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Republican? Democrat? Independent? The Partisan Affiliations of Everyone Running for Everything in Orange County

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 30, 2012

There’s been a lot of talk and mail about the partisan affiliations of candidates, so I’m providing the definitive guide of partisan affiliations for every candidate running for everything in Orange County in the November 6, 2012, general election.  Whether they’re running for President of the United States or Director of the Silverado-Modjeska Canyon Recreation and Park District, we’ve got it all:

FEDERAL OFFICES

President and Vice President
Roseanne Barr/Cindy Sheehan – Peace and Freedom
Thomas Hoefling/Robert Ornelas – American Independent
Gary Johnson/James P. Gray – Libertarian
Barack Obama/Joe Biden – Democrat
Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan – Republican
Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala – Green

United States Senator
Elizabeth Emken – Republican
Dianne Feinstein – Democrat

United States Representative, 38th District
Linda T. Sánchez – Democrat
Benjamin Campos – Republican

United States Representative, 39th District
Jay Chen – Democrat
Ed Royce – Republican

United States Representative, 45th District
John Campbell – Republican
Sukhee Kang – Democrat

United States Representative, 46th District
Jerry Hayden – Republican
Loretta Sanchez – Democrat

United States Representative, 47th District
Gary DeLong – Republican
Alan Lowenthal – Democrat

United States Representative, 48th District
Dana Rohrabacher – Republican
Ron Varasteh – Democrat

United States Representative, 49th District
Darrell Issa – Republican
Jerry Tetalman – Democrat

STATE LEGISLATURE

State Senator, 29th District
Greg Diamond – Democrat
Robert “Bob” Huff – Republican

State Senator, 37th District
Mimi Walters – Republican
Steve Young – Democrat

Member of the State Assembly, 55th District
Gregg D. Fritchle – Democrat
Curt Hagman – Republican

Member of the State Assembly, 65th District
Chris Norby – Republican
Sharon Quirk-Silva – Democrat

Member of the State Assembly, 68th District
Christina Avalos – Democrat
Donald P. “Don” Wagner – Republican

Member of the State Assembly, 69th District
Tom Daly – Democrat
Jose “Joe” Moreno – Republican

Member of the State Assembly, 72nd District
Travis Allen – Republican
Troy Edgar – Republican

Member of the State Assembly, 73rd District
James Corbett – Democrat
Diane L. Harkey – Republican

Member of the State Assembly, 74th District
Allan R. Mansoor – Republican
Robert Rush – Democrat

MUNICIPAL OFFICES

Aliso Viejo City Council
Ross Chun – Democrat
Greg Ficke – Republican
Donald A. Garcia – No Party Preference
Mike Munzing – Republican
William A. “Bill” Phillips – Republican

Anaheim City Council
Jordan Brandman – Democrat
Brian Neil Chuchua – Republican
Rodolfo “Rudy” Gaona – Democrat
Lucille Kring – Republican
John Leos – Republican
Linda Linder – Republican
Steven Albert Chavez Lodge – Republican
Jennifer Rivera – Republican
Duane Roberts – Green

Brea City Council
Christine Marick – No Party Preference
Chris Parkin – Republican
Marty Simonoff – Republican
Tory Stone – Republican
Steven Vargas – Republican

Brea City Treasurer
Glenn G. Parker – Democrat

Buena Park City Council
Art Brown – Democrat
Paul D. Gonzales – Republican
Baron Night – Republican
Al Salehi – No Party Preference
Fred R. Smith – Republican
Michael Sohn – No Party Preference
Rod P. Williams – Democrat
Cristi Woodward – No Party Preference

Costa Mesa City Council
Sandra L. “Sandy” Genis – Republican
Colin McCarthy – Republican
Al Melone – No Party Preference
Steve Mensinger – Republican
Gary Monahan – Republican
James Rader – No Party Preference
John Stephens – Democrat
Harold Weitzberg – Democrat

Cypress City Council
Rob Johnson – Republican
Bijan Mohseni – Republican
Jay Sondhi – Republican
Mariellen Yarc – No Party Preference

Dana Point City Council
Norm Denton – Republican
Carlos N. Olvera – Republican
J. Scott Schoeffel – Republican
Ed Stevenson – Republican

Fountain Valley City Council
Cheryl Brothers – Republican
Steve A. Nagel – Republican
Duy T. Nguyen – Republican
Bryan J. Tice – American Independent
Patrick Tucker – Republican

Fullerton City Council
Rick Alvarez – Republican
Don Bankhead – Republican
Brian Bartholomew – No Party Preference
Jennifer Fitzgerald – Republican
Jan M. Flory – Democrat
Matthew Hakim – Democrat
Kitty Jaramillo – Democrat
Travis Kiger – Republican
Barry Levinson – Republican
Jane Rands – Green
Roberta Reid – No Party Preference
Bruce Whitaker – Republican

Mayor of Garden Grove
Bruce A. Broadwater – Democrat
Myke Cossota – Republican
Sherry Runnells Williams – Republican
James Torres Ybarra – Republican

Garden Grove City Council
Zack Barrett – Republican
Kris Beard – Democrat
Phat Bui – Republican
Steve Jones – Republican
Josh McIntosh – No Party Preference
Jenny Nguyen – No Party Preference
John R. O’Neill – Republican
Chris Phan – Republican

Huntington Beach City Council
Bruce J. Brandt – Republican
Tony James Carter – No Party Preference
Barbara Delgleize – Republican
Devin Dwyer – Republican
Jill Hardy – Democrat
Jim Katapodis – Republican
William “Billy” O’Connell – Republican
Erik Peterson – Republican
Alexander S. Polsky – Democrat
Tim Ryan – No Party Preference
Dave Sullivan – Republican
Bob Wentzel – Republican

Huntington Beach City Clerk
Joan L. Flynn – Republican

Huntington Beach City Treasurer
Alisa Cutchen – Republican

Mayor of Irvine
Larry Agran – Democrat
Steven S. Choi – Republican
Katherine Daigle – Republican

Irvine City Council
Evan Chemers – Republican
Gavin Huntley-Fenner – No Party Preference
Beth Krom – Democrat
Lynn Schott – Republican
Christina L. Shea – Republican
PK Wong – No Party Preference

Laguna Beach City Council
Steve Dicterow – Republican
Jane Egly – Democrat
Verna Rollinger – Democrat
Robert M. Ross – No Party Preference
Bob Whalen – Democrat

Laguna Beach City Clerk
Lisette Chel-Walker – Democrat

Laguna Beach City Treasurer
Laura Parisi – No Party Preference

Laguna Hills City Council
Raghu P. Mathur – Republican
Aj Djowharzadeh – Republican
Andrew Blount – Republican
Dore Gilbert – Republican
Bill Hunt – Republican

Laguna Niguel City Council
Laurie Davies – Republican
Tony English – Republican
Jerry McCloskey – Republican
Jerry Slusiewicz – Republican
Brad Barber – Republican

Laguna Woods City Council
Mara G. Hodgkins – Republican
Shari L. Horne – No Party Preference
Milton W. Robbins – Democrat
David Russell Ohrn – No Party Preference
Cynthia S. Conners – Democrat
Noel Hatch – Republican

Lake Forest City Council
Marcia Rudolph – Republican
Ken Carrell – Democrat
Kathy “Kathyz” Zechmeister – Republican
Adam Nick – Republican
Jim Gardner – Republican
Dwight Robinson – Republican
Terry D. Anderson – Republican

La Palma City Council
Robert Carruth – No Party Preference
Patricia “Pat” Craig – Republican
Sylvia Colannino Smith – Republican
Steve Shanahan – Democrat
Gerard Goedhart – Republican
Christine Barnes – Republican
Peter Kim – Republican

Los Alamitos City Council
Ken Stephens – Republican
Dean Grose – Republican
Demi Devaney – Democrat
Richard D. Murphy – Republican

Mission Viejo City Council
Richard W. Coleman – American Independent
Wendy Bucknum – Republican
Frank Ury – Republican
Desi J. Kiss – Republican
Cathy Schlicht – Republican
Ed Sachs – Republican

Newport Beach City Council, District 2
Anthony Petros – Republican

Newport Beach City Council, District 5
Edward D. Selich – Republican

Newport Beach City Council, District 7
Keith D. Curry – Republican

Mayor of Orange
Teresa “Tita” Smith – Democrat
Jon Dumitru – Republican

Orange City Council
Lawrence R. “Larry” Labrado – Democrat
Robert L. Douglas – Democrat
Ray Grangoff – Republican
Mike Alvarez – Republican
Brian A. Del Vecchio – Republican
Mark A. Murphy – Republican
Josh Nothom – Democrat
Richard Callahan – Republican

Orange City Clerk
Mary E. Murphy – Republican

Orange City Treasurer
George Small – Republican
Helen Y. Walker – Republican

Placentia City Council
Jeremy Yamaguchi – Republican
Alan D. Frank – Republican
Scott William Nelson – Republican
Constance “Connie” Underhill – Republican

Placentia City Treasurer
Greg Sowards – Republican
Craig Green – Republican

Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, 4-Year Full Term (2 Seats)
Kenney Hrabik – Republican
Carol Gamble – Republican
Tony Beall – Republican

Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, 2-Year Short Term (1 Seat)
Lawrence McCook – Republican
Glenn Acosta – Republican
Brad McGirr – Republican

San Clemente City Council
0 Robert “Bob” Baker – Democrat
1 Robert “Bob” Baker – Republican
Jim Dahl – Republican
Chris Hamm – Republican
David Clegg – Republican
Mike Mortenson – Republican

San Clemente City Clerk
Joanne Baade – Democrat

San Clemente City Treasurer
T. Pall Gudgeirsson – Republican

San Juan Capistrano City Council
Kim McCarthy – Republican
Roy L. Byrnes – Republican
Sam Allevato – Republican
Ginny Kerr – Republican
Melissa Abbott-Kaffen – Republican
Tom Marantz – Republican

Mayor of Santa Ana
Roy Alvarado
George M. Collins – Republican
Lupe Moreno – Republican
Miguel Angel Briseno – No Party Preference
Miguel A. Pulido – Democrat
P. David Benavides – Democrat

Santa Ana City Council, Ward 1
Estela Amezcua – Democrat
Vincent F. Sarmiento – Democrat

Santa Ana City Council, Ward 3
Angelica Amezcua – Democrat
Shane Ramon Barrows – Democrat
Eric M. Alderete – Democrat
Brett Elliott Franklin – Republican
Charles Hart – Republican
Stefano “Steve” Rocco – No Party Preference

Santa Ana City Council, Ward 5
Karina Onofre – Republican
Roman A. Reyna – Democrat

Stanton City Council
Andrew N. Marques – No Party Preference
Sou Moua – Republican
Bryan Palomares – Republican
Carol Warren – Democrat
Al Ethans – Republican

Tustin City Council
John Nielsen – Republican
Tracy Worley Hagen – Republican
Charles E. “Chuck” Puckett – Republican
David Waldram – Republican
Allan Bernstein – Republican

Mayor of Westminster
Ha Mach – Republican
Tri Ta – Republican
Penny Loomer – Democrat
Al Hamade – Republican
Tamara Sue Pennington – Republican

Westminster City Council
Tyler Diep – Republican
Charlie Nguyen Manh Chi – Republican
Helena Rutkowski – Republican
Sergio Contreras – Democrat
Khai Dao – Libertarian
Diana Carey – Democrat
Al P. Krippner – Republican

Yorba Linda City Council
Kennith L. Peterson – Republican
Mark Schwing – Republican
Nancy Rikel – Republican
Eugene J. “Gene” Hernandez – Republican
Louis Lee Knappenberger, Jr. – Democrat
Craig Young – Republican
Todd P. Cooper – Republican

COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARDS

North Orange County Community College District, Trustee Area 7
M. Tony Ontiveros – Republican
Monika Koos – Republican

Rancho Santiago Community College District, Trustee Area 3
Nelida M. Yanez – Democrat
Thomas Anthony Gordon – Republican
Antonio Jesus “Tony” Tapia – Democrat

Rancho Santiago Community College District, Trustee Area 5
Claudia Alvarez – Democrat
Mark McLoughlin – Democrat
R. David Chapel – No Party Preference

South Orange County Community College District, Trustee Area 1
Dave Lang – Republican
David L. Martin – No Party Preference

South Orange County Community College District, Trustee Area 3
William “Bill” Jay – Republican
Arlene C. Greer – Republican
Jennifer J. Long – Democrat

South Orange County Community College District, Trustee Area 7
John S. Williams – Republican
Mike Moodian – No Party Preference
Jan Serrantino Cox – No Party Preference
Timothy “Tim” Jemal – No Party Preference

SCHOOL BOARDS

Anaheim City School District
John Santoianni – Democrat
Bob Gardner – Democrat
Al Jabbar – Democrat
James Derek Vanderbilt – Republican
Jerry Silverman – Democrat

Anaheim Union High School District, 4-Year Full Term (2 Seats)
Katherine H. Smith – Republican
Gerald C. Adams – Republican
Brian O’Neal – Republican
Thomas “Hoagy” Holguin – Republican

Anaheim Union High School District, 2-Year Short Term (1 Seat)
Annemarie Randle-Trejo – Democrat
Vernon F. Beckett – Republican
Thomas Peters – Republican

Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 1
Karin Schnell – Democrat
Amy Hanacek – Democrat

Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 2
Jim Reardon – Republican
Carol L. McCormick – Republican
Don Franklin Richardson – Republican
Michele Taylor-Bible – No Party Preference

Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 3
Yolanda McNamara – Democrat
Steve R. Lang – Republican
John Alpay – Republican

Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 5
Gary Pritchard – Democrat
William “Bill” Perkins – Republican

Centralia School District
Ashi Kothary – Republican
Dennis Salts – Republican
Steve Harris – Democrat
Art Montez – Democrat

Cypress School District
Alexandria Coronado – Republican
Candi Kern – Democrat
Jimmy Fuller – Republican
Brian Nakamura – Democrat

Fountain Valley School District
Jeanne Galindo – Republican
Thomas Hobbs – No Party Preference
Jim Cunneen – Republican
Ian Collins – Democrat

Fullerton Joint Union High School District
William E. “Bill” Dunton – Republican
James A. Najera – Democrat
Andy Montoya – Republican
Barbara R. Kilponen – Republican

Garden Grove Unified School District
Linda Zamora – Democrat
Linda Paulsen-Reed – Republican
Bao Quoc Nguyen – Democrat
George West – Democrat

Huntington Beach City School District
Rob Fishel – No Party Preference
Brian Rechsteiner – Republican
Bridget Kaub – Republican

Huntington Beach Union High School District, 4-Year Full Term (2 Seats)
Edward C. Pinchiff – Republican
Tom Dern – Republican
Susan Henry – Republican
Michael H. Simons – Republican
John Briscoe – Republican

Huntington Beach Union High School District, 2-Year Short Term (1 Seat)
Cathey Ryder – Republican
Duane Dishno – Republican

Irvine Unified School District
Michelle Ollada Alipio – Republican
Margaret Brown – Republican
Michael Parham – Republican
Bob Vu – Republican
Paul Bokota – Democrat
Omar Ezzeldine – No Party Preference
Lauren Brooks – Republican
Carolyn Inmon – No Party Preference
Cyril Yu – Democrat

La Habra City School District
John Dobson – Republican
Elizabeth “Liz” Steves – No Party Preference
Kevin Jacobson – Republican
Susan M. Hango – Republican

Laguna Beach Unified School District
Dee Namba Perry – Democrat
Tammy Keces – Democrat
Jan Vickers – Democrat
Bill Landsiedel – Democrat

Lowell Joint School District
Martha Leonard – Democrat
Fred W. Schambeck
Brandon R. Jones – Republican

Magnolia School District
Nathan Zug – Republican
Gary Shields – Republican
Barbara J. Clendineng – Republican

Ocean View School District
Debbie Cotton – Republican
Gina Clayton-Tarvin – Democrat
Norm Westwell – Libertarian

Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 3
Robert “Bob” Ausmus – Republican
Alexia L. Deligianni – Republican
Michele Gabbard – No Party Preference

Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 6
Mark Wayland – Republican
Tracey L. Colombo Curtis – No Party Preference

Saddleback Valley Unified School District
Suzie R. Swartz – Republican
Don Sedgwick – Republican
Ginny Fay Aitkens – Democrat
Earl H. Carraway – Republican

Santa Ana Unified School District
Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias – Republican
Robert Allen – Republican
Rob Richardson – Republican
Jose Alfredo Hernandez – Democrat
Myriam Tinajero – Democrat
Valerie Amezcua – Democrat

Tustin Unified School District
Tammie Bullard – Republican
Monique Ketteringham – Democrat
Elias Teferi – Democrat
James H. Laird – Republican
Francine Pace Scinto – Republican

Westminster School District
Jamison Power – Democrat
Jo-Ann W. Purcell – Democrat
Amy Walsh – Republican

WATER BOARDS

East Orange County Water District
Bill Vanderwerff – Republican
Douglas M. Chapman – Republican
Douglass S. Davert – Republican

El Toro Water District
Ralph Sogliuzzo – Republican
Ted F. Martin – Republican
Carol Moore – Republican
Edward Fern – Libertarian
Jose Vergara – Republican
Scott Goldman – Democrat

Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 1
Eric Bever – Republican
Fred R. Bockmiller – Republican

Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 2
Dan Worthington – Republican
James R. Fisler – Republican

Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 3
Ethan Temianka – Republican
Trudy Ohlig-Hall – Republican

Moulton-Niguel Water District, Division 6
Wayne Posey – Republican
Larry McKenney – Republican

Moulton-Niguel Water District, Division 7
Michael Kogus – Republican
Gary R. Kurtz – Republican

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 3
David Vu Pham – Republican
Wayne Osborne – Republican
Larry R. Crandall – Republican
Joel M. Rattner – Democrat

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 4
Joan Finnegan – Republican
Dwayne Smith – No Party Preference
Daniel “Skip” Marshall – Republican

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 6
Don Chadd – Republican
Jeffery Thomas – Republican

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 7
Vanessa A. Mathews – Republican
Susan Hinman – Republican

Orange County Water District, Division 2
Douglas M. Chapman – Republican
Denis R. Bilodeau – Republican

Orange County Water District; Division 3
Roger C. Yoh – Republican
Frank Alonzo – Republican

Santa Margarita Water District
Stan Dziecielski – Democrat
Betty H. Olson – No Party Preference
Charley Wilson – Republican
Fred Carr – Republican
Charles “Chuck” Gibson – Republican

Serrano Water District, Division 3
Jim Fasbender – Republican
Robert “Woody” Rickerl – Republican

South Coast Water District
Rick Erkeneff – Republican
Joel Bishop – Republican
Gary “Water Watch Dog” Langdale – Republican
Richard Gardner – Democrat
Dick Dietmeier – No Party Preference
Wayne Rayfield – Democrat

OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICTS

Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Art Perry – Republican
James Ferryman – Republican
Jeff R. Mathews – Republican
Don Harper – Republican

Midway City Sanitary District
Jerry Vilander – Republican
Frank Fry – Republican
Joy L. Neugebauer – Republican
Al P. Krippner – Republican

Placentia Library District
Richard DeVecchio – No Party Preference
Diane Cunningham – Democrat
Gayle Carline – Democrat
Joann Sowards – Republican
Elizabeth Minter – Republican

Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District
William C. Poe – Republican
Van M. Jew – No Party Preference
Jim Bell – Republican
Carolyn T. Sylvia – Republican
Eric Frankenberg – Democrat

Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District
Chalynn “Chay” Peterson – No Party Preference
Lisa Collins – Republican
Steve Kerrigan – Liberatrian
Timothy Janca – Democrat
Jane Bove – Democrat

Posted in 29th Senate District, 37th Senate District, 38th Congressional District, 39th Congressional District, 45th Congressional District, 46th Congressional District, 47th Congressional District, 48th Congressional District, 49th Congressional District, 55th Assembly District, 65th Assembly District, 68th Assembly District, 69th Assembly District, 72nd Assembly District, 73rd Assembly District, 74th Assembly District, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Anaheim City School District, Anaheim Union High School District, Brea, Buena Park, Capistrano Unified School District, Centralia School District, Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Cypress, Cypress School District, Dana Point, East Orange County Water District, El Toro Water District, Fountain Valley, Fountain Valley School District, Fullerton, Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Garden Grove, Garden Grove Unified School District, Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach City School District, Huntington Beach Union High School District, Irvine, Irvine Unified School District, La Habra City School District, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach Unified School District, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Lowell Joint School District, Magnolia School District, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Midway City Sanitary District, Mission Viejo, Moulton-Niguel Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange County, Newport Beach, North Orange County Community College District, Ocean View School District, Orange, Orange Unified School District, Placentia, Placentia Library District, Rancho Santa Margarita, Rancho Santiago Community College District, Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Area Sewer District, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Margarita Water District, Seal Beach, Serrano Water District, Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District, South Coast Water District, South Orange County Community College District, Stanton, Tustin, Tustin Unified School District, Westminster, Westminster School District, Yorba Linda | 7 Comments »

Team Ausmus Snubs OUSD Voters, Attempts to Censor Opponent, Abuses School Resources

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 16, 2012

As a graduate and resident of the Orange Unified School District, I am certainly familiar with OUSD having had some of Orange County’s most raucous elections in years past, and while things have died down (thanks, Capistrano Unified!), this year has proven to be one of the quieter OUSD campaigns anybody can remember.

Robert "Bob" Ausmus

Robert “Bob” Ausmus

However, in this weird quietness has been an oddly arrogant campaign being run by one of the challengers, Robert “Bob” Ausmus, who is seeking to unseat OUSD Board Member Dr. Alexia L. Deligianni in Trustee Area 3.

Bob Ausmus didn’t even bother to write a candidate’s statement in the sample ballot mailed out to all registered voters in the school district by the Orange County Registrar of Voters (check out page 14 of the PDF sample ballot to see where the OUSD candidate’s statements are), leaving voters with absolutely no information about him.  By the way, here’s a picture of the last guy to be elected to the OUSD board without a candidate’s statement:

Steve Rocco

Steve Rocco, OUSD Board Member, 2004-2008, Convicted Ketchup Thief

How are voters supposed to decide who to vote for when they have no information about a candidate?  Are they supposed to vote on signs?

Speaking of signs, Robert Ausmus supporters have acted ridiculously.  Some volunteers for Dr. Alexia Deligianni posted her re-election signs in Anaheim Hills.  Within hours, the signs were gone.  Ordinarily, lost signs are just part of the normal business of campaigns.  City crews, the weather, cheap garage sales hosts, etc. often take the signs.  However, the timing and systematic nature of the sign removals made it clear that people supporting Ausmus were targeting Deligianni’s signs.  First, the signs were posted on a Friday evening and removed within hours in the dead of night.  Secondly, nearly every Deligianni sign in Anaheim Hills was removed, but every single instance where a Deligianni sign was next to an Ausmus sign, the Ausmus sign was left untouched.  A witness driving by noted seeing a Deligianni sign being taken by a white male who resembled a “boxer” from behind.  Also, one of the rare Deligianni signs that survived in Anaheim Hills…well, I think this trio of pictures makes it clear what happened to the survivor signs:

Then, volunteers put out more signs on Sunday night.  The signs were still up as of 7 PM on Monday but most of them disappeared during the dead of night.  It wasn’t city crews because those guys aren’t out working that late.  Plus, you guessed it, the Ausmus signs were left untouched.

If one candidate’s side removed signs attacking their candidate, I’d understand if these were “Stop Ausmus” signs that were being removed because attack signs are a different animal.  However, removing an opponent’s signs that simply promote her candidacy is just plain anti-democratic and insulting to the voters.

In further sign abuse, this sign was placed on the campus of Canyon High School, violating the age-old regulation of campaign signs not being placed on school property:

In an abuse of school resources, this email went out from Team Ausmus from a school district email account over an official Orange Unified School District e-mail list sent to the families of the Canyon High School Class of 2015 (today’s sophomores).

From: “Ausmus, Leslie” <REDACTED@orangeusd.org>
Date: September 28, 2012, 2:57:36 PM PDT
To: “chsclassof2015” <REDACTED@listserv.orangeusd.k12.ca.us>
Subject: FW: 09.28.12 Listserv
Reply-To: “chsclassof2015” <REDACTED@listserv.orangeusd.k12.ca.us>

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Lengthy email message edited for brevity. Scroll to bottom of this post for full e-mail.]…

For the purpose of clarification, and because many of you (and your students) have asked, yes, the candidate running for our school board named “Bob Ausmus” is related to me. He’s my husband. :)

As always, if you have questions or concerns, let me know. The best contact is via email at: REDACTED@orangeusd.org . I hope you all have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Leslie Ausmus

Sophomore Counselor, Class of 2015

If it weren’t for the never-ending series of abuses from Team Ausmus, it might have been plausible that this was an innocent mistake, but taken in the totality of circumstances, it is clear that this was a flimsy excuse to announce the candidacy of Bob Ausmus to the entire list of families of Canyon High sophomores.  (Indeed, we didn’t know about this email until an angry parent passed it on.)  If some people ask you a political question, you don’t send a mass email to hundreds of people on a school district email list, you respond to them individually.

My father, who immigrated to the United States after fleeing from Communist Vietnam, expressed his outrage at the actions of the Ausmus side, noting that democracy is harmed when people try to suppress free speech, hide information from the voters, and abuse public resources.  He said, “I’m disgusted that he has to steal signs instead of letting everyone get their name out there.  That’s just wrong.  And then to use a school email list?  Unbelievable!”

Unbelievable is right, Dad.  The arrogance of the Ausmus campaign of not providing information to voters, stealing/covering opponent signs, and then abusing school resources is utterly repugnant.

Here is the entire Ausmus email to the Class of 2015 parent mailing list: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Orange Unified School District | Tagged: , , , , | 19 Comments »

Live from OCGOP Central Committee – Third and Final Round of Endorsements

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 15, 2012

Believe it or not, there’s still one more round of endorsements for the Republican Party of Orange County. They’re up tonight. The races in question are:
San Juan Capistrano City Council
Laguna Niguel City Council
Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 1
Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 6
Huntington Beach Union High School District
No on Measure M (Coast Community College District)
Irvine City Council (Possible Third Endorsement; Christina Shea was endorsed in Round One in August, and Lynn Schott was endorsed in Round Two in September)

7:19 PM – Two new alternates sworn in.

7:20 PM – Elected officials and candidates introduce themselves: Baron Night, Cathy Green, Charles Hart, Greg Sebourn, Mike Munzing, Eric Bever, Sam Allevato, Brian Chuchua, Jerry McCloskey, Robert Ming, Steven Choi, Karina Onofre, Brett Boxmiller, Roy Byrnes, Kim McCarthy, Don Wagner, Lynn Schott, Steve Nagel, Mark McCurdy, Fred Whitaker, Deborah Pauly, Denis Bilodeau, John Briscoe, Lucille Kring, Diane Harkey, Scott Voigts, Ed Royce, Travis Allen, and Larry Kramer.

7:23 PM – Congressman Ed Royce speaks of his race for re-election against Jay Chen and of Assemblyman Chris Norby’s race for re-election against Sharon Quirk-Silva and urges Republicans to assist Royce and Norby. Royce reports the America Shining Super PAC and Chen’s campaign have spent about $1,000,000 against him. Royce notes he’s given $1,000,000 to other Republican congressional candidates, and that’s one of the reasons he’s being targeted.

7:27 PM – Central Committee Member Desare Ferraro introduces the four new Youth Associate Board Members, who several female Central Committee members note are all female. They come from three public high schools and one private high school.

7:30 PM – First Vice Chairman John Warner, filling in for Chairman Scott Baugh, notes the 18 Republican headquarters throughout the county. He speaks of victory party on November 6 at 8 PM at the Costa Mesa Westin, sponsored by Tom Phillips of Eagle Publishing.

7:33 PM – Central Committee Treasurer Mark Bucher speaks of the Pepperdine poll that finds Prop 32 ahead. He speaks of the television ad campaign.

7:35 PM – Endorsements Committee Chair Mark Bucher gives a rundown of the last Endorsements Committee meeting.

7:38 PM – In response to a question, Bucher explains the weird situation in Irvine where if Steven Choi wins the mayor’s race, two council seats will be elected, but if Larry Agran wins the mayor’s race, then three council seats will be elected. Evan Chemers wants a third endorsement.

7:41 PM – Central Committee Member Steve Sarkis pulls San Juan Capistrano City Council.

7:42 PM – On Bucher’s motion and Sarkis’s second, the Central Committee votes unanimously to endorse Jerry McCloskey for Laguna Niguel City Council, Eric Bever for Mesa Consolidated Water District Division 1, Jeff Thomas for Municipal Water District of Orange County Division 6, and John Briscoe for Huntington Beach Union High School District Full-Term.

7:44 PM – On Central Committee Second Vice Chairman Mary Young’s motion, the Central Committee votes unanimously to make no endorsement for San Juan Capistrano City Council.

7:45 PM – There is a slight delay, as the By-Laws are consulted on the procedure to endorse Evan Chemers for Irvine City Council.

7:48 PM – It is a moot point, as no one actually motions for a Chemers endorsements.

7:49 PM – The Central Committee votes unanimously to endorse a “No” vote on Measure M, the Coast Community College District bond measure.

7:50 PM – Central Committee Member Jon Fleischman, publisher of the Flash Report, gives a presentation on all the statewide ballot propositions.

8:11 PM – Assemblywoman Diane Harkey speaks against Proposition 31 because it gives too many concessions to the left and that it gives the executive branch too much power over the Legislature.

8:13 PM – Central Committee Member Marcia Gilchrist says the CRP paid for the door hangers, so their endorsement stands.

8:14 PM – Central Committee Member Bill Dunlap says the Newport HQ is crossing out Yes on 31 and putting No on 31 instead.

8:16 PM – Assemblyman Don Wagner, an OC Political blogger, says the party should allow volunteers to write No on 31 if they oppose 31 out of respect for the volunteers.

8:17 PM – Central Committee Second Vice Chairman Mary Young says CRP paid for the hanger, and it is inappropriate to change the hangers without CRP’s consent.

8:18 PM – Bill Dunlap repeats his belief the hangers should be changed.

8:19 PM – Jon Fleischman echoes Gilchrists and Young’s comments. He also notes that you can’t change a door hanger that says, “The California Republican Party’s endorses…” to another position.

8:20 PM – The Central Committee moves on.

8:21 PM – Mary Young speaks of the importance of volunteering for Republican candidates and ballot measures. She notes Central Committee Secretary Zonya Townsend’s church registered 1,174 new Republicans.

8:23 PM – Zonya Townsend speaks of volunteerism and presents two OCGOP Volunteers of the Month.

8:42 PM – Central Committee Treasurer Mark Bucher says all the bills are paid.

8:43 PM – Diane McGlinchey speaks about the Romney campaign in OC. She thanks Marcia Gilchrist for subsidizing 1,000 Romney signs in OC.

8:46 PM – Mike Munzing promotes his fundraiser on Wednesday, October 17 from 5:30 PM-8:30 PM at Stadium Brewing.

8:47 PM – John Warner promotes the presidential debate watching party sponsored by Congressman Rohrabacher at the Costa Mesa GOP HQ above Skosh Monahan’s

8:48 PM – The Central Committee adjourns.

Posted in Coast Community College District, Huntington Beach Union High School District, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange County, Republican Central Committee, San Juan Capistrano | Leave a Comment »

Live from OC GOP Endorsements Committee

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 1, 2012

Republican Party of Orange County

All of the recommendations of the Endorsements Committee tonight must be ratified by the Central Committee on October 15. (The Central Committee can and does overturn recommendations from the Endorsements Committee.)

The OC GOP Central Committee confirmed a set of early endorsements in August and regular endorsements in September.  Here are those endorsements, so far.

Tonight, the OC GOP Endorsements Committee meets to make recommendations to the OC GOP Central Committee for late endorsements to be made at the October 15 OC GOP Central Committee meeting.

These late endorsements were either because the candidates submitted late applications or the decision was delayed by either the Central Committee or the Endorsements Committee (San Clemente’s Jim Dahl and San Juan Capistrano’s Sam Allevato and Ginny Kerr were delayed while the rest were late applications).

6:27 PM – The committee gains a quorum 27 minutes late.  Thank you, traffic.

San Juan Capistrano City Council

6:29 PM – Candidate Kim McCarthy says she’s 51 after briefly struggling to remember her age.  She states that incumbent Sam Allevato voted for a $30 million bond that increased property taxes and has needlessly borrowed money to pay for city expenses that should have come from reserves.  She worked at the Pontiac Motor Plant to work her way through Wayne State University.  After Wayne State, she worked on commission basis.  McCarthy says she wants respect for constituents’ money.  She says she will not vote for bonds nor for any grants, matching or non-matching.  She says she wants to help raise property values.

6:32 PM – Candidate Roy L. Byrnes is a physician by training has lived in Orange County since 1959 and was elected to the San Juan Capistrano City Council in 1972 and voluntarily retired in 1976 to spend more time teaching at UCI and on his medical practice.  He expresses his concern about the leftward shift of City Councils in San Juan Capistrano, most recently led by Sam Allevato.  Byrnes urges the committee to not “take the easy way out” by refusing to endorse.  He says the city’s residents are 40% Democrats, and the Democrats do not bother to field a candidate because they’re happy with Allevato.  (OC Political fact check: 26.6% of San Juan Capistrano’s registered voters are Democrats.)  He says if the OC GOP fails to endorse, the Democrats will win.

6:35 PM – Central Committee Member Norm Dickinson says McCarthy supported and contributed to Democrat Laura Freeze.

6:37 PM – A resident says there is hostility to religion on the City Council with the effort to tax religious schools and requiring these religious schools offer scholarships and build trails, which is an intrusion of government upon the school.  He cites the City Council’s requirement that only councilmembers can give the invocation, which “sounds like a state religion.”

6:39 PM – San Juan Capistrano Planning Commissioner Rob Williams speaks in opposition to Kim McCarthy because he says she only says negative things about the city even when he says the facts contradict her.  He says McCarthy not only contributed money but also walked precincts for Democrat Laura Freeze, who unseated Joe Soto, the CRA/OCGOP-endorsed candidate.

6:41 PM – A resident speaks of the high water rates in San Juan Capistrano.  He says there’s a $100 million debt, including a water department with a now-$6 million debt (previously $8 million).  He says he voted for Democrat Freeze because her supporters hoodwinked him into thinking she was a fiscal conservative and that Freeze fooled many others.

6:43 PM – McCarthy states she gave two $250 checks to Freeze, who had told her she was a fiscal conservative with a financial background.  McCarthy notes she’s endorsed by SOCRA and Family Action PAC, as is Byrnes.  She says she would never support or vote for Freeze again.

6:45 PM – Byrnes says he and McCarthy are not politicians, just Republicans trying to do the best they can.  He says that “evil triumphs” when the good do nothing, and that’s the reason the OC GOP should endorse in this race to prevent the Democrats from capturing one of the Council seats.

6:47 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Mary Young expresses her concern about candidates who simply attack their opponents but do not explain what they will do as Councilmembers.  Young expresses her concern that McCarthy failed to disclose her support for Freeze on the endorsements questionnaire in the section that asked about support of Democrats.

McCarthy accused Young of making her mind up before the meeting.

Endorsements Committee Chair Mark Bucher cuts off both McCarthy and Young.

6:48 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Thomas Gordon asks how Planning Commissioner Williams had voted on the religious school taxation issue.

After dodging the question for a while, Williams says he voted for the tax.

6:49 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Mary Young speaks and Candidate Kim McCarthy starts shouting over her, with each demanding that the other show respect.  Young states and McCarthy shouts about how hard they work on the Central Committee and as a candidate, respectively.  (OC Political wishes we had a camera going.)  McCarthy rises out of her seat as the male Endorsements Committee members have facial expressions of concern about a potential physical confrontation.

6:50 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Mary Young makes a motion to endorse nobody.  It dies for lack of a second.

6:51 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Thomas Gordon expresses his disappointment in the fighting.  He says he received numerous phone calls from legislators and other elected officials, and that he is insulted that Allevato couldn’t show up for the meeting when he requested the endorsement while Gordon drove 60 miles from his office to be here.

6:53 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Chandra Chell says a first-time candidate does not have a voting record, so we can only take a candidate at their word.

6:54 PM – Discussion ensues as the committee notes several people who gave money to Democrats were endorsed by the OC GOP Central Committee.

6:55 PM – Endorsements Committee Chair Mark Bucher expresses his disappointment at the way McCarthy conducted herself toward Endorsements Committee Member Mary Young.  However, Bucher says he is completely unimpressed with McCarthy’s opponents who were absent despite saying they would be present.  Bucher also expresses his concern about the need for elected officials to show restraint.  Bucher expresses concern about Allevato’s support of the impact fee imposed on religious schools, which Bucher says is simply a tax by another name.

6:56 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Thomas Gordon echoes Bucher’s disappointment about McCarthy’s treatment of Young, but he still plans to vote to recommend McCarthy for endorsement and hopes she wins the election.  He says if she gets the endorsement, she represents the Republican Party, and she hopes to represent the people of San Juan Capistrano.  If she reacts like that to Young, she may do the same to constituents, which will reflect badly upon both the Republican Party and the City of San Juan Capistrano.

6:58 PM – The vote is 2-1-1 (Gordon and Chell in favor, Young against, and Bucher abstaining) to recommend the endorsements of McCarthy and Byrnes.

I don’t know what they said, but McCarthy and Young spoke and shook hands after the vote.

Laguna Niguel City Council

6:59 PM – At the urging of Endorsements Committee Member Chandra Chell and Central Committee Member Norm Dickinson, the committee unanimously recommends Jerry McCloskey for endorsement, noting McCloskey’s endorsements by myriad conservatives, including Laguna Niguel Councilman Robert Ming.   (McCloskey isn’t here, as he has a scheduling conflict with a city commission.)

San Clemente City Council

7:00 PM – Jim Dahl notes he is a 16-year City Councilman and speaks of his family, including his son in the USMC and granddaughter who is on the TV show Parks & Recreation.  He speaks of his roles on the OC Vector Control District Board, OC Fire Authority, and Transportation Corridor Agencies.  He says he is endorsed by Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, Supervisor Pat Bates, Supervisor Bill Campbell, and the Lincoln Club of Orange County.  He notes his city’s AAA bond rating, parks and beaches.  He closes, “We wish San Juan would give us more sand.”

7:02 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Mary Young asks about how many people are running for how many seats.

7:02 PM – Dahl says there are two slots with five candidates.

7:03 PM – Central Committee Alternate Jennifer Beall notes Dahl endorsed John Alpay in the 2010 Capistrano Unified School District recall and again in this 2012 general election.  Beall notes Alpay is an official endorsement against Prop 32.  She says Dahl has “spit in the face” of the party for twice backing Alpay against OC GOP-endorsed candidates.

7:05 PM – Central Committee Member Norm Dickinson speaks in favor of Dahl, citing his property rights record as the only council member backing the CA GOP position on a San Clemente ballot measure.

7:06 PM – Dahl says he considers Alpay a friend and considers it a matter of honor and will not withdraw his endorsement of Alpay.

7:07 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Chandra Chell asks how can Dahl reconcile being a fiscal conservative with endorsing Alpay (the only candidate running for his trustee area in the 2010 CUSD recall).

7:08 PM – Endorsements Committee Chair Mark Bucher says the target of the 2010 CUSD recall was the OC GOP-endorsed candidate.

7:09 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Mary Young speaks of Beall being the top Republican activist in the CUSD.

7:10 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Thomas Gordon expresses concern about Dahl endorsing Alpay against the OC GOP-endorsed candidate in both 2012 and 2010 (and implicitly for the 2010 recall).

7:11 PM – Endorsements Committee Chair Mark Bucher says a 2012 endorsement of Alpay might be forgivable, but a 2010 endorsement is not.

7:11 PM – No one makes any motion regarding Dahl, so the Committee moves on.

Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 1

7:12 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Chandra Chell speaks in favor of Eric Bever based on his record as a Costa Mesa Councilman and his role as part of Righeimer’s team.  The committee votes unanimously to recommend Bever for endorsement.

Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 6

7:13 PM – Incumbent Jeffrey Thomas praises the work of the Endorsements Committee and of OC GOP Executive Director Scott Loenhorst.  He says they should never be yelled at.  Thomas was appointed to the seat three years ago when his predecessor had been flown to a board meeting on a Metropolitan Water District of Southern California plane from his La Quinta home (far outside MWDOC).  Thomas was appointed to replace the carpetbagger.  Thomas won a two-year term in 2010 and is up for re-election this year.  He fought the state’s $13 billion water bond and will fight the 2013 water bond that will likely be $14 billion.

7:15 PM – The Endorsements Committee votes unanimously to recommend Thomas for endorsement.  Thomas pledges not to stay an argue.

Huntington Beach Union High School District, Full Term

7:16 PM – Candidate John Briscoe speaks against a $250 million bond in the Ocean View School District, a $27 million technology bond in Fountain Valley School District, and a $927 million bond in the Coast Community College District that doesn’t build any schools.  He says the incumbents are “tiny-R” Republicans who brag about their endorsements by the unions, and the unions will spend $100,000 to buy those two seats.

7:19 PM – Endorsements Committee Member Thomas Gordon asks if Briscoe is endorsed by Huntington Beach City Councilman (and former Huntington Beach Union High School District Board Member) Matt Harper.

7:20 PM – Briscoe says Harper would have endorsed him had he run for the short-term two-year seat instead of one of the two full-term four-year seats.  He says he is endorsed by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Assemblyman Jim Silva, and former Assemblymen Van Tran and Chuck DeVore.

7:20 PM – The Endorsements Committee votes unanimously to recommend Briscoe for endorsement.

Irvine City Council

7:20 PM – In response to an inquiry from Central Committee Alternate Scott Peotter, Endorsements Committee Chair Mark Bucher notes that because Christina Shea and Lynn Schott are already endorsed for the two Council seats in Irvine, so the Endorsements Committee has no ability to take action on Evan Chemers.  Bucher says there is also inadequate notice.  He says a Chemers endorsement can be considered by the whole Central Committee who can endorse more candidates than spots and who would have adequate notice.

7:22 PM – The Endorsements Committee adjourns.

Posted in Huntington Beach Union High School District, Laguna Niguel, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange County, Republican Central Committee, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

OC GOP Endorsements Committee Meets for Late Endorsement Recommendations

Posted by Chris Nguyen on October 1, 2012

Republican Party of Orange CountyThe OC GOP Central Committee confirmed a set of early endorsements in August and regular endorsements in September.  Here are those endorsements, so far.

Tonight, the OC GOP Endorsements Committee meets to make recommendations to the OC GOP Central Committee for late endorsements to be made at the October 15 OC GOP Central Committee meeting.

Up for consideration are:

  • Sam Allevato – San Juan Capistrano City Council
  • Ginny Kerr – San Juan Capistrano City Council
  • Kim McCarthy – San Juan Capistrano City Council
  • Roy L. Byrnes – San Juan Capistrano City Council
  • Jerry McCloskey – Laguna Niguel City Council
  • Jim Dahl – San Clemente City Council
  • Eric Bever – Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 1
  • Jeffery Thomas – Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 6
  • John Briscoe – Huntington Beach Union High School District, Full Term

These late endorsements were either because the candidates submitted late applications or the decision was delayed by either the Central Committee or the Endorsements Committee (Allevato, Kerr, and Dahl were delayed while the rest were late applications).

Again, all of the recommendations of the Endorsements Committee must be ratified by the Central Committee on October 15. (The Central Committee can and does overturn recommendations from the Endorsements Committee.)

Posted in Huntington Beach Union High School District, Laguna Niguel, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange County, Republican Central Committee, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

AD-69: Moreno Drops Out Citing Hatch Act, Name Will Remain on Ballot

Posted by Chris Nguyen on September 28, 2012

In case you hadn’t read the other blogs (like Liberal OC or Orange Juice) yesterday, Republican 69th Assembly District candidate Jose “Joe” Moreno announced that he was dropping out of the AD-69 race because of the Hatch Act.

While the timing is surprising, this development itself should not be of surprise to anyone:

  • On March 29, Moreno wrote to the Registrar of Voters attempting to withdraw from the AD-69 race, citing the Hatch Act.  (The Registrar denied this request.)
  • In the second week of April, OC Political, the OC Register, the Liberal OC, and then OC Political again speculated/warned/advised that Moreno’s candidacy likely violated the Hatch Act.
  • On April 21, Moreno issued this press release declaring his candidacy was not in violation of the Hatch Act.
  • On April 23, the Liberal OC again wrote that Moreno’s candidacy violated the Hatch Act.
  • On July 18, unbeknownst to the OC mainstream media and blogosphere, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel issued an advisory opinion, entitled “California’s Voter-Nominated Primary Elections are Presumptively Partisan for Purposes of the Hatch Act.”

In that July 18 advisory opinion, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel  stated:

In short, California’s voter-nominated elections are presumptively partisan elections for purposes of the Hatch Act. As such, an SSA employee covered by the Hatch Act may not be a candidate in voter-nominated primary elections.

The advisory opinion also states:

…even if voter-nominated elections were designated nonpartisan by the California Constitution, and therefore presumed nonpartisan for purposes of section 1503, the presumption would be rebutted. The California Constitution allows candidates in the voter-nominated primaries to list a party preference following their names on the ballot…

Though the advisory opinion is redacted, it’s fairly obvious that this was the advisory opinion requested regarding Moreno.  There are only 306 candidates running in a California voter-nominated race in November (2 each for the U.S. Senate, for 53 U.S. House races, for 20 State Senate races, and for 78 Assembly races, plus Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-14) and Assemblyman Isadore Hall III (D-64), both of whom are unopposed).  Moreno is the only one of the 306 to work for a Social Services Agency.

(One interesting footnote in the advisory opinion:

Arguably, if in a particular voter-nominated primary election all of the candidates were to run without designating a political party as their party preference then the election could be considered a nonpartisan election for purposes of section 1503 of the Hatch Act.

So a bunch of NPPs running could technically make the race nonpartisan for purposes of the Hatch Act.)

In April, OC Political had noted the case of Geof Lickey, who was able to get off of the June 2012 ballot for the AD-31 seat due to the Hatch Act because he acted more quickly than Moreno did.

The fifth commenter on this June post from Liberal OC pointed to the case of Judge Ronald Kline, who withdrew in the tiny window after the primary but before certification of the election.  The courts eventually ruled that third-place finisher Gay Sandoval would replace Kline on the November runoff ballot.  (John Adams, who had originally won the right to face off against Kline, defeated Sandoval.)

Had Moreno or the Orange County Social Services Agency moved more quickly to seek an advisory opinion from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel back in April, Moreno’s ineligibility could have been discovered sooner, and he could have withdrawn during the primary.  Considering Moreno only edged out Julio Perez by 242 votes, it is not inconceivable that more than 242 voters had Googled the race and discovered that Moreno’s press release or the various blog posts (such as this one from Orange Juice) in which he declared as lies the Jobs PAC IEs on behalf of Daly that claimed Moreno had dropped out (I believe his claim was also posted on his web site before he took it down).

Or if Moreno had withdrawn before the June primary was certified, voters in AD-69 would have had a choice between first-place finisher Tom Daly and third-place finisher Julio Perez.  Due to Prop 14, voters don’t even have the choice of a write-in candidate, so this late withdrawal leaves AD-69 voters with the choice of Daly or the withdrawn Moreno.

While this was Moreno’s first run for partisan office, this was not his first time throwing his hat in the political ring.  According to JoinCalifornia, Moreno had previously run unsuccessfully for Orange County Board of Education (2000 primary), Rancho Santiago Community College District (2000 general), and Anaheim Union High School District (2010 general).

We are now left with just two questions: Will Moreno resign his ex officio seat on the Republican Central Committee?  What will Garden Grove Councilman Steve Jones do about his endorsement flip-flopping between Democrat Daly and Republican Moreno.

Moreno’s site is down, but this is what he wrote before he took it down: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 69th Assembly District, Anaheim Union High School District, Garden Grove, Orange County Board of Education, Rancho Santiago Community College District | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

OC Register Supports “Yes on Measure FF” in Orange, But Screws Headline Up, Potentially Confusing Voters

Posted by Chris Nguyen on September 21, 2012

The OC Register editorial board supports “Yes on Measure FF” in the City of Orange but sent confusing messages on their position this week.

On Tuesday, the Register printed an “Orange Measure FF: No” editorial, but the entire article described the reasons to vote “Yes on Measure FF.”

On Wednesday, the Register reprinted the same editorial, but with the headline “Orange Measure FF: Yes” instead along with this note:

Editor’s note: Because of a reporting error, the position of the Register’s Editorial Board was misstated in the body and headline of an earlier version of this editorial.

(Their screwup was likely due to the confusing nature of referenda. The Orange City Council approved the property owner’s plan to build housing and a park on their own privately-owned land. Some neighbors wishing to preserve a now-defunct horse-riding facility launched a referendum to stop the land’s owner from changing the horse-riding facility into homes and a park for the general public. Usually, when signatures get a measure on to the ballot, the signatories want a “Yes” vote. However, when signatures get a referendum on the ballot, the signatories want a “No” vote.)

This amusing incident with the Register actually underlies a more serious concern with referenda: if people as informed as the OC Register screw up Yes vs. No, how many voters will select “Yes” when they mean “No” instead and how many will select “No” when they means “Yes” instead?

Just to be clear and definitive one last time: the OC Register says, “Yes on Measure FF.”

Posted in Orange | Tagged: | 2 Comments »

Breaking: Former OC Assemblyman Richard H. Robinson Arrested for DUI in Sacramento on Fox 40

Posted by Chris Nguyen on September 19, 2012

Fox40 in Sacramento reported a man was arrested in a car with the license plates of a retired State Assemblyman.  Though they have video footage of him, Fox40 has been unable to identify him.

Sacramento sources inform OC Political that former Orange County Assemblyman Richard H. Robinson (D-Garden Grove) was the arrested retired legislator in question.

A Democrat, Robinson served in the Assembly from 1974-1986, when he made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Congressman Bob Dornan.

(Update 10:35 PM): Here’s the link to his arrest record from Sacramento Sheriff. (8:02 AM: Sac Sheriff took the link down, but here’s a screenshot of the arrest log.)

According to Join California, Robinson is a former Director of Operation Drug Prevention of Orange County and was Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair from 1982-1984.

(Update 10:49 PM): Here’s a screenshot from Fox40:

Assemblyman Richard Robinson Arrested

(Update 11:03 PM): Here’s another screenshot of the arrest from Fox40:

Former Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) Arrested for DUI

(Updated 11:21 PM): Sacramento viewers inform OC Political that Fox40 ended their 10 PM newscast saying “people on the Internet” had ID’d the driver, but Fox40 refused to name Robinson despite the link to the arrest record.

We had the arrest at 10:31 PM: https://twitter.com/OCPolitical/status/248655591214559232

At 11:08 PM, Fox40 reporter Eric Harryman confirmed with the DMV that the car was registered to someone named “Robinson” according to this: https://twitter.com/Eric_Harryman/status/248664847036846083

(Updated 11:29 PM): Fox40 published this story at 11:12 PM.  My favorite excerpt:

A self-proclaimed conservative political blog based out of southern California is suggesting that this is the same Richard Robinson that served in the State Assembly from 1974 to 1986 as a Democrat representing Garden Grove.

(Updated 11:33 PM): Here’s the Fox 40 video.

(Updated 8:09 AM): Robinson was released by the Sacramento County Sheriff this morning.  Here is his booking photo:

Former Assemblyman Richard Robinson's Booking Photo

Posted in 72nd Assembly District | Tagged: | 10 Comments »

Did Garden Grove Councilman Steve Jones Endorse Tom Daly or Jose Moreno for AD-69?

Posted by Chris Nguyen on September 18, 2012

Almost five months ago, the Tom Daly for Assembly campaign issued a press release called, “Four Garden Grove City Councilmembers Endorse Tom Daly for Assembly” (which you can still find on Daly’s web site, which we ran on OC Political, and which Liberal OC ran).  You can also find Jones still listed in Daly’s endorsement list.

Jones sought the Republican Party of Orange County’s endorsement last night.  Central Committee Member Tim Whitacre pulled Jones from consideration because Jones had endorsed Democrat Tom Daly (as the press release above indicated).

When questioned, Jones denied that he endorsed Daly (contradicting the press release above).

OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh then asked if Jones had endorsed AD-69 Republican Candidate Jose “Joe” Moreno (not to be confused with Anaheim City School District Trustee Jose F. Moreno).

Jones said he had not but then immediately endorsed Moreno in front of the ~150 people in attendance at the OC GOP Central Committee meeting.

With Jones denying that he endorsed Daly and with him endorsing Moreno live, the Central Committee then had a unanimous voice vote to endorse Jones.

The discrepancy still needs to be resolved however.  Was the Daly press release from the spring erroneous, and is Daly still erroneously listing Jones? Or did Jones flip his endorsement just last night?  Has Jones contacted Daly to discuss the present status of his endorsement?

Posted in 69th Assembly District, Garden Grove, Republican Central Committee | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

OC GOP Endorsements for City Council, School Board, Water District, and Sanitary District

Posted by Chris Nguyen on September 18, 2012

Below, find the list of all the endorsements made by the OC GOP for the November 2012 elections.  (This list covers the endorsements made in the August and September meetings.  This does not include October endorsements, though those endorsements won’t come until October 15, a measly three weeks before the election.)

The Liberal OC reported the DPOC August endorsements here.  The DPOC’s next endorsements will be on September 24.

Here’s the OC GOP list…

City Council

  • Aliso Viejo City Council: Greg Ficke
  • Aliso Viejo City Council: Mike Munzing
  • Anaheim City Council: Brian Neil Chuchua
  • Anaheim City Council: Lucille Kring
  • Brea City Council: Steven Vargas
  • Buena Park City Council: Baron Night
  • Costa Mesa City Council: Colin McCarthy
  • Costa Mesa City Council: Steve Mensinger
  • Costa Mesa City Council: Gary Monahan
  • Cypress City Council: Rob Johnson
  • Dana Point City Council: Carlos N. Olvera
  • Fountain Valley City Council: Steve A. Nagel
  • Fullerton City Council: Travis Kiger
  • Fullerton City Council: Bruce Whitaker
  • Garden Grove City Council: Steve Jones
  • Huntington Beach City Council: Devin Dwyer
  • Huntington Beach City Council: Erik Peterson
  • Huntington Beach City Council: Dave Sullivan
  • Irvine Mayor: Steven S. Choi
  • Irvine City Council: Lynn Schott
  • Irvine City Council: Christina L. Shea
  • La Palma City Council: Peter Kim
  • Laguna Beach City Council: Steve Dicterow
  • Laguna Niguel City Council: Laurie Davies
  • Lake Forest City Council: Adam Nick
  • Lake Forest City Council: Dwight Robinson
  • Los Alamitos City Council: Dean Grose
  • Orange Mayor: Jon Dumitru
  • Orange City Council: Ray Grangoff
  • Orange City Council: Mark A. Murphy
  • Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, Full Term: Tony Beall
  • Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, Full Term: Carol Gamble
  • Rancho Santa Margarita City Council, Short Term: Brad McGirr
  • San Clemente City Council: Mike Mortenson
  • Santa Ana Mayor: George M. Collins
  • Santa Ana City Council, Ward 3: Brett Elliott Franklin (Dual Endorsement of Franklin and Hart)
  • Santa Ana City Council, Ward 3: Charles Hart (Dual Endorsement of Hart and Franklin)
  • Santa Ana City Council, Ward 5: Karina Onofre
  • Tustin City Council: Allan Bernstein
  • Tustin City Council: John Nielsen
  • Tustin City Council: Charles E. “Chuck” Puckett
  • Yorba Linda City Council: Nancy Rikel
  • Yorba Linda City Council: Mark Schwing

City Ballot Measures

  • Yes on Measure V – Costa Mesa
  • Yes on Measure Z – Huntington Beach
  • Yes on Measure FF – Orange
  • Yes on Measure HH – Tustin

School District

  • Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 2: Jim Reardon
  • Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 3: Steve R. Lang
  • Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 5: William “Bill” Perkins
  • Cypress School District: Alexandria Coronado
  • Fountain Valley School District: Jeanne Galindo
  • Irvine Unified School District: Michelle Ollada Alipio
  • Ocean View School District: Debbie Cotton
  • Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 3: Alexia L. Deligianni
  • Santa Ana Unified School District: Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias

Water District

  • East Orange County Water District: Douglass S. Davert
  • Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 2: James R. Fisler
  • Mesa Consolidated Water District, Division 3: Ethan Temianka
  • Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 3: Larry R. Crandall
  • Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 7: Susan Hinman
  • Orange County Water District, Division 2: Denis R. Bilodeau
  • Orange County Water District, Division 3: Roger C. Yoh

Sanitary District

  • Costa Mesa Sanitary District: Don Harper
  • Costa Mesa Sanitary District: Jeff R. Mathews

 

Posted in Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Capistrano Unified School District, Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Cypress, Cypress School District, Dana Point, Democrat Central Committee, East Orange County Water District, Fountain Valley, Fountain Valley School District, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Irvine Unified School District, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange County, Newport Beach, Ocean View School District, Orange, Orange County Water District, Orange Unified School District, Rancho Santa Margarita, Republican Central Committee, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Unified School District, Tustin, Yorba Linda | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments »

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