehan. Actor Ed Asner is also on the slate to attend.

The get-out-the-vote rally will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the Gateway Plaza on campus at UC Irvine. The Young Democrats of UCI and Orange County chapter of Democracy for America are co-sponsoring.