Posted by Chris Nguyen on March 12, 2012
Robert Hammond, Tom Daly, Michele Martinez, Julio Perez, Paco Barragan, Long Pham, Troy Edgar, Travis Allen, Joe Dovinh, Allan Mansoor, Leslie Daigle, Robert Rush, Albert Ayala, Todd Spitzer, Deborah Pauly, Janet Nguyen, and Steve Rocco. Not pictured for space considerations: Matt Harper, Tyler Diep, Bob Huff, Greg Diamond, Mimi Walters, Steve Young, and the 13 Fullerton Recall Candidates
Friday was such a busy candidate filing day that we still haven’t finished all our coverage of candidate filing action here on OC Political, but for those of you who weren’t reading over the weekend, here’s a quick rundown/annotated table of contents of what we’ve covered so far:
The big news that dominated our coverage was the AD-69/AD-72/OCBE chaos:
- OC Democrats’ Worst-Case Scenario Comes True: Coups Benefit Republicans in AD-69 & AD-74
Republicans had long feared an all-Republican battle between Assemblyman Allan Mansoor and Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, which would eat up Republican human and financial resources in both June and November. There were further fears that Democrats would cast their votes for Daigle to oust the more conservative Mansoor. These fears proved unfounded when Democrat Robert Rush qualified for the ballot.
However, the scenario Republicans feared in AD-74 became the scenario Democrats face in AD-69. Republican Robert Hammond pulled out of the AD-69 race, leaving four Democrats to face only each other in a bloody intra-party battle in June. Then the top two of those four will face each other again in a bloody intra-party battle in November. AD-69 will eat up Democratic human and financial resources in November when they could have been spending their time, energy, and money battling Republicans.
(Prop 14 made this possible by eliminating traditional primaries, and requiring the top two candidates from the June primary to advance to the November general election, even if they’re from the same party, even if someone broke 50% in June, and even if there were only two candidates in June.)
- Hammond Enters OCBE Race & Withdraws from AD-69, Producing OC Democrats’ Worst-Case Scenario
Republican Robert Hammond withdrew from the AD-69 race to enter the race for Orange County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1. It was Hammond’s withdrawal from AD-69 that left Democrats in a bloody intra-party war in November, locking up Democratic resources to attack Democrats instead of Republicans. OCBE 1 is held by conservative Republican Long Pham, who made all this possible by vacating his seat to run for AD-72.
- AD-72: Five Candidates (Two Democrats, Three Republicans) Running
The Republicans in the AD-72 race are OCBE Trustee Long Pham, Los Alamitos Mayor Troy Edgar, and Huntington Beach Businessman Travis Allen. The Democrats are Garden Grove Planning Commissioner Joe Dovinh and 89-year-old Tea Party Democrat Albert Ayala.
- Matt Harper opts out of 72 AD race
Not among the candidates was Huntington Beach Councilman Matt Harper who announced his withdrawal on the final day of filing. Just five weeks ago, the Republican line-up in AD-72 was expected to be Harper, Long Pham, and Westminster Councilman Tyler Diep. Now Harper and Diep are out, replaced by Troy Edgar and Travis Allen.
- Bizarre Travis Allen Strategy in AD-72: Alienate Non-Huntington Beach Voters and Declare Los Alamitos to Be “Foreign”
With Matt Harper out and Travis Allen jumping in the race in the final days of filing, Allen certainly made a splash, with a pair of bizarre press releases that attacked Harper for endorsing “Foreign Candidate” Troy Edgar.
After all the AD-69/AD-72/OCBE chaos, how could we forget the legendary Spitzer-Pauly showdown? And Steve Rocco!
- Board of Supervisors: Two Crazy Races on the Docket
The well-anticipated fiery battle for the Third Supervisorial District is proceeding as expected, with former Assemblyman/Supervisor Todd Spitzer and Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly facing off. I don’t think Supervisor Janet Nguyen will object to being known as the boring candidate in her race, as her sole challenger is convicted ketchup thief Steve Rocco. (For the record, I am not related to Supervisor Nguyen. The last name Nguyen is held by 36% of Vietnamese people.)
Wait, there’s more! The Fullerton Recall!
- Battle for Fullerton: The Field is Set
Thirteen candidates have filed for the three seats up for recall. Rick Alvarez (R), Janes Rands (G), Greg Sebourn (R), and Paula Williams (D) have filed to replace Don Bankhead. Dorothy A. Birsic (R), Glenn P. Georgieff (D), Matthew Hakim (D), Travis Kiger (R), and Roberta Reid (NPP) have filed to replace Dick Jones. Doug Chaffee (D), Barry Levinson (R), Sean Paden (R), and Matthew Rowe (NPP) have filed to replace Pat McKinley.
Still more…
We’re still not done with our candidate filing coverage, but at least, now, dear reader, you’re caught up.
I give South OC the award for most boring region in the 2012 Primary. Things are much more interesting in the North OC and Central OC campaigns. Fear not, South OC, I anticipate fun from you in the 2014 Primary to replace termed-out Supervisor Pat Bates unless Senator Mimi Walters decides to ruin it all by entering and clearing the field for herself, assuming Assemblywoman Diane Harkey continues on her path to the Board of Equalization.
Posted in 1st Supervisorial District, 29th Senate District, 37th Senate District, 3rd Supervisorial District, 69th Assembly District, 72nd Assembly District, 74th Assembly District, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Orange County Board of Education, Rossmoor, Santa Ana, Seal Beach | Tagged: Albert Ayala, Allan Mansoor, Barry Levinson, Bob Huff, Deborah Pauly, Dick Jones, Don Bankhead, Dorothy A. Birsic, Doug Chaffee, Fullerton Recall, Glenn P. Georgieff, Greg Diamond, Greg Sebourn, Jane Rands, Janet Nguyen, Joe Dovinh, Julio Perez, Leslie Daigle, Long Pham, Matt Harper, Matthew Hakim, Matthew Rowe, Michele Martinez, Mimi Walters, Paco Barragan, Pat McKinley, Paula Williams, Rick Alvarez, Robert Hammond, Robert Rush, Roberta J. Reid, Sean Paden, Steve Rocco, Steve Young, Todd Spitzer, Tom Daly, Travis Allen, Travis Kiger, Troy Edgar, Tyler Diep | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Walter Myers III on March 11, 2012
It was a real honor to attend a reception in Santa Ana on Saturday night for Mexican presidential candidate Josefina Vazquez Mota hosted by the Hispanic 100, which is led by local businessman and political strategist Mario Rodriguez. A number of local dignitaries and Hispanic leaders were in attendance, all looking to get a glimpse of this bold,beautiful, and accomplished lady and to hear her speak about the hopes and dreams of the Mexican people. When Josefina spoke, you could hear and feel her passion and love for Mexico. She spoke glowingly of her admiration for and special friendship with Rosario Marin, who is a member of the Hispanic 100 and also former Treasurer of the United States under President George Bush from August 2001 to June 2003. For those who don’t know Josefina, she is a Mexican economist, businesswoman, and politician who has served in the National Action Party (PAN). She has served in various capacities under the current President Felipe Calderon, including Secretary of Education. In September of 2011, Josefina left her position as Coordinator of the Parliamentary Group to pursue the Presidency of Mexico in 2012.
We have our own election for President this year, which will hopefully retire Barack Obama and usher in a new Republican president who will restore our republic to fiscal sanity, create pro-business policies, get our energy economy growing again, and end the racial divisiveness that is the hallmark of the Obama presidency. Yet the upcoming election in Mexico is also of utmost importance to Americans in terms of building a stronger, more productive relationship between the United States and Mexico. My hope is that if Josefina wins, we will work more closely as countries to combat the drug cartels, boost the Mexican economy, and work towards policies that finally solve the illegal immigration problem, such as the immigration policy proposal advanced by the Lincoln Club of Orange County. As a member of both the Hispanic 100 and Lincoln Club, having worked on the policy with committee chairwoman Teresa Hernandez and other members committed to pursuing a real solution, I believe we have begun a new conversation on the illegal immigration problem that does not include citizenship for illegal immigrants.
As a matter of history, I lived in Mexico for a couple of years back in the early 1990s before moving to the OC, and I have a deep love for the Mexican people. That is why it tears my heart out that some Americans have such animus towards those who come here only to make a better life for themselves and their families. We had a wonderfully functioning guest worker program (The Bracero Program) from 1942 to 1964 that gave skilled field workers the opportunity to work in America. We did not have a serious illegal immigration problem until the program was killed because big agribusiness wanted illegal workers and convinced the federal government to look the other way while they exploited illegal labor from Mexico and other countries south of our border. This is a huge injustice, and I will not rest until illegal immigrants are no longer living in the shadows of America, exploited for their labor. This is the humanitarian issue of our generation. Yet you have spineless politicians that provide public benefits to illegal immigrants in the hopes they will eventually get citizenship and vote for them, not caring that as long as these people continue to live in the shadows, they are vulnerable to crime and exploitation. Additionally, they work for wages that native-born Americans cannot compete with. It is a racket that has been going on for 48 years where everyone loses except for pandering politicians and exploitative business owners. It is time for this to come to an end, and I invite all conservatives to join us in bringing this about.
Posted in 47th Congressional District, 69th Assembly District, Santa Ana | Tagged: Felipe Calderon, Hispanic 100, Immigration Reform, Josefina Vazquez Mota, Lincoln Club, Mario Rodriguez, Rosario Marin | 8 Comments »
Posted by Thomas Gordon on February 29, 2012
Sam Aresheh was scheduled to make an appearance in court this morning to answer to charges being pursued by the City Attorney of Santa Ana.
What’s his crime?
Speaking up for what he believed in.
According to news reports Mr Aresheh was arrested for violating Santa Ana’s anti camping ordinance. Mr Aresheh was participating in the Occupy OC demonstration in the Santa Ana Civic Center and had erected a tent to escape the elements. He was warned that he would be be arrested and according to news reports from the scene, he and three others were surrounded by roughly 20 police officers and six police cars, including a crime scene investigation van and officers on horseback.
At the time of the arrest Santa Ana was teetering on the brink of insolvency yet somehow mustered up the resources to arrest, jail, criminally charge and pursue a court case against those arrested.
Three of those arrested accepted a plea deal from the Santa Ana City Attorney, while Mr Aresheh decided to face judge and jury.
To add insult to injury, the Santa Ana City Council took action to support the mission and goals of the Occupy movement and to recognize its right to the peaceful and lawful exercise of its First Amendment rights. I’m not in agreement with the message of Occupy, but I’ll always defend their right to free speech in a peaceful manner.
Councilmember Vincent Sarmiento requested that the Santa Ana City Attorney up the resolution and stated “We know that this city, in particular, is part of the 99 percent”
Councilmember Sal Tinajero stated that he and his son had visited Occupy NY and stated that “there is a tremendous amount of money and influence that goes into our government and that the occupiers see that there is a possibility that our democracy could get away from us”
Maybe they should talk to Interim City Attorney Joe Straka about dismissing all charges in the interest of our democracy and the First Amendment.
Posted in Santa Ana, Uncategorized | Tagged: Free Speech, graffiti, Occupy OC, Sal Tinajero, Sam Aresheh, Santa Ana, Vincent Sarmiento | 16 Comments »
Posted by Thomas Gordon on February 8, 2012
A group called the Committee to Support Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative pulled paperwork from the Santa Ana City Clerk to begin the process of gatherings the roughly 5000 signatures needed to qualify it for the November ballot.
The initiative would allow medical marijuana dispensaries to operate under strict guidelines such as limiting hours from 9 am to 9 pm, restricting patients to 21 years of age and older, forbid loitering and limit dispensaries no closer than 600 feet from a school or park. It would also limit the number of dispensaries in Santa Ana to no less than 20, possibly more.
Medical Marijuana dispensaries were outlawed in Santa Ana in 2007 but according to Santa Ana Police no fewer than 62 operate illegally.
In an effort to sweeten the pot the backers of the measure to legalize have proposed an additional 2% sales tax on medical marijuana to benefit the cities depleted general fund.
In 1996 California voters passed Prop 215 which legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes so long as it was through community collectives.
Given Santa Ana’s track record I’m curious to see how this will all play out…..
Posted in Santa Ana | Tagged: crime, Medical Marijuana, Orange County Register, Santa Ana City Council, taxes | 14 Comments »
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