OC Political

7:59 PM: After an hour of speeches, the first endorsement motion is made, as Robert Hammond moves to endorse Hugh Nguyen for Clerk-Recorder.

8:00 PM: Tim Whitacre speaks about Nguyen’s strong record, Republican endorsements, and the County audits that have found Nguyen has fixed much of Tom Daly’s mess.

8:01 PM: Scott Peotter says it’s optional to perform marriages. Peotter says the Clerk-Recorder can either perform all marriages (both same-sex and opposite-sex) or perform no marriages. Peotter asks if no

8:03 PM: Todd Spitzer talked about the importance of the Clerk-Recorder having their documents in order since the post files important documents and how important it is to have candidates for Clerk-Recorder who know how to file nomination papers in a timely fashion. He speaks of Nguyen’s experience, he speaks of Nguyen’s success in cleaning up Daly’s mess.

8:05 PM: Chairman Scott Baugh gives an unofficial award for best line to Todd Spitzer due to his comments about the Clerk-Recorder’s job filing important documents and one candidate’s failure to properly file candidate documents.

8:06 PM: Nguyen is endorsed by a nearly unanimous vote, with only Peotter opposing.

NGUYEN ENDORSED

8:08 PM: Bill Dunlap speaks in favor of Michael Gates for Huntington Beach City Attorney.

8:09 PM: Baron Night asks to delay the Gates endorsement until August since the race will not be on the ballot until November.

8:10 PM: Michael Gates states he is up against an entrenched incumbent. He has raised $120,000. He says he is a true conservative who believes in limited government unlike the incumbent whose brand of Republicanism he opposes. He speaks about his experience at the US Department of Justice, as a law clerk at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in private practice.

8:14 PM: Zonya Townsend asks about his representation of the Roman Catholic diocese of Orange and whether he’s represented them on sexual abuse cases.

8:14 PM: Gates says he and his firm have refused to represent the Diocese on the sexual abuse cases. They’ve only represented the Diocese on slip-and-fall and other liability cases that did not involve sexual abuse.

Gates is endorsed nearly unanimously, with only Baron Night opposing.

GATES ENDORSED

8:17 PM: Alexandria Coronado moves and Scott Peotter seconds the endorsement of Tom Pollitt for Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 2.

Incumbent David Boyd attempts to speak against the motion but is ruled out of order since he’s not a Central Committee member.

No one rises to speak against Pollitt; he is endorsed unanimously.

POLLITT ENDORSED

8:18 PM: Brett Barbre moves and Teresa Hernandez seconds the endorsement of Linda Lindholm for Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 5.

No one rises to speak against Lindholm; she is endorsed unanimously.

LINDHOLM ENDORSED.

That’s a wrap on endorsements. More endorsements to come at the April Central Committee meeting.