With Kathy Narum's recent special election win for Pleasanton City Council, Republican fortunes in Pleasanton continue to rise.  It's been a remarkable string of success.

Kathy Narum had been a planning commissioner with a long record of community involvement including the Parks and Recreation Commission.  She had worked previously as a manufacturing process engineer and in a family business.

Narum won the May 7 special election for a vacant city council seat with 39.6% of the vote in a four candidate race.  David Miller, also a Republican, finished second with 27%.  Adding Mark Hamilton in fourth place, Republicans received a whopping 82% of the vote.

The Pleasanton Republican victory streak began last November when Councilmember Jerry Thorne ran for mayor, with sustainable pensions and balanced budgets as two of his lead issues.  Thorne won the race for mayor, the first Republican mayor for some time.

At the same time, Jerry Pentin and Karla Brown ran - separately - for two open seats on the city council.  They had taken different routes.  Pentin had established himself in city circles, first on the Parks and Rec Commission, then the Planning Commission.  Brown was a leader for ridgeline protection, who was endorsed by the Sierra Club.  

Both Pentin and Brown had campaign experience under their belts from previous council attempts.  Both opposed Alameda County's Measure B1, a half cent sales tax for transportation that had no expiration date.  And both expressed serious concerns about pension sustainability.  Karla Brown won 37% of the vote, and Jerry Pentin got 32%, both winning in the four way race.

The Alameda County Republican Party actively supported Thorne, Pentin, and Brown and walked precincts for them. 

However, the campaigns were not party-oriented.  It took more than that to win.  It took candidates who were involved in the community and the city and who could emphasize winning issues.

Today four out of five Pleasanton councilmembers are Republicans.

The Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley Presents Ying Ma
Tuesday, June 4, 2013 / 6:15 pm
IFES Portuguese Hall, 432 Stierlin Road, Mountain View

Join the Conservative Forum of Silicon Valley to hear a story of triumph through conservative values. They welcome Ying Ma, writer and senior vice president of SDB Partners, a strategic advisory firm. She will speak on "Chinese Girl in the Ghetto: A Personal Story of Defeating the Welfare State". Doors open at 6:15pm, program starts at 7:00pm.  Find out more ...

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Blackhawk RWF Luncheon Meeting featuring Catherine Baker
Wednesday, June 5, 2013 / 11:30 am
Blackhawk Country Club, 599 Blackhawk Club Dr, Danville

Join the Blackhawk Republican Women Federated for their luncheon featuring Catherine Baker. She is an attorney at Hoge Fenton, served as Bay Area Romney Chair, and volunteered as counsel for David Harmer's congressional campaign. Topic: "California's Future: What's at Stake in the 2014 Elections".  Find out more ...

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SVRWF Luncheon with Jarrett Fishpaw
Thursday, June 6, 2013 / 11:30 am
Blue Pheasant Restaurant, 22100 Stevens Creek Blvd., Cupertino

Join the Silicon Valley Republican Women Federated as they hold their monthly luncheon with featured speaker Jarrett Fishpaw, the Mayor of Los Altos. He was the youngest city councilman in Los Altos' history.  His topic will be "How Local Government can Improve Communications with Residents".  Find out more ...

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TechNet Fundraiser for US Senator John Thune
Friday, June 7, 2013 / 8:00 am
The Four Seasons Silicon Valley, Runnymede Room, 2050 University Avenue, East Palo Alto

Join Hosts TechNet Federal PAC, Cisco ePaC, Intuit PAC, Oracle PAC for a breakfast with Senator John Thune (SD), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. Senator Thune serves on: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Ranking Member), Committee on Finance, and Committee on the Budget.  Find out more ...

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Monterey Peninsula RWF Luncheon with Brett Landon
Thursday, June 13, 2013 / 11:30 am
Rancho Canada, 4860 Carmel Valley Rd., Carmel

The Monterey Peninsula Republican Women Federated invite you to their monthly luncheon with guest speaker Brett Landon. Landon is with City Watch, Inc., which focuses on local government education with an emphasis on fiscal issues affecting Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. The topic will be "The Role of Local Government: The choice between raising taxes and controlling spending."  Find out more ...

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Tri-Valley RWF Present Eric Golub
Thursday, June 13, 2013 / 6:30 pm
Cattlemens Restaurant, 2882 Kitty Hawk Road, Livermore

The Tri-Valley Republican Women Federated will host an evening with Humorist and Author Eric Golub. In 2009, Eric published his first book, Ideological Bigotry. He followed with Ideological Violence and Ideological Idiocy. He holds an MBA from USC and has been a stockbroker since 1994.  Find out more ...

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SVARW Patriot Party
Saturday, June 15, 2013 / 3:00 pm
Home of Tom & Martha Snodgrass, 203 Montclair Road, Los Gatos

The Silicon Valley Association of Republican Women invite you to come and welcome summer with other conservatives. Meet, mingle and enjoy wine and appetizers.  Find out more ...

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Novato RWF Luncheon with Shawn Lewis
Tuesday, June 18, 2013 / 11:30 am
Marin Country Club, 500 Country Club Drive, Novato

The Novato Republican Women Federated will host a luncheon presentation by Shawn Lewis, Administrative Vice Chair, California College Republicans. Shawn is a recent graduate of U.C. Berkeley, and immediate past president of the Berkeley College Republicans. He will discuss the California College Republicans and their mission to balance debate on California's liberal college campuses. Please invite your high school or college-age children or neighbors to attend.  Find out more ...

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SVARW Breakfast and Gun Law Discussion
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 / 9:00 am
La Rinconada Country Club, 14595 Clearview Drive, Los Gatos

The Silicon Valley Association of Republican Women will hold their June Monthly Meeting with a discussion on the topic "Update on Gun Laws-Your 2nd Amendment Rights!"

Cost: $15 (includes continental breakfast).  Find out more ...

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SPARC Presents San Jose Mayoral Candidate Pete Constant
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 / 5:30 pm
Fremont Hills Country Club, 12889 Viscaino Place, Los Altos Hills

Join the South Peninsula Area Republican Coalition for an evening of food, wine and discussions on economic and government policies. The special guest will be San Jose Council Member and Mayoral Candidate Pete Constant, who will provide insights into the issues facing the City of San Jose.  Find out more ...

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Marin RWF Evening Meeting with Stephen Frank
Wednesday, June 19, 2013 / 6:00 pm
Jason's Restaurant, Community Room, 300 Drakes Landing Road, Greenbrae

Join the Marin Republican Women Federated for an engaging and fun evening with the "Infamous" Stephen Frank, publisher and editor of California Political News & Views. Steve Frank is a longtime political activist, consultant, and past President of the California Republican Assembly. Topic: "The Inside Scoop on California Politics: The Good, The Bad and The Really Ugly".

A savory light fare will be served. Wonderful wines plus a "Martini Bar" will be available.  Find out more ...

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West Valley RWF Luncheon with Don Jans
Thursday, June 20, 2013 / 11:30 am
Holder's Country Inn, 998 So. De Anza Blvd., San Jose

The West Valley Republican Women Federated invite you to attend their next luncheon meeting with featured speaker Don Jans, author of My Grandchildren's America..Will It Be The Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave?.  Price: $18.50.  Reserve by Tuesday, June 18.  Find out more ...

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Silicon Valley Taxpayers Present Mayor John Inks
Thursday, June 20, 2013 / 6:15 pm
Harry's Hofbrau, 390 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose

The Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association will host their Third Thursday Taxpayers Toolkit Meeting with special guest Mayor John Inks, City of Mountain View. All are welcome! They especially invite members of neighborhood associations and other community action organizations to come and introduce themselves.  Find out more ...

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Santa Rosa RWF Wine Country Rustic BBQ with Jim Brulte
Saturday, June 22, 2013 / 1:30 pm
Wine Country Polo Fields, 550 White Oak Drive (Next to Wild Oak Saddle Club - Oakmont), Santa Rosa

Join the Santa Rosa Republican Women Federated for a Round-up social hour. Guest Speaker: Jim Brulte, Chairman of the California Republican Party. Catered seven course dinner by Wild Oak Saddle Club. $65 per person.  Find out more ...

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Republican Club at the Villages Dinner with Chuck Reed
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 / 5:30 pm
Clubhouse at The Villages Golf and Country Club, 5000 Cribari Lane, San Jose

The Republican Club at the Villages presents San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed at a dinner meeting in the Clubhouse. Mayor Reed will speak about the pension reforms, and San Jose's future financial outlook. Dinner will be served at 6 pm with program to follow. Reservations must be made by Friday, June 21.  Find out more ...

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Nob Hill RWCF Dinner Meeting with Dr. Michael Widlanski
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 / 6:30 pm
Fior d'Italia Ristorante, "The Tuscany Room", 2237 Mason Street at Chestnut (in the San Remo Hotel), San Francisco

At their June dinner meeting, the Nob Hill Republican Women's Club, Federated will host "Why the American and Jewish People Remain Prime Targets of the Terrorists - A Provocative Evening with Dr. Michael Widlanski". Michael Widlanski is a specialist in Arab politics and communications. He has worked as a reporter, a professor, and a strategic affairs advisor to the Israeli government.

Reception 6:30 pm, Dinner 7:00 pm. 3 Course Dinner.  Price: Members $55, Non-Members $65.  Find out more ...

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SFRA Dinner with Bob Zadek
Wednesday, June 26, 2013 / 6:00 pm
San Francisco Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street (3rd Floor), San Francisco

The San Francisco Republican Assembly invites you to attend their next meeting with featured speaker Bob Zadek, attorney and host of the Bob Zadek Show on News Talk 910 AM. He will discuss "Economic Liberty and Limited Government". Zadek has held several leadership positions including Past Chair of the California State Bar UCC Committee and Past President of the Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys.  Find out more ...