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Archive for October, 2014

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Yorba Linda: Matt Palmer Drops Out, Endorses Peggy Huang & Tom Lindsey

Posted by Newsletter Reprint on October 11, 2014

This came over the wire from the Matt Palmer for Yorba Linda City Council campaign last night…

Stepping Aside: Because I Love Yorba Linda

When I signed up to be a city council candidate in the recall and general elections I did so for one purpose only, to ensure Yorba Linda’s future. I think most would agree that the recall has left our city broken and it is time to for us to heal, to come together as neighbors, and to make sure that on November 4th we select two candidates that will help us do just that. At last night’s candidate forum I realized that there are two other candidates equally capable and committed to this city. Because of this I have decided to step aside as a candidate and endorse Councilman Tom Lindsey and Peggy Huang.

While my name will still appear on the ballot I am asking all my supporters to vote for Tom and Peggy because this has never been about me. This election is about Yorba Linda and the last thing I want to do is split the vote between two other common sense conservatives.

I am so grateful to have been able to play a role in such a historic moment in our city. I am grateful to have met so many new neighbors through this process. I am grateful that we made the right choice by voting no on the recall. And I will be very grateful to you, my neighbors, on November 4 when we elect my friends and most qualified candidates Tom Lindsey and Peggy Huang to the city council.

Your neighbor,
Matt Palmer

Paid for by Palmer for Council, 2014

 

Posted in Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

The Stakes are High At Capistrano Unified School District This Election

Posted by Craig P. Alexander on October 9, 2014

When I decided to become a Candidate for Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 4, I knew I would want to let people who read OC Political know why I am running with a post to this blog.  However on Monday (10-6-14) Mr. Robert Loewen of the Lincoln Club of Orange County published in the Orange County Register an opinion piece that does an excellent job of summing up the reasons I am running and why my friends current CUSD Trustee Ellen Addonizio (running for re-election to Trustee Area 6) and Julie Collier (running for Trustee Area 7) are running and what is at stake in this race.  Mr. Loewen’s title for his opinion is Support Accountability at Capistrano Unified.

I will not re-print all of Mr. Loewen’s excellent article here but here is the beginning and a link to the article (it is not behind the Register’s pay wall) for those of you who would like to read the entire article.  You will find it quite eye opening:

“By ROBERT LOEWEN / Contributing Writer

Published: Oct. 3, 2014

Jack was confused. When his neighborhood carpool dropped him off at Barcelona Hills Elementary that spring day in 2011, it seemed like just another school day. It was not a big deal to the seasoned fifth-grader when he trudged from the busy carpool drop-off area and was herded with his classmates onto school property. He and other kids were handed signs bearing big red letters, “SOS,” the call sign at sea for disaster. Jack assumed the signs held by students were about Earth Day or “Saving Our Planet.” But when Jack took time to read one of the signs, he saw it was a slogan, “Save Our Schools.”

Suddenly, Jack was no longer confused. The signs were a mean-spirited rebuke to a project proposed by his mother, Julie Collier and some other parents, who wanted to see if they could use innovations allowed by state charter-school law to improve the learning environment for their own children.

So Jack found himself in the middle of a protest by someone who used kids to make their point. Jack threw his sign on the ground. Smiling, his teacher came over and handed it back to him. “Jack, could you hold up this sign again? I want to take your picture.” Click.

Jack’s mother, Julie Collier, is running for a seat as trustee on the Capistrano Unified School Board, Area 7. For Julie, it’s personal. She doesn’t mind discussing the issues of accountability and allocation of limited funding in education with anyone.

As a teacher herself, she can more than hold her own. But who gave public school teachers permission to turn her kids, or anyone’s kids, into political pawns?…….” Support Accountability at Capistrano Unified School District

– – – – – – – – –

Thank you Mr. Loewen for an excellent article.

Julie, Ellen and I have opponents who are all endorsed by the unions who are pouring tens of thousands of dollars into our opponents’ campaigns.  That is no surprise to us and neither are the tactics being employed by the unions one of which was discussed by my friend Greg Woodard in his piece on this blog: Unions Care Nothing About Facts and on my own campaign web site: LAWSUITS?”

For more information about my friend Julie Collier and her race go to Julie Collier for CUSD.  For Ellen Addonizio go to Re-Elect Ellen Addonizio.

For my campaign web site go to: Craig For CUSD or my Facebook page Craig Alexander for CUSD

Julie, Ellen and I respectfully ask each voter in Trustee Areas 4, 6 and 7 for their vote.  Thank you all for your support.

Posted in Capistrano Unified School District | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Yorba Linda Recall Recap: 17% Margin Against Recall, Rikel Loses Replacement Race, Palmer Shows Weakness for November

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 8, 2014

With all precincts reporting and 11,374 ballots counted of the estimated 12,500 ballots cast, the Yorba Linda recall of October 7, 2014, is clearly over – ironically on the 11th anniversary of the day that Governor Gray Davis was recalled on October 7, 2003.  Republican Yorba Linda Councilmen Craig Young and Tom Lindsey have handily defeated their recalls 59%-41%, becoming the first Orange County officeholders to defeat a recall at the ballot box since Mission Viejo Councilman Robert Curtis beat back a recall on February 27, 1990 (and Mission Viejo was incorporated in 1988).  Even if all ~1,100 outstanding ballots were cast in favor of the recall (which is impossible), Young and Lindsey are already beating their recalls by 2,000 ballots as it is.  It was a resounding victory against the first recall election in Yorba Linda’s 47-year history.

Recall proponents in the group Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation (YLRRR) under the efforts of recall candidate Nancy Rikel submitted 9,000 signatures to qualify the recall, but could barely get half that number of people to vote in favor of the recall.

As the numbers were counted through the course of the night, the numbers continued to grow stronger against the recall and against both YLRRR-backed candidates, showing poll voters even more strongly against the recall and the YLRRR-backed candidates than early absentee voters.  As the campaigns for and against the recall wore on, the more the voters turned against the recall and its supporters.

Shall Thomas H. Lindsey be recalled (removed) from the office of City Council Member?
Completed Precincts: 22 of 22
Vote Count Percentage
Yes 4,684 41.3%
No 6,648 58.7%
Shall Craig Young be recalled (removed) from the office of City Council Member?
Completed Precincts: 22 of 22
Vote Count Percentage
Yes 4,691 41.5%
No 6,601 58.5%

To add insult to injury for Rikel, early absentee voters had her leading in the race to replace Young 53%-47%.  When all poll voters were accounted for, she was losing to anti-recall candidate J. Minton Brown, Jr., a complete political unknown until this recall election.  As the campaign wore on, more and more Yorba Linda voters turned on Rikel.

Candidates to succeed Craig Young if he is recalled.
Completed Precincts: 22 of 22
Vote Count Percentage
J. MINTON BROWN JR. 4,412 50.1%
NANCY RIKEL 4,400 49.9%

The one bright spot for YLRRR and the only minor dark cloud for anti-recall forces was in the election for the replacement candidate if Lindsey were recalled.  YLRRR-backed Jeff Decker handily beat anti-recall Matt Palmer.  While neither Brown nor Rikel is on the November ballot, both Decker and Palmer are running for Council seats in November.  Lindsey is also running for re-election in November; if the recall had succeeded, Lindsey would have only missed out on the final weeks of his current term, which expires in November.

With Palmer unable to capitalize on the anti-recall wave in October against Decker, this does not bode well for him in November when he won’t even have the coattails against the recall available to him.  YLRRR will likely continue to support Decker, but those who are anti-YLRRR will have to unite behind a different candidate with a better chance of beating Decker.

Candidates to succeed Thomas H. Lindsey if he is recalled.
Completed Precincts: 22 of 22
Vote Count Percentage
JEFFREY N. DECKER 4,574 52.3%
MATT PALMER 4,167 47.7%

While the percentages seem to show Rikel and Decker outperforming the recall, that’s not true when you look at the actual votes cast.  More people voted for either recall than voted for Rikel or Decker.  The numbers bare out one clear conclusion when looking at the anti-recall votes, a significant number of Yorba Lindans voted “No” on the Recall and refused to vote for any of the replacement candidates.  Clearly, voters heeded the “No on the Recall” campaign’s clear message (avoiding the infamous and schizophrenic message of “No on the Recall, Yes on Bustamante” that confused anti-recall Democrats 11 years ago).

Posted in Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

BREAKING NEWS: Yorba Linda Recall Going Down in Flames

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 7, 2014

For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, a recall in Orange County has been defeated at the ballot box.

In early returns, Yorba Linda voters have overwhelmingly defeated the recall attempts against Mayor Craig Young and Councilman Tom Lindsey by a 58%-42% margin.

In the now-moot replacement candidate race, pro-recall candidates Nancy Rikel and Jeff Decker led anti-recall candidates J. Minton Brown and Matt Palmer by 53%-47% margins.  However, Rikel and Decker got fewer votes than Yes on the Recall did, so it’s quite likely a significant number of voters who opposed the recall refused to vote for replacement candidates.

Young will be able to serve out his term until it expires in 2016. Lindsey will be able to serve out his term until it expires in November. Lindsey is seeking reelection on the November ballot.

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OC GOP Endorsements Committee: Round 3 of 3

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 7, 2014

We’re here for the third and final meeting of the OC GOP Endorsements Committee who will make recommendations to the OC GOP Central Committee.

The Endorsements Committee is chaired by Mark Bucher. Members include Jerry Jackson, Jeff Matthews, Peggy Huang, Mary Young, and Thomas Gordon. Gordon arrives after the second candidate, Bill Green.

On tonight’s docket are:

  • David Bass – Lake Forest City Council
  • William L. (Bill) Green – South Coast Water District
  • Miguel A. Gonzalez – Santa Ana City Council, Ward 6
  • Rene Gomez – Santa Ana City Council, Ward 2
  • Bryan Palomares – Stanton City Council
  • Annette Gibson – Laguna Beach Unified School District
  • Jon Peat – Cypress City Council

Dave Bass was appointed to the Lake Forest City Council in 2013 to replace Peter Herzog. He speaks about his extensive background in municipal government finance. He was brought in to help Bell recover money from its indicted City Council, City Manager, and Assistant City Manager.

Scott Voigts speaks on behalf of Bass. He speaks about his conservative credentials and council qualifications.

Jeff Matthews asks if there are still enough spots for endorsement available.

Mark Bucher confirms there are.

Peggy Huang asks about eminent domain.

Bass says he would support eminent domain for public purposes such as a park.

Mary Young asks if he’d support eminent domain for a park if several homes were seized.

Bass says he would not.

BASS RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR LAKE FOREST CITY COUNCIL.

Bill Green is permitted to conference call in from Hawaii. He served in the military, and in his first election, he volunteered for Richard Nixon. He worked in private industry for 35 years. He speaks about his son who worked for Darrell Issa. He speaks about his campaign team. He was Dennis Hollingsworth’s alternate on the Riverside County Central Committee and headed the Riverside County Lincoln Club.

Peggy Huang asks about Green’s position on Proposition 1, the state water bond.

He states he is generally opposed to bonds but supports the water bond especially with the current drought.

Huang asks him about his statements on his questionnaire about fiscal health of the district.

He speaks about increasing efficiency, recycled water, and various other water policy issues.

Huang asks about the Bay Delta peripheral canal or the Governor’s tunnel.

Green would be open to either one. His goal is ensuring water flow. He will be on a Metropolitan Water District inspection tour later in October.

Mark Bucher expresses his awe at Huang’s water knowledge.

Huang explains her experience working on state water legislation.

Green’s phone disconnects.

GREEN RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR SOUTH COAST WATER DISTRICT.

Mike Gonzalez speaks about being a businessman in Santa Ana. He speaks about his community volunteerism.

Maribel Marroquin speaks about Gonzalez’s contributions of time, money, and food to her Maribel’s volunteers.

Clare Venegas of the Lincoln Club speaks about Gonzalez being endorsed by the Lincoln Club. She speaks about the help he has provided to Latino outreach efforts for Republicans.

Candidate Rene Gomez speaks about immigrating to the United States at age 14. He went to Santa Ana High School. He joined the army during the Persian Gulf War though he was deployed to Germany. He served in the National Guard afterward for six years. He earned his degree and entered business. He speaks of burdensome government regulations and taxation.

Jerry Jackson asks Gonzalez and Gomez about why they support Obamacare. The committee clarifies the question says they support the repeal of Obamacare. Jackson misread the question.

Young moves and Gordon seconds as Robert Hammond jokingly heckles in support.

GONZALEZ AND GOMEZ RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL.

Bryan Palomares is a 10-year Stanton homeowner and son of a single mother. He speaks about his wife and children. He went back to school in his late 20s and earned his MBA in his 30s.

Clare Venegas of the Lincoln Club speaks citing the club’s opposition to Measure GG, the sales tax increase in Stanton. She met Palomares who told her of his life story, his community efforts, and his opposition to sales tax increases while there have been significant pay raises for City employees.

Alexandria Coronado speaks against Palomares. She cites his protests in front of the Stanton Republican Headquarters.

Bucher and Venegas state they were both at the protest which opposed Measure GG – the same position the party has taken. However, Bucher notes David Shawver is in charge of the Stanton Headquarters. Shawver strongly supports Measure GG.

Coronado says Shawver’s wife and another woman are the ones running it day to day even though Shawver’s name is on the lease.

Young expresses outrage that Yes on GG walks are being run out of the Stanton Republican headquarters when the party endorsed No on GG.

Venegas the passes out photos of the Yes on GG walk at the Stanton Republican headquarters despite the OC GOP endorsing No on GG.

Venegas posted No on GG signs on the headquarters which were removed within an hour.

Huang asks Palomares about his answer on the city’s fiscal health on the questionnaire.

Palomares says he would pay employees commensurate with the market and education levels. He notes salary.com shows salaries of $35K-$40K on average for secretaries versus Stanton secretaries making nearly double. He cites various pieces of land purchased needlessly by Stanton and the city’s unwillingness to sell them.

Gordon asks about Kevin Carr adding Palomares on his flyers.

Palomares says he did not authorize that. He states that Carr has been a thorn in Shawver’s side. Palomares and Carr do agree in their opposition to both Measure GG and Shawver.

The Endorsements Committee criticizes Shawver as they have documents showing Shawver criticizing Palomares.

Palomares disputes Shawver’s claims of cronyism by pointing out that of the five incumbent Stanton City Council members, they live in two neighborhoods.

Bucher reminds the committee that Shawver ran with extensive union backing against John Moorlach for Supervisor. He warns that Shawver will likely launch a behind the scenes campaign to derail the endorsement of Palomares.

PALOMARES RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR STANTON CITY COUNCIL.

Annette Gibson rattles off a lot of information about the Laguna Beach Unified School District. She criticizes the district’s consultant contracts. She calls for greater fiscal accountability in the district. She speaks against Common Core.

Robert Hammond supports her under questioning from Mark Bucher.

Clare Venegas of the Lincoln Club says the club has endorsed Gibson.

Bucher asks Gibson about charter schools.

Gibson says she supports charter schools and the free market.

Peggy Huang asks about the consultants.

Gibson rattles off a number of high-dollar value consulting contracts from the district.

Thomas Gordon asks about the field of candidates.

Gibson says there are four candidates running for three seats. There are only two incumbents running.

GIBSON RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

Alexandria Coronado says Jon Peat is absent due to needing to stay late on a work project at Raytheon. She says he is a great conservative and is the best candidate for Cypress City Council and is endorsed by the 2010 Republican-endorsed Councilman Rob Johnson.

The Endorsements Committee makes more jokes about David Shawver during their discussion of Peat’s endorsement request.

PEAT RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY FOR ENDORSEMENT FOR CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL.

Endorsements Committee adjourns at 6:55 PM. The Central Committee will vote on the recommendation on October 20.

Posted in Cypress, Laguna Beach Unified School District, Lake Forest, Republican Central Committee, Santa Ana, South Coast Water District | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Unions Care Nothing About Facts As They Desperately Attempt To Hold Power In CUSD

Posted by Greg Woodard on October 7, 2014

I am all for engaging in a healthy debate with liberals, particularly during election season.  And I am not such a Pollyanna that I do not recognize that candidates on both sides embellish their credentials and take liberties in their attacks on their opponents.  However, when unions make up “facts” simply to smear a good candidate who opposes their stranglehold on school board power, well I will not let that go unchallenged.

In the battle for control in the Capistrano Unified School District Board, the union has stooped to outright lies to its members in an effort to sway the vote.  Sally White, President of the Capistrano Unified Education Association (CUEA), recently sent an email to CUSD retirees.  In the email, she falsely states that Craig Alexander, a conservative candidate for Area 4, has “sued the district several times.”  I spoke with Craig (for full disclosure, I am supporting Craig in this election), and he assured me that he has never once sued the district, either as an attorney (his profession) or personally, let alone sued the district “several times.”  Craig sent Ms. White a letter nearly two weeks ago in an attempt to clear up the misconception that he had sued the district several times, but, not surprisingly, he has not heard back from her.  Of course, Ms. White has no support for her bald assertion, and I would challenge her to either produce some evidence that her claim is true, or issue a retraction and an apology to Craig (don’t worry, I won’t hold my breath).

In that same email, Ms. White endorses Lynn Hatton, career union candidate, in Area 7 against Julie Collier.  Ms. White predictably has nothing good to say about Ms. Collier, and the union makes no bones about how they feel about Julie, including entrapping her son into a false advertisement for the union against a charter school Julie supported.  The union also was silent as the charter school students had rocks thrown at them during school, likely by union supporters.

I have no respect for union hacks who use extorted dues to fuel their political ambitions.  But lying and using children to advocate their cause shows how truly classless these folks are.  If you live in the CUSD, you have a chance to send a message in November to the unions that their tactics and their bad policies will not be tolerated.  Craig Alexander, Julie Collier, and Ellen Addonizio (Area 6) are the parent-power advocates on the ballot next month, and I would encourage voters to support real change that will benefit the students, and not line the unions’ pockets (and reward bad behavior).

Posted in Capistrano Unified School District | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

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