OC Political

A right-of-center blog covering local, statewide, and national politics

Promoting Educational Opportunities for Public Virtual School Students

Posted by Newsletter Reprint on October 27, 2023

An op-ed by Tab Berg, President of California Parents for Public Virtual Education, which represents over 4,500 online school families in Orange County.

Promoting Educational Opportunities for Public Virtual School Students

In an increasingly interconnected world, access to internet and healthy, nutritious foods has become vital for students’ academic success. As the landscape of education evolves, it is essential to ensure that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have equal access to educational resources. The implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program and the expansion of the National Free Lunch Program are crucial steps in narrowing the digital divide and promoting educational opportunities for public virtual school students.

The digital divide has long been a barrier to educational opportunities, leaving disadvantaged students at a significant disadvantage. The Affordable Connectivity Program aims to address this issue by providing low-income families with affordable internet access. By making internet connectivity more accessible, this program empowers students to engage in online learning, access educational resources, and expand their horizons beyond the confines of their physical environment.

Access to the internet is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for academic success. Virtual schools provide a flexible and inclusive learning environment, allowing students to tailor their education to their needs. However, without adequate connectivity, many students are left behind, perpetuating educational disparities. The Affordable Connectivity Program is a vital investment in the future of our students, enabling them to compete in the digital age on an equal footing.

Education should not be determined by a student’s ability to pay. The expansion of the National Free Lunch Program ensures that students from low-income families have access to nutritious meals, regardless of whether they attend traditional or virtual schools. Proper nutrition is fundamental to a student’s overall well-being and academic performance. By providing free lunches, we remove a financial burden from families and guarantee that no child goes hungry.

Moreover, the National Free Lunch Program promotes inclusivity and levels the playing field for virtual school students. It recognizes that virtual education is not just a choice for some families but a necessity due to health concerns, geographic constraints, or other circumstances. Denying these students access to free lunches would further exacerbate inequality and hinder their educational opportunities.

Equal access to resources and opportunities fosters academic success. By providing public virtual school students with affordable internet connectivity and free lunches, we create an environment conducive to learning and growth. Students can engage in online discussions, collaborate with their peers, and explore a vast array of educational materials.

The Affordable Connectivity Program and the National Free Lunch Program empower students to focus on their studies rather than worrying about basic needs. When students’ physiological and safety needs are met, they can fully immerse themselves in their education, improving their academic performance and overall well-being.

Equal access to education is a fundamental right that should not be compromised by socioeconomic disparities. The Affordable Connectivity Program and the expansion of the National Free Lunch Program are critical initiatives that bridge the digital divide and promote educational equity for public virtual school students. That’s why California Parents for Public Virtual Education is calling on the California GOP delegation to do the right thing.

By providing affordable internet connectivity, Congress will ensure that all students, regardless of their economic circumstances, can participate in online learning and access educational resources. Additionally, the provision of free lunches removes a significant barrier to academic success for low-income students.

Investing in equal access to education is an investment in the future of our society. It empowers students to reach their full potential, regardless of their background, and creates a more equitable and inclusive society. Let us embrace these initiatives and work together, ensuring that no student is left behind in the pursuit of knowledge and opportunity.

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Guest Editorial: It’s Time to Bring Down Medical Costs for All Californians, Including Military Families

Posted by Scott Carpenter on August 30, 2023

By Brad White, Founder, Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation

It’s no surprise that rising health care costs are top of mind for many Californians. In the last decade, health care spending in California grew faster than our state’s economic growth.I have experienced this first hand after 2 trips to the Emergency Room then being hospitalized twice in the last year and a half. The first time in 2022 for 4 days for Congestive Heart Failure, High Blood Pressure and Diabetes; the second time I was hospitalized recently in June-July 2023 for 11 Days for 3rd Stage Kidney failure and put on Dialysis.

These increasing health care costs have an outsized impact also on one important group here in California: many of our military families. As the founder of Our Nation’s Heroes Foundation, a nonprofit that educates communities about how to support members of the U.S. military, I see how service members and their families can struggle to keep up with health care expenses. Many of these families rely on a fixed income, especially during deployment. And in a time of persistent inflation and economic uncertainty, increasing medical costs can be out of reach for these heroes and their families.

Hospital consolidation is to blame for a large portion of rising health care costs. After large hospital systems acquire independent, private physician practices, they then turn around and charge more for the delivery of medical services. Patients end up paying higher fees for the same care they previously received at a lower cost.Higher fees can lead to hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars in additional costs. And patients often don’t know they will be overcharged for their health care until they receive their insurance bill. These unfair and unexpected out-of-pocket costs can be detrimental for families on a fixed income who do not have thousands of dollars to spare.


This situation is untenable and unacceptable. That’s why our congressional delegation must support recently proposed legislation in Washington, D.C., that would work to fix unfair billing practices and improve access to health care for all Americans, especially our service members.

The Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act (FAIR), introduced a few months ago in the House, would require increased price transparency in medical billing. Similar legislation – the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement Act (SITE) – has been introduced in the Senate.These bills would prevent hospitals from charging inflated fees for services provided at their outpatient departments, including newly acquired independent, private physician practices. More transparent pricing, in turn, reduces unexpected out-of-pocket expenses and helps families save money. This crucial reform would allow patients to feel confident about receiving the care they need at a price they can afford.


The FAIR and SITE Acts would also have a significant national impact by relieving the financial burden currently carried by federal taxpayers. It’s estimated that Americans overpay close to $40 billion in costs due to these unfair billing practices. Adopting site-neutral legislation could reduce Medicare spending by $153 billion and Medicare beneficiaries could see a reduction in premiums and cost-sharing by $94 billion. And total national health expenditures could be reduced by as much as $672 billion. That money could be a lifeline for many.


Reducing medical costs would benefit our service members who serve our country and their families. It is imperative that the California congressional delegation – support the FAIR Act and encourage their Senate colleagues to support the SITE Act. Passing these bills would offer much-needed reform to a system that isn’t working. It’s time to fix it.

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Does Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan’s Secretly-Negotiated Construction Deal Have To Come Back For A Final Vote? Kamala Harris Says “Yes” It Does.

Posted by Dave Everett on June 24, 2023

As I wrote about last week, at the June 14, 2023 Irvine City Council meeting, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan sprung a secretly negotiated construction deal on the city’s residents that will block 80% of the city’s construction workers from working on city construction projects in Irvine. The normal public process for these sole source, no-bid, multi-year contracts for all construction labor is where there is one vote to start PLA negotiations and a subsequent vote to approve the final PLA language that is “negotiated.”

One of the questions I asked at the meeting was “Does this secretly-negotiated construction deal have to come back to the Irvine City Council at a future meeting for a final vote?” Staff and the four Democrat members of the City Council appeared to believe that the PLA does NOT have to come back for a final vote. Unfortunately for Mayor Khan, former Attorney General Kamala Harris says “Yes” it does need to have a final vote because otherwise it would have been “negotiated” in secret/in closed session.

Begin forwarded message:
Date: September 21, 2015 at 4:45:08 PM PDT
To: OPINIONLIST@AGPROD2.DOJ.CA.GOV
State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General Kamala D. Harris
September 21, 2015
Published Attorney General Opinion No. 14-302
The following opinion is now available on the Attorney General’s site:
The labor negotiations exception to the open-meeting requirements of the Ralph M. Brown
Act does not permit a community college district’s governing board to meet
in closed session with its designated representative to discuss the negotiation of a project
labor agreement because the contractors and laborers covered by such an agreement are not
district employees.
Download the published opinion (PDF) by clicking the Opinions Search, which contains
published opinions from 1986 to the most current.

Coincidently, this opinion was requested by Irvine’s current Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner. Below is a 2015 article in the Orange County Register by then-Assemblyman Don Wagner about negotiating PLA’s in “Closed Session.” The article reiterates the opinion of California Attorney General Kamala Harris when she ruled that you can NOT negotiate a PLA in closed session. It is interesting that she would confirm an anti-union position in the middle of her run for the U.S. Senate to replace Barbara Boxer. 

Another non-union construction association, the Associated Builders and Contractors, asked Assemblyman Wagner to make the written request to the California Attorney General to get a ruling on the issue, because our local community college had tried to negotiate a PLA on their $198 million dollar construction bond. The ruling forced the college to vote publicly on the final deal.

Hopefully, the City of Irvine will also make an effort to act transparent and take a final vote on this special interest deal. The public deserves to know how this deal for sole source, no-bid, multi-year contracts for all construction labor became policy in the city and how Mayor Khan’s political donors (Big Labor union bosses) were involved.

Transparency Extends To Construction Deals / Oct. 1, 2015
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/public-685473-act-brown.html
BY PHILLIP YARBROUGH and DON WAGNER / Contributing writers
“…The fight for transparency continues today, and a recent ruling by California Attorney General Kamala Harris reaffirms the protections of the Brown Act. After learning of some improper closed-door negotiations, we asked the Attorney General’s Office to clarify whether government construction contracts that exclude nonunion firms are subject to the Brown Act. 
Government construction contracts that require union-controlled hiring practices are commonly referred to as project labor agreements. By restricting government construction contracts to PLAs, contractors must sign an agreement subjecting their employees to union oversight. In order to receive a contract, a company must submit its employees to union controls and force employees to pay union dues, whether or not they are union members. 
Monopoly hiring power is given to unions under the provisions of PLAs.
Many local government officials, unfortunately, have wielded their authority to grant the lopsided privileges of PLAs to union-only firms. It is these same union-only firms, and their affiliates, who have then made substantial political contributions to these same officials. This was all done under the cloak of closed-session negotiations, where public opinion and scrutiny was unwelcomed…” 
-Phillip Yarbrough is a Rancho Santiago Community College District trustee; Don Wagner is a state Assemblyman representing parts of Orange County.

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Is This Another Backroom Deal By Democrat Farrah Khan’s Political Consultant?

Posted by Dave Everett on June 15, 2023

Last night at the Irvine City Council meeting, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan sprung a secretly negotiated construction deal on the city’s residents that will block 80% of the city’s construction workers from working on city construction projects in Irvine. 

How Much Could This Cost Irvine Taxpayers?

If Irvine completes $200 million dollars of construction, Mayor Khan’s special interest deal (PLA) will cost Irvine taxpayers roughly $30 million dollars in higher costs.  Unfortunately, the Irvine City Council ignored all the questions asked at the meeting and sent in via email before the meeting about cost increases and reduced bidders. In the last year, Southern California has seen cost increases and reduced bidders at Midway City Sanitary District, the City of Long Beach, and the City of Palm Springs. The threat of increased costs is very real in today’s construction market.

Why Was This Negotiated In Secret?    

Another concern the public should have about this special interest deal is how it came to the Irvine City Council. It is one of the topics I asked the City Council about during my comments representing the Western Electrical Contractors Association. Besides pointing out the inherent discrimination in PLAs and the increase in price Irvine taxpayers can expect, I also highlighted the fact that this all seemed to be done in secret – rather than the normal public process where there is one vote to start negotiations and a subsequent vote for the final language that is “negotiated.” However, no one was interested in our comments and seemed to have unfortunately made up their mind in secret. I’m planning on writing another blog next week going into the legality of this issue more in-depth. Former Attorney General Kamala Harris agreed that PLAs cannot be negotiated in secret or closed session.

Did Farrah Khan’s Political Consultant Play A Role In This “Negotiation”?

It has been well documented that Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan’s political consultant, Melahat Rafiei, has recently been involved with several secret backroom deals. The first was her involvement in the Anaheim Mayor Harry Sidhu indictment, which coincidentally reopened the construction around Anaheim Stadium.  The LA Times reported that the California Democratic party leader was “linked to a sprawling corruption investigation of the proposed sale of Angel Stadium land…Rafiei, who has been accused of trying to bribe public officials in a mushrooming federal corruption probe…acknowledged in the letter that she was a confidential witness in the FBI probe of the proposed $320-million sale of Angel Stadium land. Federal investigators said in a court filing that they believe fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and other corruption in the negotiations between Anaheim and the Angels over the proposed sale.”

FBI investigators said in an affidavit that while Rafiei cooperated with their inquiry for a time, the witness was complicit in corruption, and no further cooperation is expected. “I also believe CW1 (Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan’s political consultant, Melahat Rafiei) has omitted material facts to investigators throughout CW1’s (Rafiei’s) cooperation with the FBI, including additional instances where CW1 (Rafiei) has offered to pay bribes to elected public officials,” Special Agent Brian Adkins wrote in an affidavit. The document was attached to a criminal filing charging the former head of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce with lying to a mortgage lender as part of the scandal.

The second backroom deal by Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan’s political consultant, Melahat Rafiei, involved pot dispensaries in Irvine. As reported by the The Voice of OC, Melahat Rafiei’s “recent political scandal is enveloping city hall, in which she (prominent Democrat consultant and lobbyist Melahat Rafiei) plead guilty to a scheme to bribe two councilmembers in 2018. Irvine Councilwoman Tammy Kim, who also paid Rafiei as a consultant, claims Rafiei regularly tried to insert herself into city hall on Kim’s behalf. “Her talking points were being written by Melahat and she was in the room for all her meetings,” Kim said. “I believe she was on a lot of things, or that Melahat had access to city staff on the mayor’s behalf.”

The third backroom deal by Rafiei involved  Irvine Councilwoman Kathleen Treseder. Treseder began publicly raising complaints about Rafiei’s work while on the campaign trail, claiming in a letter sent to Voice of OC that Rafiei admitted to arranging a deal to put Farrah Khan on the state Coastal Commission.

And now we have this current PLA popping up with a backroom memo from Mayor Farrah Khan. It seems only fair for the public and taxpayers to ask what role, if any, prominent Democrat consultant and lobbyist Melahat Rafiei played in this Project Labor Agreement (PLA) negotiation. 

Considering that Rafiei’s clients include Anaheim Councilman Jordan Brandman, six current Long Beach City Council members, and the mayor, and multiple failed campaigns for county supervisor, backing candidates like Garden Grove Councilwoman Kim Nguyen in her 2020 bid and Joe Kerr’s 2022 run, according to county campaign finance disclosures (Rafiei also advised now disgraced Los Angeles City Councilman Kevin De Leon,) – it again only seems fair for the public and taxpayers to ask what role, if any, Melahat Rafiei played in this Irvine PLA negotiation. Anaheim has a PLA. Long Beach has a PLA. Garden Grove has a PLA. Los Angeles has a PLA. Which city is next on Rafiei’s to-do list?

We often see these special interest deals passed to try and gain favor with Big Labor unions when Democrat politicians aspire to higher office. Jose Solorio passed a PLA at Rancho Santiago Community College while trying to run for State Senate. Coast Community College District Trustee Jim Moreno tried to pass one while running for Supervisor. Garden Grove passed one right before Kim Nguyen and Jim Kerr started running for Supervisor. But thus far, Farrah Khan has yet to declare for Senate, Assembly, Supervisor, or Congress.

According to the OC Independent, “Irvine Vice Mayor Tammy Kim, 52, has announced her intention to run for mayor of Irvine in 2024. .. term limits prevent Current Mayor Farrah Khan from seeking re-election in 2024. 

Veteran Councilman Larry Agran, also a Democrat, has declared his intention to run in 2024 for mayor. The 78-year-old Agran has served three previous stints as Irvine mayor: from 1982 to 1984, 1986 to 1990, and 2000 to 2004.”

So, in conclusion, it was an interesting City of Irvine PLA fight. Only Republican Councilmember Mike Carroll voted “no” on the PLA. All the other 4 Democrat Councilmembers voted “yes.” As I mentioned above, I am hoping to do a deeper dive into how illegal and inappropriate the process was to “negotiate” this special interest deal. Still, for the time being, Irvine taxpayers will waste $30 million dollars for a construction policy that excludes 80% of Irvine’s construction workers and apprentices.

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Anaheim Elementary School District Limits Participation By Minority Contractors

Posted by Dave Everett on May 10, 2023

At the last regularly scheduled school board meeting, the Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD) voted to expand a special interest deal they had passed in 2018 on construction for the school district. The 2018 special interest deal is most commonly referred to as a Project Labor Agreement, but it was renamed by the AESD Board as a “Community Benefit Agreement” in an attempt to put a new face on an old idea that comes with a lot of controversy.

When one of the public comments at the Wednesday April 5, 2023 school board meeting mentioned that these special interest deals on construction are very controversial and discriminatory, AESD Trustee Ryan Ruelas responded that “…the public comment made by this gentleman from wherever, yeah, …I really don’t care what he has to say…”

Trustee Ryan Ruelas’ attitude is not surprising considering that according to the Anaheim Observer website, Ruelas has boasted in the past that, “I’m a union guy through and through.”

Unfortunately for Anaheim parents, not only do these special interest deals on construction waste taxpayer dollars and leave students with 4 buildings for the price of 5, but they also discriminate against minority contractors. 

Minority contractors say PLAs perpetuate the discrimination that has long pervaded construction unions. In an affidavit submitted to the court, Harry C. Alford, President of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, stated that 98% of black and Latino-owned construction companies are non-union and PLAs restrict the use of minority contractors on public projects. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2013/11/15/lawsuit-asks-should-taxpayers-pay-more-for-labor-peace/)

In a district that is majority Latino it is hard to imagine why the school district would want to discriminate against Latino and black non-union construction companies. But feedback from the community does not seem to be a very high priority for the Anaheim Elementary School District. They only had two public comments the whole evening on their public agenda and those were both submitted electronically earlier in the day. The first comment was from Eric Christen from the Coalition for Fair Employment in Construction (CFEC.) 

Even before reading the comment submitted by CFEC, the staff member reading the public comments was confused by the name switch from “Project Labor Agreement” to  a so-called “Community Benefit Agreement” and starts with her own editorial about how the comment from CFEC is not about any item on the agenda that she can tell. Finally ending her editorial comments, the school district staffer read the comments from the Coalition For Fair Employment In Construction which detailed how this special interest deal will ban over 80% of construction workers from working on the job. When you ban 80% of the construction market, or 80% of any industry, the remaining 20% becomes in higher demand and prices go up. 

In addition, as CFEC pointed out, you receive fewer bids on each construction project. The comments went on to point out two California cities that had enacted Project Labor Agreements and how they received so few bids that they had to re-bid the project. In response, that is when AESD Trustee Ryan Ruelas said that, “I don’t have you know a question or anything like that, but I do have a comment… I think the comment that was made in regards to, the public comment made by this gentleman from wherever, yeah, …I really don’t care what he has to say…”(Skip 3 hours and 34 minutes into the video to hear AESD Trustee Ryan Ruelas “I really don’t care what he has to say” comment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXIGn0GBqeQ&t=6209s)

Ruelas’ apathetic dismissal of CFEC’s legitimate concerns struck Trustees Jose Paolo Magcalas and Mark Lopez as so funny that they had to share a glance and a smile.  

Then with no debate and no discussion, all five board members rushed to approve the discriminatory special interest deal on school construction. This is actually the first time Mark Lopez has voted for this type of waste and discrimination on a school district construction because he was not a board member in April 2018 when the original PLA vote occurred – nor was Trustee Juan Álvarez. Mark Lopez’s vote was especially curious since he used to work for one of the Republican Orange County Supervisors. AESD Trustee Jackie Filbeck voted for this discriminatory special interest deal both times.

So unfortunately, the motion was approved for an amendment to the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) between the District and the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council and the Signatory Craft Councils and Union for the addition of the project at Patrick Henry Elementary School which will be subject to the CBA.(Agenda can bee seen here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X-U3VTu34JsOTa7RJwvtNmlzbVdNJ8xY/view)

Let’s hope that Anaheim Elementary School District doesn’t have a budget downturn like California did from 2022 to 2023. When budget surpluses vanish, that is when elected officials look back at wasteful discriminatory special interest deals like this one and start to care – instead of saying, “I really don’t care what he has to say.” The public will have another opportunity to speak out against this special interest deal tonight at the regularly scheduled school board meeting for the Open Session Meeting in the Board of Education Board Room, 1001 S. East Street, Building B, Anaheim, California. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZSdTkJibn_WgyOE6Op6QvKwPjvwjy9r0/view). If we do not put an end to these special interest deals on school construction, the real losers will be our students, taxpayers and minority contractors.

Anaheim Elementary School District Limits Participation By Minority Contractors

May 10, 2023

By Dave Everett

Western Electrical Contractors Association

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A Word (or Two) about Judges on the Ballot

Posted by Craig P Alexander on October 14, 2022

Dear Friends,  

Almost every election I am asked about the judges on the ballot. Often I do not have a recommendation one way or the other. On this ballot you are going to find a long list of justices of the courts you are being asked to either approve with a yes vote or disapprove with a no vote. Let me give you some background about the elections for the California judicial system that might also help understand the old axiom “Elections have consequences.”  

California’s State Judicial System  

In California’s state judicial system (not Federal Court where the judges have lifetime appointments) there are basically three levels of judges. The first level is the Superior Court sometimes known as a “trial judge”. This is the judge you might meet if you have to file a lawsuit or “go to court” for any reason. You would be in a courtroom with only one judge who makes all of the decisions (or oversees the jury who makes many decisions at a trial). The other two categories of judges are actually “justices” who sit on the California Supreme Court or an intermediate Court of Appeals.  

Superior Court Judicial Elections

Superior Court judges are either elected to a six year term or appointed by the Governor and then stand for election at the next primary election (normally in June). An attorney who wishes to challenge a judge or run for an open seat (due to a judge passing away or who has retired) will become a candidate for that position. Sometimes there are several candidates for that one seat. If there are more than two candidates running and no one candidate gets 50% plus one vote, the top two vote getters have a run off election in November’s general election. This year in June in Orange County there were several Superior Court elections and only one of them resulted in a run off election. In that election attorney Peggy Huang is one of the top two vote getters and I highly recommend you vote for Peggy (https://www.peggyhuang.com/).   

California Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Retention “Elections”

When there is an opening on a Court of Appeal or the California Supreme Court, the sitting Governor appoints a person (often a Superior Court judge or a law school professor) and he or she is confirmed by the California Commission on Judicial Appointments. The justice then will stand for a “retention” election at the next general election (November of that year) and all justices stand for a “retention” election every twelve years. At this election the voters are asked if they wish to retain a justice (by voting yes) or to not retain a justice (by voting no). There is no opposition candidate running for that appeals court seat. Most often these justices are “retained” by yes votes of greater than 90% or even 95% of the votes cast. Most often if you ask a voter why they voted yes, they would have no idea why or what the justices’ rulings have been. It is rare that a justice of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals is ousted in this fashion. They normally retire or die in office. But it has happened before.

In 1986 Governor George Deukmejian and many, many business interests and conservative elected officials grew tired of what is often called the Rose Bird Court (named for then Chief Justice Rose Bird). This court was famous for issuing what many people believe were poorly reasoned and even emotional decisions that hurt individual liberties and business interests. The governor and the others organized (and raised funds for) a campaign to convince voters to vote “no” to oust several of the most liberal justices on the Supreme Court. They were successful and all of the three justices involved were ousted at the November 1986 general election.  What happened after that? Governor Deukmejian then appointed new justices including then new Chief Justice Malcom Lewis who served until 1996 when he retired.    

Today’s Situation 

Fast forward to today, there is no campaign to oust any sitting Supreme Court or Court of Appeal justice. Therefore it is highly unlikely that by just word of mouth enough No votes would occur to oust any sitting justice today. But even if that did happen, who would appoint a new set of justices to the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal? Governor Gavin Newsom! The last thing I would want to do is allow Gavin Newsom to have the opportunity to reshape the California Courts so dramatically and so much more to the left.   

So what is the answer to make changes in the California judicial system – better Governors and legislators being elected! Thus to the point that elections have consequences! Do you like the current United States Supreme Court after President Trump and the then Republican U.S. Senate appointed and confirmed three much more conservative justices? Well that was the result of many, many years of conservatives electing U.S. Senators and a President that in turn appointed conservative justices.    Can that happen in California? Yes but it is going to take many years to reverse the course of our state’s electoral politics. Basically re-educating the average voter why voting “liberal” is not going to get you a good result including a better state judicial system (unless you are a committed progressive liberal, then you are quite happy with the current state of affairs in California and welcome conservatives to move to Texas and Florida).   

There is no “quick fix” to the problem of years of voters voting into office progressive and aggressive politicians like Gavin Newsom. And I firmly believe it is the voters, not the elected politicians, who are most at fault for the outcomes of electing these types of people – high taxes, regulations, high government fees, employers fleeing the state, etc., etc. The power is in the voters hands to make this change and it is our responsibility as conservatives to educate them on why that is a better choice.       

Blessings!

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Craig Alexander’s “Craig’s PICs” Voter Recommendations for the Nov. 8, 2022 General Election

Posted by Craig P Alexander on October 10, 2022

Each election I post my “Craig’s PICs” voter recommendations. For those interested, here they are:

craigs-pics-november-8-2022-general-electionDownload

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Live from OC GOP Central Committee: Endorsements for November 2022 Election Round 3

Posted by Chris Nguyen on August 15, 2022

The following candidates who received the recommendation of the Endorsements Committee are up for consideration tonight by the Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee:

  • Carrie Hayashida for Cypress City Council
  • Hon. Bonnie Peat for Cypress City Council
  • John Gabbard for Dana Point City Council, District 1
  • Patrick Harper for Fountain Valley School District.
  • Laurie Merrick for Garden Grove City Council, District 3
  • Dr. Susan Prichard for La Habra City Council
  • Ben Yu for Lake Forest City Council, District 2
  • Hon. Scott Voigts for Lake Forest City Council, District 3
  • Aaron Washington for San Clemente City Council
  • Meghan Willis for Huntington Beach City School District Area 2
  • Autumn McCall DiGiovanni for Huntington Beach City School District, Area 4
  • Julie Norton for Huntington Beach City School District, Area 5
  • Kristen Seaburn for Newport-Mesa Unified School District Trustee, Area 7
  • Angela Williams for Orange Unified School District, Area 1
  • Madison Miner for Orange Unified School District, Area 4
  • Hon. Tim Surridge for Orange Unified School District, Area 5
  • Hon. Rick Ledesma for Orange Unified School District, Area 7
  • Richard Ingle for Placentia-Yorba Linda School District, Area 5
  • Kelly Felton for Tustin Unified School District, Area e
  • Hon. Phil Hawkins for Yorba Linda Water District
  • Hon. Brett Barbre for Yorba Linda Water District
  • Hon. Tom Lindsey for Yorba Linda Water District

These candidates are also eligible for consideration by the Central Committee but received a neutral recommendation from the Endorsements Committee:

  • Simon Moon for Irvine Mayor
  • Namquan Nguyen for Westminster City Council, District 4
  • Steve Slawson for Placentia Yorba Linda School District, Area 4
  • Hon. Brooke Jones for Yorba Linda Water District

This ballot measure position is also recommended by the Endorsements Committee for consideration by the Central Committee:

  • No on Capistrano Unified School District Bond Measure

Previously endorsed candidates are listed here.

The invocation is led by Austin Edsell, the Pledge of Allegiance by Mission Viejo Mayor Wendy Bucknun, and the roll call by OCGOP Chairman Fred Whitaker. Yorba Linda Councilman Gene Hernandez swears in several alternates. The minutes are approved.

Chairman Whitaker speaks about the events and meetings of the past month. He urges Central Committee members to recruit friends to walk precincts and phone bank. He announced a special meeting for endorsements on August 29; it will be on Zoom so as not to spend extra money on hotel meeting room rental.

Whitaker explains the situation in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Trustee Area 4. OC GOP told Steve Slawson’s team on July 18 they could wait until August, but OC GOP didn’t realize that Todd Frazier on the July 18 Endorsements Commitee agenda was for the same seat.

Whitaker also explains that the Endorsements Committee recommended Brett Barbre, incumbent Tom Lindsey, and incumbent Phil Hawkins for Yorba Linda Water District under the mistaken impression that incumbent Brooke Jones was retiring. Jones contacted OCGOP after Endorsements Committee met but before Central Committee, so all the candidates for YLWD were until the August Central Committee to allow all four to be reviewed together.

Whitaker introduces the first guest speaker, Chris Gonzales, candidate for the 46th Congressional District.

Gonzales speaks about his personal background, including his service in the United States Army and his legal career. He had considered running for the 47th Congressional District but supported Scott Baugh. He considered running for Mayor of Irvine, but he realized his passion was for federal issues. He decided to run in the 46th Congressional District, where his office is, because he feels the people of that District are the most in need, with crime, homelessness, and poverty. He speaks of his public service career of 30 years. He also speaks of volunteering for Bruce Herschensohn for US Senate in 1992 and compares his own race to Herschensohn’s. He also noted his unsuccessful run for Mayor of Irvine in 2010.

Whitaker introduces the second guest speaker, Eddy Marmolejo, California Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly.

Marmolejo speaks of his group’s mission and how it supplies volunteers for precinct walking and phone banking. He speaks of the importance of conservative values for Hispanics. He speaks of affordability and financial security for Hispanics. He notes the their group is working with the Republican Party at every level: RNC, CAGOP, and OCGOP. He speaks of the importance of communication and doing so in Spanish (literature where one side is in English and the other side is in Spanish). He comments about discussing key issues over carne asada, and cites the economy, education, and health care as the top three issues.

Chairman Whitaker and Mayor Rhonda Shader recognize the Volunteer of the Month, Kerry Zhang.

Zhang is a high school intern for the Scott Baugh for Congress campaign, where he is a top volunteer, even spending his 16th birthday volunteering with the campaign. Zhang spoke of the camaraderie of the campaign and the importance of volunteerism.

At 7:47 PM, Whitaker announces the beginning of the candidate forum in Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Trustee Area 4. He noted there would be a three minute opening statement for each candidate.

At 7:49 PM, Todd Frazier noted PYLUSD removing CRT from schools. He said COVID-19 revealed a lot about what was going on in school. His daughter quit sports because she felt it was too dangerous to wear a mask while engaging in athletics. He blasts DEI. He says they are taking the school district back from leftists. He opposes frivolous spending on teaching kids to play via DEI. He is a CPA.

At 7:52 PM, Steve Slawson has been running for a year and a half. He says this is like a small town campaign. He put his team together in March. He has a $30,000 budget and has increased it to $50,000. He has walked 1,200 houses already. He notes the incumbent, Karin Freeman, has to go. His children have been in the district for a combined 25 years. He even has the support of Freeman’s son. He volunteered in the school for 9 years. He saw a lot of things he didn’t like with Zoom school. He was on three PYLUSD committees. He was the sole Republican on those committees and fought for conservative values. He has also secured 13 slate mailers.

At 7:55, Whitaker asks for questions.

Jennifer Beall asks their top two priorities if elected.

At 7:56, Slawson says he would fire the lawyers and replace them. He would find a superintendent with CEO experience and who would follow the direction of the Board.

At 7:57, Frazier says he wants to block medical clinics on campus. He wants to retool PYLUSD administration.

At 7:58, Cynthia Thacker asks for the party registration of the Trustee Area 4.

Frazier says it’s 48% Republican and 27% Democrat and laments voter turnout.

Slawson notes the number of voters who turn out.

At 7:59 PM, Gene Hernandez asks if the candidates will step aside if the other candidate gets the endorsement.

Slawson says it is too late for that. And it should have been in March.

Frazier says he would have done so before candidate filing closed on August 12 because it is no longer possible to do so.

Brett Barbre asks about top endorsements.

Frazier notes OCGOP, CRA, OCBE, PYLUSD Trustees Shawn Youngblood and Leandra Blades, and Yorba Linda Councilman Gene Hernandez.

Slawson notes Don Wagner, Scott Voigts, Steve Vargas, and Dylan Callaway.

At 8:02, Kristin Manna asked about campaign finance.

Slawson has $23,000 cash on hand and is adding another $20,000.

Frazier has a $20,000 budget and has received donated printing for signs, banners, and T-shirts.

At 8:03, Ray Gennawey asks about cash on hand.

Frazier says $2,000.

At 8:04 PM, Chairman Whitaker says the candidate forum for PYLUSD has concluded, and a vote will take place later. He introduces the Yorba Linda Water District candidate forum.

Brett Barbre has lived in Yorba Linda since 1969, been active in the party since 1985, and was elected to the water district in 1998. He speaks of establishing the district website, the importance of groundwater, the challenges of the 2008 fire, and fire hardening of various water infrastructure. He speaks of labor issues coming up. He notes Phil Hawkins and Tom Lindsey are his running mates.

Phil Hawkins has been on the YLWD Board since 2010. His first job was for Assemblyman Wayne Grisham in 1988. His father was elected to the Assembly in 1994. Hawkins was on the LA Central Committee from 1996-2000, when he moved to Orange County. He’s lived in Yorba Linda since 2001. After the 2008 fire, he joined a YLWD citizens advisory committee. He was appointed to a vacancy on the YLWD Board in February 2010. He won elections in 2010, 2014, and 2018. Because he came in with the fire, fire hardening is one of his priorities. He is endorsed by his co-worker Tim Shaw and Congresswoman Young Kim.

Brooke Jones says he is a lifelong Republican and is in good standing. He ran in 2016 and 2018, and was the top vote-getter both times. He says Barbre gave the false information that Jones was not running and notes he finished candidate filing before Barbre. He noted prior boards raised fees by 148%. He noted he was the only Board Member to oppose a fee increase proposed by Barbre. He represents YLWD on the OC Sanitation District and the Independent Special Districts of Orange County.

Tom Lindsey was appointed to YLWD in 2021. He was a two-time Mayor of Yorba Linda. He has helped elect other Republicans to office. He calls for taxpayer protecting and state government shielding governance at YLWD. He’s voted to challenge State mandates. He’s been endorsed by OCGOP in every campaign he’s run in, including a recall election that took place just weeks before the general election. He states he feels a greater urgency to defend conservative values. He notes his 12-year-old granddaughter was asked by her pediatrician due to state law about whether she would date a boy or a girl, and she didn’t even understand.

At 8:18, Ben Yu asks if any of them will suspend their campaign if they don’t get the endorsement.

All four say they will not.

At 8:19, Kermit Marsh asks each candidate stood on the Yorba Linda recall.

Hawkins supported Craig Young and Tom Lindsey.

Jones says he was not involved.

Lindsey was a target of the recall and obviously opposed.

Barbre opposed the recall. He notes that the old recall proponents endorsed Jones for YLWD.

At 8:21 PM, Chairman Fred Whitaker asks Endorsements Committee Chair Jeff Barke to deliver the report of the Committee.

Barke thanks Whitaker and apologizes for the committee’s errors. He thanks committee members Gretchen Cox, Erik Weigand, Gene Hernandez, Ray Gennawey, Alberta Christy, and Austin Lumbard. He thanks OCGOP staff. He highlights a few specific applications.

In Newport Mesa Unified School District, Trustee Area 7, Kristen Seaburn was recommended but Barke has just learned of another Republican who intends to apply for the endorsement.

Namquan Nguyen has withdrawn his application from Westminster Council District 4.

He says Simon Moon is a wonderful person but there are multiple Republicans running and has little political experience as he is running to be Mayor of a major OC city.

He brings up Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Trustee Area 4. He says there were items that the Endorsements Committee learned about Slawson but did not specify what the items were.

The consent calendar of affirmative recommendations, less Newport Mesa Unified School District Trustee Area 7 (Kristen Seaburn), is approved by voice vote.

A motion and second for Seaburn is made and approved by voice vote.

Whitaker asks if there is a motion on Simon Moon for Irvine Mayor.

There is a motion and a second for Moon.

Baron Night speaks in favor of Moon. He says Moon has asked for the endorsement and probably won’t win. He feels endorsing is a way to get Moon involved in the party. He says Moon seems to be a good person. He says Moon can build up name ID for future elections. He points to an unnamed candidate for whom this worked.

Chairman Whitaker says this is a difficult position. He notes how party resources have to be used and if the effort has a shot at winning and whether it will help or detract other races. He notes this is the first time in 20 years that the number of Republicans running matches the number of seats available, and the vote will not be split. He says there are multiple Republicans running for Mayor but none of them have the experience to run a successful campaign to unseat the Democratic Mayor. These Mayoral candidates may draw money away from the Council candidates.

The vote for endorsing Moon fails 12-25. NO ENDORSEMENT FOR MAYOR OF IRVINE.

The motion to unendorse Frazier failed 7-34. FRAZIER RETAINS ENDORSEMENT IN PYLUSD AREA 4.

Chairman Whitaker notes that the Brooke Jones endorsement request has been rendered moot since Barbre, Lindsey, and Hawkins were already endorsed for YLWD.

There are various Executive Committee reports and club reports.

The meeting adjourns at 9:06 in memory of Sharon Rogers, Joy Neugebauer, and Gwen Dyrud.

Posted in Republican Central Committee | 1 Comment »

Live from OC GOP Central Committee: Endorsements for November 2022 Election Round 2

Posted by Chris Nguyen on July 25, 2022

It’s been some time since we’ve done a live blog, so it’s probably time to start up again. It should be noted the phone reception in Costa Mesa has been much more challenging than back when the meetings were held in Irvine.

The following candidates who received the recommendation of the Endorsements Committee are up for consideration tonight by the Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee:

  • Max Duncan for Aliso Viejo City Council
  • Hon. Don Caskey for Laguna Hills City Council
  • Hon. Erica Pezold for Laguna Hills City Council
  • Josh Sweeney for Laguna Hills City Council
  • Hon. Dave Wheeler for Laguna Hills City Council
  • Stephanie Winstead for Laguna Niguel City Council
  • Robert Ruesch for Mission Viejo City Council, District 1
  • Hon. Brian Goodell for Mission Viejo City Council, District 2
  • Hon. Ed Sachs for Mission Viejo City Council, District 3
  • Hon. Trish Kelley for Mission Viejo City Council, District 4
  • Hon. Wendy Bucknum for Mission Viejo City Council, District 5
  • Joe Stapleton for Newport Beach City Council, District 1
  • Robyn Grant for Newport Beach City Council, District 4
  • Lauren Kleiman for Newport Beach City Council, District 6
  • Hon. Anne Figueroa for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council
  • Hon. Brad McGirr for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council
  • Hon. Steve Knoblock for San Clemente City Council
  • Ray Schnell for Tustin City Council, District 3
  • Kira Davis for Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 2
  • Jim Glantz for Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 4
  • Hon. Michelle Barto for Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Trustee Area 5
  • Barbara George for Newport-Mesa United School District, Trustee Area 4
  • Todd Frazier for Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, Trustee Area 4
  • Hon. Greg Kunath for Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Trustee Area 1

These candidates are also eligible for consideration by the Central Committee but received a neutral recommendation from the Endorsements Committee:

  • Hon. Matt Rahn for State Assembly, 71st District
  • Kathryn Sanchez for State Assembly, 71st District
  • Jeff von Waldburg for Laguna Niguel City Council
  • Jess Battaglia for Yorba Linda City Council
  • Janice Lim for Yorba Linda City Council

One candidate is also eligible for consideration by the Central Committee but received a negative recommendation from the Endorsements Committee:

  • Tom Miller for Newport Beach City Council, District 1

The Central Committee already approved official endorsements from the Republican Party of Orange County for the following candidates:

  • Hon. Eric Ching for Congress, 38th District
  • Hon. Young Kim for Congress, 40th District
  • Hon. Michelle Steel for Congress, 45th District
  • Christopher Gonzales for Congress, 46th District
  • Hon. Scott Baugh for Congress, 47th District
  • Hon. Brian Maryott for Congress, 49th District
  • Hon. Kelly Seyarto for State Senate, 32nd District
  • Hon. Rhonda Shader for State Senate, 34th District
  • Hon. Janet Nguyen for State Senate, 36th District
  • Matt Gunderson for State Senate, 38th District
  • Hon. Phillip Chen for State Assembly, 59th District
  • Hon. Soo Yoo for State Assembly, 67th District
  • Mike Tardif for State Assembly, 68th District
  • Hon. Diane Dixon for State Assembly, 72nd District
  • Hon. Steven Choi for State Assembly, 73rd District
  • Hon. Laurie Davies for State Assembly, 74th District
  • Hon. Pat Bates for Orange County Board of Supervisors, 5th District
  • Hon. Peggy Huang for Superior Court Judge, Office No. 30
  • Tara Lea Ricksen for Aliso Viejo City Council
  • Hon. Michael Gates for Huntington Beach City Attorney
  • Hon. Tony Strickland for Huntington Beach City Council
  • Casey McKeon for Huntington Beach City Council
  • Gracey Van Der Mark for Huntington Beach City Council
  • Pat Burns for Huntington Beach City Council
  • Hon. Anthony Kuo for Irvine City Council
  • John Park for Irvine City Council
  • Guadalupe Lara for La Habra City Council
  • Ray Gennawey for Laguna Niguel City Council
  • Erik Weigand for Newport Beach City Council, District 3
  • Hon. Mark Murphy for Mayor of Orange
  • Hon. Kathy Tavoularis for Orange City Council, District 3            
  • Hon. Chip Monaco for Orange City Council, District 4
  • John Gyllenhammer for Orange City Council, District 6       
  • Hon. Austin Lumbard for Mayor of Tustin
  • Hon. Carlos Rodriguez for Yorba Linda City Council

The meeting commences with an invocation from Pano Frousiakis and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Ryan May.

After the roll call, the ex officio members are sworn in since this is the first Central Committee meeting since the certification of the primary election in late June.

OCGOP Chairman Fred Whitaker gives an update on the OCGOP’s efforts on targeted races. He also notes that Tom Miller contacted him moments ago to withdraw his endorsement request for Newport Beach City Council, District 1.

At 7:21, Whitaker asks Endorsements Committee Chairman Jeff Barke to deliver the committee’s report.

Barke notes that the Yorba Linda Water District endorsement requests have been deferred to August by mutual agreement of the candidates to allow all to be considered.

Barke notes new endorsements from the Mayor Carlos Rodriguez and two school board members for Jess Battaglia for Yorba Linda City Council.

In the 71st Assembly District campaign, Barke asks Endorsements Committee Member Erik Weigand to share new information. He says there is an endorsement application question about contributions to Democrats in the past ten years. Weigand notes there are eight donations from Matt Rahn to Democrat Barack Obama in 2012, ranging from May to October. He also gave more recently to Donald Trump, Ken Calvert, and Jeff Stone. Weigand expresses concern that Rahn was not forthcoming about the 2012 donations. Barke says that Rahn implied Pastor Tim Thompson (whoever that is) endorsed him, but Thompson called Barke to tell him he is supporting Kathryn Sanchez for this seat.

Whitaker notes that the Yorba Linda Council race is divided between Janice Lim and Jess Battaglia.

At 7:32 PM, Jennifer Beall moves and Laurie Davies seconds the consent calendar.

Anthony Kuo asks for confirmation that incumbents Ed Sachs and Greg Raths are running in the same seat and that Sachs is recommended. Whitaker confirms. Kuo expresses support.

No one pulls anyone from the consent calendar of people with positive recommendations from the Endorsements Committee. At 7:35, the vote is unanimous.

First of the contested races is the 71st Assembly District between Matt Rahn and Kathryn Sanchez.

Councilman Matt Rahn became a Republican 10 years ago. Darrell Issa, Ken Calvert, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, Phil Chen, Steven Choi, Don Wagner, Diane Dixon, and half the Assembly Republican Caucus have endorsed him. He has supported conservative Republicans and even supported Trump before other Republicans did. He says living in California and seeing Democratic governance made him a Republican. He fought against cannabis dispensaries and sanctuary cities. He is pro life and supports gun rights and school choice.

Kate Sanchez states she is a lifelong Republican. She blasts California’s gas prices, taxes, and inflation. She says she has the ability to lead and has experience from the California Policy Center, working on school choice. She was interim Executive Director of the California Women’s Leadership Association. She was a Congressional staffer and worked on solutions for immigration. She notes the district has unique needs, where she has lived and worked for 30 years. She notes endorsements from Laurie Davies, Melissa Melendez, Harmeet Dhillon, the entire Rancho Santa Margarita Council, and members of the Mission Viejo Council. She states she is the only lifelong Republican in the race and is a proven conservative.

At 7:45, Benjamin Yu asks to delay the endorsement to August, but Whitaker notes there is no motion on the floor yet.

At 7:46, Jon Fleischman asks Rahn why he didn’t disclose his contributions to Barack Obama in 2012 and endorsement of Kamala Harris in 2016. He also asks about donations to a tax measure.

Rahn states it was his job in Washington, DC to make the contributions as an advocate for firefighters. He disputes that he endorsed Harris. He says the Riverside County GOP vetted this and still endorsed him. Rahn says that the State took away City funding, and every city in southwest Riverside County placed a tax increase measure on the ballot.

At 7:49, Baron Night asks that Rahn became a Republican ten years ago. He says the Registrar’s record was that he became a Republican in 2014.

Rahn states he was a Decline to State. In Washington, DC, and Sacramento, he saw how broke the values of government leaders were. He moved to California from Nevada. He became a Republican because conservative Republican leaders mentored him on conservative values.

At 7:52, Jennifer Beall asks Sanchez if she has ever endorsed or received an endorsement from a Democrat.

Sanchez says she has never endorsed a Democrat nor given money to one.

At 7:53, Beall asks Sanchez if she will ever vote for a tax increase.

Sanchez says no.

Beall asks about creating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) committees like in Temecula.

Sanchez says no.

Rahn is unsure what the comment about Democrats supporting him is. He says when Temecula passed the sales tax increase, it was for public safety and cost the average taxpayer $100-$200. However, he then refinanced CFDs to lower individual taxpayer burden by $200-$1,400. He says the DEI Commission was established to avoid a CVRA lawsuit. The Commission dealt with Council districting, senior programs, and teenager programs.

At 7:57, Zack McCready asked if Sanchez reviewed a hit piece on Rahn that was distributed to the Central Committee.

She says she was not aware of the piece.

At 7:59, Ray Gennawey asks for which OC Republicans have endorsed each.

Rahn states he is endorsed by Darrell Issa, Mimi Walters, Steven Choi, Vince Fong, Phil Chen, Don Wagner, Diane Dixon, Ed Sachs, Greg Raths, OC Professional Firefighters, and Association of OC Deputy Sheriffs. There is murmuring from the Committee, as Fong has never represented OC.

Sanchez says the entire Rancho Santa Margarita Council, Mission Viejo Councilmembers Wendy Bucknum and Trish Kelley, and Assemblywoman Laurie Davies.

Will O’Neill asks if Rahn would vote for either a tax increase or to put a tax increase on the ballot.

Rahn states he would not, and there is no circumstance in which he would in the Assembly.

At 8:02, Kermit Marsh asks who are the five largest entities endorsing each candidate.

Sanchez cites the California Young Republican Federation, Grow Elect, CRA, Reform California, CWLA

Rahn notes OC Professional Firefighters, Association of OC Deputy Sheriffs, the Riverside Firefighters and Deputies, California District Attorneys Association, Realtors Associations statewide and in both counties, and California Charter Schools Association.

At 8:05, Benjamin Yu blames the Redistricting Commission for this convoluted district. He asks if the candidates applied for the Riverside County Republican Party endorsement.

Sanchez says she got the majority of the votes but not the 2/3 supermajority to get the endorsement. The vote will be taken up again.

Rahn says he was only a few votes short of the 2/3 supermajority at Riverside County Republican Party Central Committee. The minutes of the meeting were lost. He urges the Central Committee to stand with the neutral recommendation of the Endorsements Committee.

At 8:08, Amy Phan West asks about mask mandates and vaccine passports. She asks if they will fight those.

Sanchez says she is 100% anti-mandate.

Rahn says he did exactly that as a Councilmember. Temecula stayed open and worked with Sheriff Chad Bianco to refuse to enforce the mandates. He says they lost only 1 restaurant in 2020 and then gained 2 in 2021. He says his record is 100% anti-mandate.

At 8:11, Zach McCready motions for an endorsement of Matt Rahn.

Rahn requests for a neutral endorsement in the 71st District.

At 8:13, Baron Night moves and Jennifer Beall seconds to endorse Kate Sanchez.

Chairman Whitaker asks for speakers for and against the endorsement.

At 8:16, Tim Whitacre speaks in favor of the motion for endorsing Sanchez. He says the committee relies on relationships. He says the Secretary of the Riverside County Republican Party, Desare Ferraro, can verify that the majority of that committee voted for Sanchez though not 2/3. He says relationships are important and deferring to those who know the candidates best. He notes after vetting by the Endorsements Committee, the committee had issues with Rahn but no issues with Sanchez. He urges votes for Sanchez with endorsements of people the committee trusts.

At 8:19, Zach McCready says he was contacted by both candidates over the weekend. In 2024, he will enthusiastically support the re-election of whoever wins in 2022. He notes the Endorsements Committee recommended a neutral endorsement. He says this should be left to the voters. He notes there are people like Darrell Issa who know both and endorsed Rahn. He notes there are others who know both and endorsed Sanchez.

At 8:22, Jennifer Beall notes redistricting and it is the safest Republican seat in the State. It is not a purple seat – it is a R+10 seat. She says Rahn is backed by many unions, who are already represented in Sacramento. She says conservatives need representation in Sacramento. She says Laurie Davies needs another conservative in Sacramento. She says Rahn raised taxes in Temecula and gave $2,300 to the tax increase.

At 8:25, Steve Moss admits he is a political neophyte and spoke with both candidates. He says it is important that they call him back and give information. He notes this is not a purple district, but is a red district. He blasts the hit piece against Rahn. He calls on both candidates to repudiate the hit. He urges everyone to support the Endorsements Committee’s neutral recommendation.

At 8:26, Whitaker calls the roll.

SANCHEZ ENDORSED FOR ASSEMBLY 41-5.

At 8:31, the committee moves on to Yorba Linda City Council: Jess Battaglia and Janice Lim are vying for the last endorsement (Incumbent Carlos Rodriguez has already been endorsed for the other Yorba Linda City Council seat.)

Anthony Kuo moves and Wendy Bucknum seconds endorsing Janice Lim.

At 8:33, Kuo noted the Endorsements Committee often tells candidates to volunteer for the party and get on City Commissions. Kuo describes her extensive volunteerism and her City Commission service. She worked on legislation with Congressman Ed Royce and Senator Bob Huff. He notes she goes above and beyond with her time and money to support Republicans.

At 8:35, Tim Shaw reads a statement from Yorba Linda Councilman Gene Hernandez. Hernandez notes that 3 Councilmembers have endorsed Battaglia. He states Battaglia has fought for school choice and is active in the community. He is a man of faith. Hernandez says Battaglia will be a team player and uphold conservative values.

At 8:36, Yorba Linda Councilwoman Tara Campbell met Lim 10 years ago working on school choice legislation with Bob Huff. Huff, Ed Royce, Young Kim, and Phil Chen have endorsed Lim. Campbell notes Yorba Linda Councilwoman Peggy Huang is the person vacating this seat and is the former Vice Chair of this party and plans to vote for Lim to succeed her. (Editor’s Note: Huang has not formally endorsed in this seat due to her candidacy for a judicial seat against Black Lives Matter Activist/former Public Defender Michele Bell) Campbell noted the extensive work to improve Yorba Linda through her commission seat. She notes Lim also chaired the city’s largest volunteer program and is engaged in the issues and helped Yorba Linda fight RHNA numbers for the past two years. She notes Lim has served the party for 15 years.

At 8:40, Leandra Blades endorses Jess Battaglia. She says he is honest, kind, and a servant-leader. She says she is shocked that Lim claims the endorsement of Shawn Youngblood. She claims Lim falsely claimed the endorsement of a church. She says it is untrue that Lim brought Blades into the party. She says Battaglia has spoken out at school board meetings against mask and vaccine mandates.

At 8:42, Sara Catalan says there is written confirmation from Youngblood that he endorsed Lim. Catalan says that Lim did not claim the endorsement of the church, but one of the church’s leaders, and the Battaglia team knows it because they tried to get the church leader to pull her endorsement. Catalan notes that a first appearance before the Central Committee should not be simply to ask for an endorsement. Catalan notes that Lim has volunteered at the party for 15 years.

At 8:46, Greg Gianelli reads another statement from Gene Hernandez noting the endorsements of 3 Councilmembers for Battaglia.

At 8:49, Will O’Neill asks if it is true that both candidates stated they will drop out if they do not get the OC GOP endorsement.

Barke states they did.

At 8:51, Benjamin Yu asks if it would be possible to delay the vote to August.

Several people murmur that they wouldn’t be able to drop out.

At 8:52, John Moorlach makes a substitute motion to endorse no one.

Whitaker asks for speakers on the motion.

At 8:53, Moorlach says the endorsement process is unique and will hurt people who are part of the party. He says he has friends backing both candidates.

At 8:54, Jon Fleischman says it would be great to have 2 candidates for 2 seats, but there are 3 candidates. He is a Yorba Linda resident, and there may be other Republicans running. He says Democrats are good at winnowing the field, and it is refreshing that the candidates are willing to drop out if the OC GOP makes an endorsement.

At 8:55, Whitaker holds a vote on the substitute motion of no endorsement.

MOTION FOR NO ENDORSEMENT FAILS

At 9:00, Whitaker holds a roll call vote on the previous motion to endorse Janice Lim for Yorba Linda City Council.

LIM ENDORSED FOR YORBA LINDA CITY COUNCIL 40-10.

At 9:05 PM, the meeting adjourns in memory of former Senator Bob Dutton, who was serving as San Bernardino County Assessor/Clerk-Recorder.

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“Republican” Chi Charlie Nguyen Cost Taxpayers Over $2.5 Million Dollars For ONE Project!

Posted by Dave Everett on July 21, 2022

Over my career I have worked with several non-union construction groups. With each organization the message to elected officials has been essentially the same, “If you restrict 80% of the construction workforce from working on your projects, your costs will go up.” It is obvious to anyone who has taken Economics 101. Unfortunately, this message was ignored by Republican Midway City Sanitary District Director Chi Charlie Nguyen. The Project Labor Agreement that Nguyen and his colleagues passed in 2021 has now come back to cost Midway City Sanitation District taxpayers over $2.5 million dollars – and that is just for ONE project!

Midway City Sanitary District does not post its agenda packets (including staff reports for agenda items) on its website. So information is limited, but it appears that last April, all 5 Midway City Sanitation District Directors voted to approve a Project Workforce Agreement (PWA) with Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council for their District Addition, Solar and Remodel Project. (https://www.midwaycitysanitarydistrict.com/files/a5114e8c1/04-20-2021_agenda.pdf)

In September 2021, the Midway City Sanitary District (MCSD) began accepting bids to build additions to the Midway City Sanitary District offices and a remodel of the Midway City Sanitary District offices. The original bid deadline was September 14, 2021, with an estimate of $2,800,000.

On October 5, 2021 the board rejected all bids. The board voted to advertise for bids again on December 7, 2021. Director Tyler Diep expressed concern that the the qualifications were too restrictive and they wouldn’t get enough bids. (https://www.midwaycitysanitarydistrict.com/files/b434a88f8/12-07-2021_minutes.pdf).

Diep was correct. After several more rounds of bidding, the estimate is now $4,650,000 and the bids that actually came in were even higher than that! The following six (6) Bids were received:

1. $5,401,240.00
2. $5,499,483.00
3. $5,607,231.00
4. $5,656,235.41
5. $6,745,218.74
6. $7,210,000.00

So if the initial bid estimate was $2.8 million and the MCSD accepted the lowest bid now available, the PLA will have cost the district $2,601,240 (about $2.6 million.)

If the MCSD accepts the highest bid of $7.21 million, then the PLA will have cost taxpayers over $4.4 million.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time Chi Charlie Nguyen has refused to defend taxpayers. Last year Councilman Chi Charlie Nguyen made a motion to approve a ballot measure keeping a 1% sale tax rate hike artificially high for another TEN YEARS! Thankfully, he failed to get enough votes. (https://voiceofoc.org/2020/08/westminster-council-again-fails-to-act-on-sales-tax-measure-as-financial-crisis-looms/.)

“But why should we hold Chi Charlie Nguyen responsible if all 5 Directors voted for the wasteful, discriminatory Project Labor Agreement?” you might ask.

To me, the answer is simple. You expect liberal politicians like Sergio Contreras or Andrew Nguyen to overspend and waste taxpayer money. It is part of their political philosophy. Tyler Diep has already come out as a PLA supporter in cities like Anaheim and Garden Grove. Mark Nguyen did not vote for the PLA because he was appointed to the Board of Directors on September 7, 2021 to fill the vacancy left by Director Margie Rice who passed away on July 25, 2021. 

You do not expect taxpayer rip-offs and overspending from Republicans like Chi Charlie Nguyen.

Unfortunately, Midway City Sanitary District voters can’t hold Nguyen accountable until November 2024. However voters in the City of Westminster will only have to wait a little over 100 days to hold Chi Charlie Nguyen accountable for his special interest deal that wasted over $2.5 million taxpayer dollars.

With rising inflation and gas prices, Chi Charlie Nguyen’s waste of our tax money could not come at a worse time for taxpayers. And who knows how much waste he will be responsible for when the final inflated contract is awarded.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

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