OC Political

We are live from the OC GOP Central Committee, where the first round of endorsements for the November 2018 General Election is being considered for City Council and School Board (plus Sheriff). Congressional and Legislative (plus 4th District Supervisor) were previously endorsed.

On tonight’s docket are:

• Don Barnes for Orange County Sheriff

• Garrett Dwyer for Aliso Viejo City Council

  • Hon. Joe Muller for Dana Point City Council

• Hon. Joe Muller for Dana Point City Council

• Patrick Harper for Fountain Valley City Council

• Hon. Erik Peterson for Huntington Beach City Council

• Hon. Mike Posey for Huntington Beach City Council

• Hon. Elaine Gennawey for Laguna Niguel City Council

• Sandy Rains for Laguna Niguel City Council

• Hon. Diane Dixon for Newport Beach City Council, District 1

• Hon. Tri Ta for Mayor of Westminster

• Hon. Peggy Huang for Yorba Linda City Council

• Carlos Rodriguez for Yorba Linda City Council

• Hon. Jim Cunneen for Fountain Valley School Board

• Yes on Proposition 6

• Yes on Newport Beach Debt Charter Amendment

• No on Anaheim Minimum Wage Initiative

Konstantinos Roditis delivers the invocation.

An OC GOP intern leads the Pledge of Allegiance.

Committee Member David Shawver delivers the oath of office to the new alternate members.

A whole slew of elected officials and candidates are introduced.

The minutes are approved.

Chairman Fred Whitaker provides remarks on voter registration. He also speaks about the Congressional seats and the NRCC office in Irvine, where this meeting is being held.

Endorsements Committee Chair Peggy Huang delivers the report of the Endorsements Committee.

Committee Member John W. Briscoe moves and David Shawver seconds the entire list.

Committee Member Chris Norby pulls the Anaheim Minimum Wage measure from the list.

Committee Member Robert Hammond pulls Don Barnes for Sheriff from the list.

Committee Member Deborah Pauly seeks to add Ron Sterud for Huntington Beach City Council to the list. He submitted signatures July 20 and is scheduled to be out of town on August 20.

Whitaker states that the bylaws require seven days’ notice in order to be considered.

The list passes unanimously.

Next up is discussion of Don Barnes.

Hammond wants to ask Barnes about arming teachers.

Committee Alternate Anthony Kuo moves and David Shawver seconds endorsing Barnes.

Hammond asks the question, expressing concern that Barnes had previously expressed that it would be difficult to distinguish between armed teachers and the shooter in an active shooter situation.

Shawver says there were two great Republicans running for Sheriff in the primary, and Barnes is the sole Republican to make the runoff. He also says it is up to the school boards to decide if they want armed teachers.

Whitaker permits Barnes to respond to Hammond’s inquiry.

Barnes says OC has 15,000 CCWs, the most in the State. He notes he designed the CCW policy in OC. He is the only candidate in the state to get an A+ from the CRPA. Barnes clarifies he is not opposed to arming teachers, but wants the national best practices model in cooperation with the local school board. Law enforcement needs to be able to distinguish between armed teachers and active shooters.

The vote is unanimous to endorse Barnes.

Chris Norby opposes the OC GOP taking a position against the Anaheim Minimum Wage measure. He blasts the transient occupancy tax subsidy for hotels in Anaheim. He blasts Disney for its revenue on City-owned Anaheim parking. He blasts taxpayer expenses paying high salaries at Disney, like CEO Bob Iger. He says “public subsidies” should be shared with workers.

Peggy Huang speaks in favor of OC GOP opposing the Anaheim Minimum Wage measure. She speaks in favor of the economy and the free market. She warns of the harm to businesses from minimum wage increases. Huang notes Disney already has struck a deal with labor on wages. She speaks of national efforts to impose higher minimum wage and universal basic income. She notes this was thoroughly vetted by the Endorsements Committee.

Whitaker moves and Baron Night seconds to oppose the Anaheim Minimum Wage initiative.

By a voice vote, the motion to oppose the Anaheim Minimum Wage initiative passes well over the required 2/3 supermajority. Indeed, there were only three votes against the motion.

The Committee adjourns at 7:42 PM.