Posted by Chris Nguyen on February 28, 2020
Ballot designations are the only piece of information that appear directly on the ballot other than a candidate’s name (and sometimes, political party).
A unique animal in California elections law is the ballot designation. Those are the three words the appear under non-presidential candidates’ names on the ballot (I will note, there are a handful of exceptions that allow more than three words). For every voter, it’s the last thing they see about a candidate before casting their ballots. For a frighteningly high number of voters, it’s the only thing they see about a candidate before casting their ballots in low-profile races.
Consequently, ballot designations may well be the most important words in a race, with campaigns even filing lawsuits over ballot designations every election.
In many previous elections, OC Political has written about the worst ballot designations on the ballot. These are the candidates who truly squandered a small, but very important, opportunity to communicate with the voters.
OC’s Ten Worst Ballot Designations
- Caregiver/Driver (Will Johnson in the 46th Congressional District)
The reverse version of this ballot designation (“Driver/Caregiver”) for this exact same candidate in this exact same office actually made the 2018 primary election list of “OC’s Worst Ballot Designations” as the second-worst designation behind only “Carpenter/Boxing Coach.” With no Carpenter/Boxing Coach on the ballot this time, “Caregiver/Driver” takes the top slot. To quote the 2018 list: “What special skills does a driver bring to being a Member of Congress? While caregivers provide a very important service, what does that service have to do with being a Congressional Representative?”
- Mother/Automation Director (Naz Hamid in the 68th District Democratic Central Committee)
When running for the Central Committee of the party that bills itself as being the party of labor and working people, I can’t imagine why people wouldn’t vote for an automation director. Nothing says putting people out of work like an automation director.
- Student/Campaign Coordinator (Kalvin Alvarez in the 74th District Democratic Central Committee)
As I’ve said in previous editions of “OC’s Worst Ballot Designations,” the voters do not vote for students. They prefer candidates who are not still in school. Every time someone complains when I put “Student” on the list, their candidate loses. Plenty of young people have won office: not one of them has used “Student” as their ballot designation even when they are students.
- Handyman (Bobby Florentz in the 65th District Republican Central Committee)
What unique skills does a handyman bring when running for office? I mean I guess he’s helpful if you have a wobbly table or flickering light at Central Committee that needs fixing.
- Teacher’s Assistant (Jalen Dupree McLeod in the 47th Congressional District)
Teacher’s assistants perform a valuable job. However, in picking candidates for office, I feel the voters would prefer the actual teacher rather than the teacher’s assistant. It’s especially tough when you’re challenging a sitting member of Congress from your own political party.
- Risk Professional (Sudi Farokhnia in the 73rd District Democratic Central Committee)
Oh, yes, that’s what everyone wants for Central Committee: a risk professional. Who doesn’t love insurance? While an important job, this profession does not bring warm, fuzzy feelings to anyone. For those few voters who know what Central Committee is, I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to have someone who will fret about insurance for precinct walkers and phone bankers.
- Legal Clerk (Ariana Arestegui in the 69th District Democratic Central Committee)
Unless you’re the Orange County Clerk-Recorder or running for that office, a clerk ballot designation just isn’t going to get the job done. While legal clerks perform an important role, life is unfair, and the voters have little respect for the position.
- Filmmaker (Andrew Gallagher in the 74th District Democratic Central Committee)
Are you Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, James Cameron, or another famed filmmaker? If not, you should not use “Filmmaker” as your ballot designation. What special skills does a filmmaker bring to the table? Maybe if voters knew what Central Committee is, they might like you for your potential ability to make TV campaign commercials, but unfortunately, most voters don’t know what Central Committee is. (It may be unfair to you, and it was after you’d already picked your designation, but it doesn’t help people are getting sick of Mike Bloomberg and Tom Steyer’s commercials.)
- Life Skills Coach (Michael Navarro in the 55th District Republican Central Committee)
While many people joke about Central Committee members needing life skills coaching, I don’t think the electorate has any particular reason to back a life skills coach for office.
- Psychotherapist (Anne Cameron in the 73rd District Democratic Central Committee)
How bad are your Central Committee meetings getting when you need a psychotherapist? Why would a voter want to vote for a psychotherapist for office? So the psychotherapist can make the other candidates feel better?
(Dis)Honorable Mention
This ballot designation was subpar, but it wasn’t bad enough to make the list of worst ballot designations. However, this poor soul probably should have realized sometimes politics is about timing. For some of us, the name you’re born with (or the name you marry into) just brings unfair problems beyond your control. (I am not unsympathetic to this, having had numerous misspellings and mispronunciations of my last name of Nguyen.) For the candidate below, this is probably a good name when running for Republican Central Committee. However, in running for Democratic Central Committee, I think it may have been wise to wait until 2024 to run:
- Mary Tromp, Retired Computer Programmer (72nd District Democratic Central Committee)
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Posted in 46th Congressional District, 47th Congressional District, Democrat Central Committee, Republican Central Committee | Tagged: Andrew Gallagher, Anne Cameron, Ariana Arestegui, ballot designation, Bobby Florentz, Jalen Dupree McLeod, Kalvin Alvarez, Mary Tromp, Michael Navarro, Naz Hamid, Sudi Farokhnia, Will Johnson | 3 Comments »
Posted by Chris Nguyen on August 15, 2016
Under California law, the deadline for filing for most offices was this past Friday, August 12. However, in races where there is an eligible incumbent who chose not to file for re-election, non-incumbents received an extra five days to file. Consequently, the deadline for non-incumbents to file has been extended until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, August 17 for 20 races for college board, school board, and special districts. None of these require nomination signatures, so a prospective candidate could literally pull and file papers in the final minutes before 5:00 PM on August 17.
Three of these contests actually have more seats than candidates. In other words, there aren’t enough candidates for these races, so anyone who files will go unopposed, but at this point, if no one else files, these three districts will have vacancies:
There’s an additional five contests where the number of seats equal the number of candidates. In other words, if no one else files, all of these candidates will be elected unopposed:
Looking at the list below, some of you may be wondering why Rancho Santiago Community College District, Trustee Area 1 is not listed. In that case, incumbent Jose Solorio (D) actually resigned from the seat, so there is no incumbent. When there’s no incumbent at all, there’s no extension.
For those of you who are curious
Here’s the complete run-down on the 20 contests where filing has been extended to 5:00 PM on August 17 because at least one incumbent failed to file, giving non-incumbents an extra five days to file:
- North Orange County Community College District, Trustee Area 2
- Incumbent Leonard Lahtinen (D) did not file for re-election, opting instead to run for Anaheim City Council. Three candidates have pulled and filed papers to replace him so far:
- Centralia School District Trustee Art Montez (D), who was on the Centralia Board from 1998-2010, when he was defeated for re-election, lost a 2012 bid to return to the Board, and then finally returned to the Centralia Board in the 2014 election, but he’s already looking for another office just two years later
- College Educator Ed Lopez (?)
- Businesswoman/Student Ann-Marie Stinson (D)
- North Orange County Community College District, Trustee Area 7
- Incumbent Tony Ontiveros (R), the only Republican on the North Orange County Community College District Board, did not file for re-election. Only one candidate has pulled papers to replace him:
- Attorney Barry Wishart (D), who served on the North Orange County Community College District Board from 1985 until his resignation in December 2001, three years into his fourth term
- Capistrano Unified School District, Trustee Area 3
- Incumbent John Alpay (R) did not file for re-election, opting instead to run for South Orange County Community College District. Only one candidate has pulled papers to replace him:
- Public Information Officer Laura Ferguson (R), who is the PIO for the City of San Clemente
- Irvine Unified School District
- There are three incumbents up for re-election: Paul Bokota (D), Lauren Brooks (R), and Michael Parham (R). Bokota and Brooks filed for re-election, but Parham did not. In addition to Bokota and Brooks, four other candidates have pulled and filed papers:
- Irvine Businesswoman/Parent Betty Carroll (NPP)
- Army Captain/Parent Mark Newgent (?)
- Irvine Businesswoman/Parent Naz Hamid (D)
- Attorney Geri Zollinger (D)
- Laguna Beach Unified School District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: William Landsiedel (R) and Jan Vickers (D). Vickers filed for re-election, but Landsiedel did not. In addition to Vickers, two other candidates have pulled and filed papers:
- Constitutional Lawyer/Author Howard Hills (R)
- Community Volunteer Peggy Wolff (D)
- Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 6
- Incumbent Mark Wayland (R) did not file for re-election. Three candidates have pulled papers to replace him:
- Child Care Supervisor Nicole Baitx-Kennedy (NPP), the only one who has filed papers so far
- Realtor Jeremy Wayland (R), the retiring incumbent’s son
- Danielle Jacobs (R), who is director of operations for Sheldon Development, LLC, run by Orange County Water District Director Steve Sheldon (R)
- Saddleback Valley Unified School District
- There are three incumbents up for re-election: Ginny Fay Aitkens (D), Amanda Morrell (R), and Suzie Swartz (R). Morrell and Swartz filed for re-election, but Aitkens did not. In addition to Morrell and Swartz, five other candidates have pulled papers:
- Retired Educator Edward Wong (NPP)
- Teacher Bill Yarrington (R)
- Water Agency Manager Mark Tettemer (R), a former Lake Forest City Councilman who retired in 2012 after two terms to pursue a Master of Public Administration
- School Maintenance Specialist David Johnson (?)
- Businessman Theo Hunt (D)
- Santa Ana Unified School District
- There are three incumbents up for re-election: Jose Hernandez (NPP), Cecilia Iglesias (R), and Rob Richardson (R). Iglesias filed for re-election, but Hernandez and Richardson did not. In addition to Iglesias, seven other candidates have pulled papers:
- Recreation Program Coordinator Gloria Alvarado (D)
- Attorney/Santa Ana Commissioner Bruce Bauer (D)
- Teacher/Parent Rigo Rodriguez (?)
- Supervising Social Worker Alfonso Alvarez (D)
- Congressional Liaison/Parent Bea Mendoza (D), who works for Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D)
- Educator/Santa Ana Commissioner Mark McLoughlin (NPP), a former Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee
- Santa Ana Businesswoman/Economist Angie Cano (R)
- Huntington Beach City School District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: Bridget Kaub (R) and Brian Rechsteiner (R). Kaub filed for re-election, but Rechsteiner did not. In addition to Kaub, three other candidates have pulled papers:
- Retired Elementary Principal Ann Sullivan (AI)
- Rob Fishel (NPP)
- Elementary Teacher/Parent Karrie Burroughs (R)
- Ocean View School District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: Gina Clayton-Tarvin (D) and Debbie Cotton (R). Clayton-Tarvin filed for re-election, but Cotton did not. In addition to Clayton-Tarvin, only one other candidate has pulled and filed papers:
- Social Worker Amalia Lam (D)
- Westminster School District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: Jamison Power (D) and Amy Walsh (R). Power filed for re-election, but Walsh did not. In addition to Power, two other candidates have pulled and filed papers:
- Attorney/Business Owner Karl Truong (?)
- Educator/Entrepreneur Frances Nguyen (R), a former President of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce
- Capistrano Bay Community Services District
- No one has pulled papers for these two seats! There are two incumbents up for re-election: Ambrose Mastro (R) and Stephen Muller (R), the two Republicans on a board with one Democrat and two NPPs. Neither Mastro nor Muller filed for re-election.
- At this point, anyone who pulls and files papers will walk into elected office unopposed. If fewer than two people file for these two seats, the Orange County Board of Supervisors will appoint people to fill the vacancies.
- Emerald Bay Service District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: William Hart (R) and John Marconi (R). Marconi filed for re-election, but Hart did not. In addition to Marconi, only one other candidate has pulled and filed papers:
- Real Estate Investor Phil De Carion (NPP)
- Surfside Colony Community Services District
- Incumbent Michael Farrell (NPP) did not file for re-election. Two candidates have pulled and filed papers to replace him so far:
- Retired Business Owner Rudy LaLonde (R)
- Linda Garofalo (NPP), ex-wife of former Huntington Beach Mayor Dave Garofalo (R)
- Three Arch Bay Community Services District
- No one has pulled papers for the third seat! There are three incumbents up for re-election: Alan Anderson (R), Elizabeth Gapp (R) and Gary Rubel (R). While Anderson and Rubel filed for re-election, Gapp did not. Only Anderson and Rubel have pulled and filed papers.
- At this point, anyone who pulls and files papers will walk into elected office unopposed. If a third person does not file for these three seats, the Orange County Board of Supervisors will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
- Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: John Olson (D) and Chay Peterson (NPP). Neither Olson nor Peterson filed for re-election. Four candidates have pulled and filed papers:
- IT Consultant Steven Duff (D)
- Retired Educator Tara Saraye (D)
- Realtor/Artist/Parent Heidi Murphy-Grande (?)
- Dion Sorrell (D)
- Surfside Colony Storm Water Protection District
- No one has pulled papers for the second seat! There are two incumbents up for re-election: John Cahoon (L) and Stephen Rowe (D). While Rowe filed for re-election, Cahooon did not. Only Rowe has pulled and filed papers.
- At this point, anyone who pulls and files papers will walk into elected office unopposed. If a second person does not file for these two seats, the Orange County Board of Supervisors will appoint someone to fill the vacancy.
- South Coast Water District
- There are three incumbents up for re-election: Dick Dietmeier (NPP), Rick Erkeneff (R), and Wayne Rayfield (D). Erkeneff and Rayfield filed for re-election, but Dietmeier did not. In addition to Erkeneff and Rayfield, four other candidates have pulled papers:
- Retired Business Owner Bob Moore (R), a former South Coast Water District Director who lost a 2014 re-election bid after foolishly using a non-incumbent ballot designation
- Retired Project Manager Bob Oakley (R)
- Civil Engineer Douglas Erdman (NPP), who appears to be the son of South Coast Water District Director Dennis Erdman (R)
- Former South Coast Water District Director Richard Gardner (D), who lost a 2012 re-election bid seeks a return to his old seat after losing a 2014 bid to reclaim a seat on this board (or he might not seek a return since he has also pulled papers for Municipal Water District of Orange County, Division 7)
- Yorba Linda Water District
- There are two incumbents up for re-election: Michael Beverage (R) and Ric Collett (R). Collett filed for re-election, but Beverage did not. In addition to Collett, only one other candidate has pulled and filed papers:
- Retired Business Advisor Benjamin Franklin Parker (R)
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- Incumbent Susan Hinman (R) did not file for re-election. Three candidates have pulled papers to replace her so far:
- Moulton-Niguel Water District Director Donald Froelich (R)
- Business Owner/Consultant Evan Chaffee (R)
- Registered Professional Engineer Raymond Miller (R)
- Former South Coast Water District Director Richard Gardner (D), who has also pulled papers for South Coast Water District
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Posted in Anaheim, Capistrano Bay Community Services District, Capistrano Unified School District, Centralia School District, Emerald Bay Service District, Huntington Beach City School District, Irvine Unified School District, Laguna Beach Unified School District, Moulton-Niguel Water District, Municipal Water District of Orange County, North Orange County Community College District, Ocean View School District, Orange Unified School District, Saddleback Valley Unified School District, Santa Ana Unified School District, Silverado-Modjeska Recreation and Park District, South Coast Water District, South Orange County Community College District, Surfside Colony Community Services District, Surfside Colony Storm Water Protection District, Three Arch Bay Community Services District, Westminster School District, Yorba Linda Water District | Tagged: Alan Anderson, Alfonso Alvarez, Amalia Lam, Amanda Morrell, Ambrose Mastro, Amy Walsh, Angie Cano, Ann Sullivan, Ann-Marie Stinson, Art Montez, Barry Wishart, Bea Mendoza, Benjamin Parker, Betty Carroll, Bill Yarrington, Bob Moore, Bob Oakley, Brian Rechsteiner, Bridget Kaub, Bruce Bauer, Ceci Iglesias, Cecilia "Ceci" Iglesias, Cecilia Iglesias, Chalynn Peterson, Daivd Johnson, Danielle Jacobs, Dave Garofalo, Debbie Cotton, Dennis Erdman, Dick Dietmeier, Dion Sorrell, Donald Froelich, Douglas Erdman, Ed Lopez, Edward Wong, Elizabeth Gapp, Evan P. Chafee, Frances Nguyen, Gary Rubel, Geri Zollinger, Gina Clayton, Gina Clayton-Tarvin, Ginny Aitkens, Gloria Alvarado, Heidi Murphy-Grande, Howard Hills, Jamison Power, Jan Vickers, Jeremy Wayland, John Alpay, John Cahoon, John Marconi, John Olson, Jose Hernandez, Jose Solorio, Karl Truong, Karrie Burroughs, Laura Ferguson, Lauren Brooks, Leonard L. Lahtinen, Leonard Lahtinen, Linda Garofalo, Loretta Sanchez, Mark D. Wayland, Mark McLoughlin, Mark Newgent, Mark Tettemer, Mark Wayland, Michael Beverage, Michael Farrell, Michael Parham, Naz Hamid, Nicole Baitx-Kennedy, Paul Bokota, Peggy Wolff, Phil De Carion, Raymond Miller, Ric Collett, Richard Gardner, Rick Erkeneff, Rigo Rodriguez, Rob Fishel, Rob Richardson, Rudy LaLonde, Stephen Muller, Stephen Rowe, Steven Duff, Susan Hinman, Suzie Swartz, Tara Saraye, Theo Hunt, Tony Ontiveros, Wayne Rayfield, William Hart, William Landsiedel | 1 Comment »
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