Posts Tagged ‘Tony Rackauckas’
Posted by Chris Nguyen on November 7, 2018
Here’s a quick look at the top 10 stories of the 2018 general election in Orange County:
- OC Congressional Delegation Now Consists of Five Democrats and Two Republicans
In a political earthquake for Orange County, the 4-3 Republican majority in OC’s Congressional delegation is now a 5-2 Democratic majority. The three senior members of the delegation are leaving Congress: Dana Rohrabacher (elected 1988), Ed Royce (elected 1992), and Darrell Issa (elected 2000); all three are Republicans and only Royce will be succeeded by a member of his own party. While Royce and Issa both announced their retirements earlier this year, Rohrabacher has been defeated for re-election by businessman Harley Rouda (D-Laguna Beach). Royce will be succeeded by former Assemblywoman Young Kim (R-Fullerton) while Issa will be succeeded by Clean Energy Advocate Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano). While Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) defeated Levin in Orange County, her undoing was Levin’s strong lead in San Diego County. The three most senior members of the OC delegation are now Linda Sanchez (elected 2002), Alan Lowenthal (elected 2012), and Mimi Walters (elected 2014). In a House of Representatives ruled by seniority, the OC delegation is severely lacking in seniority.
- Democrats’ Assembly Supermajority Hinges on Whether Matthew Harper Survives
Orange County’s 5-2 Republican delegation could fall to being a 4-3 Republican delegation if Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach) is unable to hold his narrow lead over Small Business Owner Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach). Harper’s defeat would produce a Democratic supermajority in the State Assembly to go along with the Democratic supermajority in the State Senate (Democrats captured a Republican-held State Senate seat in the Central Valley last night). Harper leads Petrie-Norris by 672 votes out of 120,164 votes cast, or 0.6%. Late absentee ballots and provisional ballots have not yet been counted and most certainly could flip the lead.
- District Attorney-Elect Todd Spitzer
For what appears to be the first time in Orange County history, a sitting District Attorney has been defeated for re-election. 20-Year District Attorney Tony Rackauckas (R) has been defeated for re-election by Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer (R). Spitzer’s election also creates a special election in the Third Supervisorial District. Spitzer’s victory was so sweeping that he leads in 27 of Orange County’s 34 cities, winning everywhere except Little Saigon and the northern beach cities.
- Tim Shaw Leads, But Fourth District Supervisor is Too Close to Call
La Habra Mayor Tim Shaw (R) leads Fullerton Mayor Doug Chaffee (D) by just 1,610 votes out of 87,404 votes cast. Chaffee won the Fourth District’s three largest cities, Anaheim, Fullerton, and Buena Park, but Shaw ran up the total in his wins in the three smallest cities, La Habra, Placentia, and Brea, particularly with the landslide in his own city of La Habra. There are still an enormous number of late absentee ballots and provisional ballots that could still change the result in this seat.
- Assemblyman-Elect Tyler Diep
In the race to succeed Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach), Westminster Councilman Tyler Diep (R) defeated FreeConferenceCall.com CEO Josh Lowenthal (D-Huntington Beach) to retain this Assembly seat for Republicans. Diep’s concurrent service with Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Garden Grove) makes California the first state ever with two Vietnamese-Americans serving in the State Legislature at the same time.
- Mayor-Elect Harry Sidhu and the New Anaheim Council Majority
Anaheim voters delivered a new majority on their City Council. Former Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu (R) was elected Mayor of Anaheim last night. Businessman Trevor O’Neil (R) won the open Council seat in Anaheim Hills. Former Councilman Jordan Brandman (D) defeated Councilman James Vanderbilt (R) in West Anaheim’s District 2 seat. Councilman Jose Moreno (D) won re-election in Central Anaheim’s District 3 seat.
- Newport Beach Ousts Two Incumbents, Ending Council Majority
While Councilmembers Diane Dixon (R) and Kevin Muldoon (R) won landslide re-elections, Councilman Scott Peotter (R) was defeated by Businesswoman Joy Brenner (R), and Councilman Duffy Duffield (R) is narrowly losing to Businessman Tim Stoaks (R). With Peotter’s defeat and Duffield’s probable defeat, Newport Beach’s Council majority comes to an end.
- Lake Forest Sweep
In a sweeping rebuke of incivility, Lake Forest voters elected Neeki Moatazedi (R) decisively over Sonny Morper (R) and elected former Councilman Mark Tettemer (R) to oust Mayor Jim Gardner (R) from office. Moatazedi and Tettemer join Councilman Scott Voigts (R), who was unopposed for re-election when his opponent failed to qualify for the ballot, and Councilman Dwight Robinson (R) in a new 4-1 supermajority of civility. Just ten months after the recall of Councilman Drew Hamilton (R) in which former Councilman Adam Nick’s allies won a 3-2 majority on the City Council, the voters have not only reversed the Nick majority but reduced down to 1 seat (which will be up for election in 2020). A key turning point in the campaign came when Nick’s side sent a mailer so disgusting that multiple TV channels covered it, for it was so sexist that it called Moatazedi a “bikini model” and made up three fictional criminal record numbers with a photo of an inmate falsely implying that it was Moatazedi. That mailer backfired into not only the media coverage but also campaign money and independent expenditures to oust Nick’s allies from the Council.
- Irvine’s New Councilmembers
For the first time in 14 years, no incumbent Irvine Councilmember sought re-election (though Mayor Don Wagner (R) was re-elected last night). Planning Commissioner Anthony Kuo (R) is the top vote getter while Businesswoman Farrah Khan (D) and Transportation Commissioner Carrie O’Malley (R) are neck-and-neck for the second Council seat, with Khan ahead by 389 votes, or 0.5%.
- Santa Ana Councilwoman-Elect Ceci Iglesias
For the first time in a decade, Santa Ana citizens voted to elect a Republican to their City Council, with School Board Member Ceci Iglesias winning the Ward 6 seat by a decisive margin. (The last Republican on the Santa Ana Council, Carlos Bustamante, was re-elected in 2008 to a term ending in 2012.) Iglesias’s election creates a vacancy on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board, which will be filled by appointment.
Honorable Mention
- There’s a New Sheriff in Town
While it was widely expected that Undersheriff Don Barnes (R) would be elected Sheriff of Orange County, it’s always a major news story when there’s a new Sheriff. Barnes decisively defeated Los Angeles County District Attorney Investigator Duke Nguyen (D) with 57% of the vote.
Upcoming News Story Due to Last Night’s Results
- Race for Third District Supervisor
With the election of Supervisor Todd Spitzer as District Attorney of Orange County, an early 2019 special election will take place to fill the remaining two years on Spitzer’s Supervisorial term. Retiring Anaheim Councilwoman Kris Murray (R) and Businessman Andy Thorburn (D) have already announced for Spitzer’s Supervisorial seat. Thorburn spent millions in his unsuccessful bid in the primary election for the 39th Congressional District. Other early rumored candidates include Irvine Mayor Don Wagner (R), former Irvine Mayor Sukhee Kang (D), and Yorba Linda Councilwoman Peggy Huang (R).
(In the interest of full disclosure, Western American, the company that owns OC Political, serves as the political consultants for Sidhu, O’Neil, Voigts, Moatazedi, and Tettemer, as well as doing secondary consultant work for Kuo. Additionally, this blogger is Spitzer’s alternate on the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Orange County.)
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Posted in 39th Congressional District, 45th Congressional District, 48th Congressional District, 49th Congressional District, 4th Supervisorial District, 72nd Assembly District, 74th Assembly District, Anaheim, Irvine, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Orange County District Attorney's Office, Orange County Sheriff, Santa Ana Unified School District | Tagged: Adam Nick, Alan Lowenthal, Andrew Hamilton, Andy Thorburn, Anthony Kuo, Carrie O'Malley, Ceci Iglesias, Cecilia "Ceci" Iglesias, Cecilia Iglesias, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Dana Rohrabacher, Darrell Issa, Diane Dixon, Diane Harkey, Don Barnes, Don Wagner, Doug Chaffee, Duke Nguyen, Dwight Robinson, Ed Royce, Farrah Khan, Harley Rouda, Harry Sidhu, James Vanderbilt, Janet Nguyen, Jim Gardner, Jordan Brandman, Jose Moreno, Josh Lowenthal, Joy Brenner, Kevin Muldoon, Kris Murray, Linda Sanchez, Mark Tettemer, Marshall "Duffy" Duffield, Matthew Harper, Mike Levin, Mimi Walters, Neeki Moatazedi, Peggy Huang, Scott Peotter, Scott Voigts, Sonny Morper, Tim Shaw, Tim Stoaks, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas, Travis Allen, Trevor O'Neil, Tyler Diep, Young Kim | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris Nguyen on May 31, 2018
In prior elections, some of the most popular articles on OC Political in the run-up to elections are the ones identifying the partisan affiliations of candidates on the ballot. So back by popular demand, OC Political presents the political party affiliations of everyone running for everything on the June 5, 2018 Primary Election ballot in Orange County.
(Okay, this list is not everyone running for literally everything; it is everyone running for offices whose party affiliations are not shown on the ballot. If you want to know the party affiliation of candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senate, House of Representatives, State Legislature, etc., just look on your ballot.)
Superior Court Judge, Office No. 13
- Franklin Dunn – Republican
- Theodore R. “Ted” Howard – Republican
Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Steven Ireland – Democrat
- Lily (Espinoza) Ploski – No Party Preference
- Tony K. Thurmond – Democrat
- Marshall Tuck – Democrat
County Superintendent of Schools
County Board of Education, Area 2
- Mari Barke – Republican
- David L. Boyd – Democrat
- Matt Nguyen – Democrat
County Board of Education, Area 5
- Kimberly Clark – No Party Preference
- Mike Dalati – Democrat
- Dan Draitser – American Independent
- Mary Navarro – Democrat
- Lisa Sparks – Republican
Supervisor, 2nd District
- Michael Mahony – Libertarian
- Brendon Perkins – Democrat
- Michelle Steel – Republican
Supervisor, 4th District
- Cynthia Aguirre – Democrat
- Doug Chaffee – Democrat
- Rose Espinoza – Democrat
- Joe Kerr – Democrat
- Lucille Kring – Republican
- Tim Shaw – Republican
Supervisor, 5th District
- Lisa Bartlett – Republican
Assessor
- Nathaniel Fernandez Epstein – Democrat
- Claude Parrish – Republican
- Richard B. Ramirez – Republican
Auditor-Controller
- Toni Smart – American Independent
- Eric H. Woolery – Republican
Clerk-Recorder
- Hugh Nguyen – Republican
- Steve Rocco – No Party Preference
District Attorney-Public Administrator
- Lenore Albert-Sheridan – Democrat
- Brett Murdock – Democrat
- Tony Rackauckas – Republican
- Todd Spitzer – Republican
Sheriff-Coroner
- Don Barnes – Republican
- David C. Harrington – Republican
- Duke Nguyen – Democrat
Treasurer-Tax Collector
- Shari L. Freidenrich – Republican
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Posted in 2nd Supervisorial District, 4th Supervisorial District, 5th Supervisorial District, Orange County, Orange County Assessor, Orange County Auditor-Controller, Orange County Board of Education, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, Orange County District Attorney's Office, Orange County Sheriff, Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector | Tagged: Al Mijares, Brendon Perkins, Brett Murdock, Claude Parrish, Cynthia Aguirre, Dan Draitser, Dave Harrington, David Boyd, Don Barnes, Doug Chaffee, Duke Nguyen, Eric Woolery, Franklin Dunn, hugh nguyen, Joe Kerr, Kimberly Clark, Lenore Albert-Sheridan, Lily Ploski, Lisa Bartlett, Lisa Sparks, Lucille Kring, Mari Barke, Marshall Tuck, Mary Navarro, Matt Nguyen, Michael Mahony, Michelle Steel, Mike Dalati, Nathaniel Fernandez Epstein, Richard B. Ramirez, Rose Espinoza, Shari Freidenrich, Steve Rocco, Steven Ireland, Ted Howard, Tim Shaw, Todd Spitzer, Toni Smart, Tony Rackauckas, Tony Thurmond | 4 Comments »
Posted by Chris Nguyen on February 9, 2018
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas (R-San Clemente), Supervisor Todd Spitzer (R-Orange),
and former Mayor Brett Murdock (D-Brea)
In the race for Orange County District Attorney, Supervisor Todd Spitzer (R-Orange) raised $103,953 more than incumbent District Attorney Tony Rackauckas (R-San Clemente) did in the second half of 2017, according to campaign finance reports filed last week. During the second half of 2017, Spitzer raised $234,077 while Rackauckas raised $130,124. In the first half of 2017, Rackauckas raised $195,300; Spitzer did not have a DA account yet, but raised $273,284 into his Supervisor account during that time. When Spitzer closed his Supervisor account, he also transferred $1,272,559 to his DA account.
Rackauckas spent $178,606 while Spitzer spent $139,233 on the DA’s race. This leaves Rackauckas with $209,513 cash on hand and Spitzer with $1,367,403 cash on hand, or $1,364,903 cash on hand after accounting for one $2,500 unpaid bill.
Former Mayor Brett Murdock (D-Brea) raised 3% of what Rackauckas did and 2% of what Spitzer did. Additionally, Murdock had no funds raised in prior periods, leaving him even further behind Rackauckas and Spitzer. With $3,848, Murdock will need to spend $2,680 to pay the DA candidate filing fee to the Registrar of Voters, leaving him with $1,168. Unfortunately for Murdock, the ballot statement payable to the Registrar of Voters costs $15,536. In other words, as of the end of 2017, Murdock’s $3,848 cash on hand was only 21% of the $18,216 he needs to pay the Registrar of Voters by March 9.
For visual learners:
| Candidate |
Contributions
(1/1/17-6/30/17) |
Contributions
(7/1/17-12/31/17) |
Transfers |
Unpaid
Bills |
Expenditures |
Cash on Hand
(COH) |
COH Minus
Unpaid Bills |
| Tony Rackauckas (R) |
$195,300 |
$130,124 |
$0 |
$0 |
$178,606 |
$209,513 |
$209,513 |
| Todd Spitzer (R) |
N/A
($273,284 for Supervisor) |
$234,077 |
$1,272,559 |
$2,500 |
$139,233 |
$1,367,403 |
$1,364,903 |
| Brett Murdock (D) |
N/A |
$4,527 |
$0 |
$0 |
$679 |
$3,848 |
$3,848 |
| Note: Figures may be off by one dollar due to rounding. |
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Posted in Orange County District Attorney's Office | Tagged: Brett Murdock, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris Nguyen on January 31, 2018
Councilman Steve Vargas (R-Brea)
Councilman Steve Vargas (R-Brea) is entering the race for the 39th Congressional District to succeed the retiring Ed Royce (R-Fullerton), becoming the seventh Republican (and fifth current or former elected official) candidate for the seat. He faces off against Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson (R-Fullerton), former Assemblywoman Young Kim (R-Fullerton), former Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), Councilman Andrew Sarega (R-La Mirada), retired U.S. Navy Commander Mark Gaouette (R-Chino Hills), and perennial candidate John Cullum (R-Placentia). There are also seven Democrats in the CD-39 race.
With seven candidates from each party, CD-39 is virtually assured a traditional Republican vs. Democrat match-up in November, though candidates can still choose to enter or withdraw until March 14 for CD-39. (Filing for most Federal, State, and County offices ends March 9, but for those in which a sitting incumbent is neither seeking re-election nor termed out, filing ends March 14. At this point, for seats that cover portions of Orange County, the March 14 deadline appears to apply to CD-39, CD-49, State Treasurer, Board of Equalization, and County Board of Education Trustee Area 5.)
Six of the seven Republicans live in the 39th District. The sole exception is Sarega, whose entire city of La Mirada is in the 38th District, which is represented by Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier).
As a Brea Councilman, Vargas represents 24,000 of CD-49’s 368,000 voters, or 6.5% of all CD-49 voters. Currently a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Vargas was first elected to the Brea City Council in 1998. He was defeated for re-election in 2002. He subsequently lost bids to the return to the Council in 2006, 2010, and 2012. In 2014, Brea voters finally returned Vargas to the City Council for a second term. Vargas’s Council seat is up for election in November, so if he made the top two in the CD-39 race, voters would fill his Council seat in the regular election, but if he failed to make the top two, he could choose to run for re-election to the City Council.
While the City of Brea is small, it has punched above its weight before. There was a pair of Brea school board members who served together in 1992-1994 when one was finishing up her last two years on the school board while the other was starting his first two years on the school board. One went on to serve six years on the City Council (1994-2000) while the other went on to serve six years on the Board of Supervisors (1996-2002). Both went on to serve three terms as Republican members of the State Assembly: Lynn Daucher and Todd Spitzer.
Vargas worked on Spitzer’s Supervisorial staff from 1998-2000. Vargas lost his 2010 election bid to the City Council by 461 votes to Brett Murdock (D-Brea). Vargas would return the favor by being one of the three candidates who unseated Mayor Murdock from the Council in 2014. Murdock is now running for District Attorney against Spitzer and incumbent Tony Rackauckas, whom Vargas has endorsed.
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Posted in 39th Congressional District, Brea | Tagged: Andrew Sarega, Bob Huff, Brett Murdock, Ed Royce, John Cullum, Linda Sanchez, Lynn Daucher, Mark Gaouette, Shawn Nelson, Steve Vargas, Steven Vargas, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas, Young Kim | 2 Comments »
Posted by Newsletter Reprint on August 24, 2017
Former Brea Mayor Brett Murdock, who unsuccessfully challenged Congressman Ed Royce’s 2016 re-election bid, has become the third candidate to enter the race for District Attorney of Orange County. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is running for re-election, and Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer has already announced his candidacy to unseat Rackauckas.
This came over the wire from the campaign of Brett Murdock for District Attorney…
WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR, LIFELONG ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENT AND ATTORNEY BRETT MURDOCK ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Orange County, CA – August 24, 2017 – Former Mayor of Brea, Brett Murdock, announces his candidacy for Orange County District Attorney, challenging Todd Spitzer and incumbent Tony Rackauckas.
Brett Murdock is running to restore integrity to the office of the District Attorney. He stated, “Orange County has seen a wave of corruption and disgrace in the District Attorney’s office because of Tony Rackauckas’s inability and unwillingness to play by the rules and uphold justice. I am running to restore dignity and trust in the District Attorney’s office.”
Brett Murdock is the former mayor of Brea, former member of the Brea City Council, and owns his own law practice. Given his experience working with county governance, Brett will bring stable leadership that is missing at the District Attorney’s office. Tony Rackauckas’s rule has prompted an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, and, according to the Los Angeles Times, the District Attorney’s office has been “rocked by an ongoing scandal involving the use of jailhouse snitches and a steady stream of headlines about prosecutorial misconduct and overturned criminal cases.”
As an attorney, Brett regularly fights for victims of injustice and helps organizations that serve those in need. Brett has been a business owner for over 20 years. He will work hard to earn the respect of the over 700 professionals in the District Attorney’s office that work every day in the courtrooms and on the streets to protect our communities.
As District Attorney, Brett Murdock will bring a smart, tough, and victim oriented approach to crime and corruption. “It’s time for a change. We must dispense with the political infighting and favoritism that infects the District Attorney’s office and focus on the justice and fairness our county deserves.”
Brett Murdock was born in Anaheim and recently finished three years as an adjunct professor of American Government at Cal State Fullerton. He currently lives in Brea with his wife and two children.
For more information, visit www.brettmurdock.com.
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Posted in Orange County District Attorney's Office | Tagged: Brett Murdock, Ed Royce, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas | 1 Comment »
Posted by Newsletter Reprint on July 14, 2017
Here is the full text of the press release that came over the wire Monday from the Todd Spitzer for District Attorney 2018 campaign…
ORANGE COUNTY SUPERVISOR TODD SPITZER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY PLEDGING TO RESTORE TRUST IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Spitzer pledges to replace the “Rudderless Ship” in the District Attorney’s office, fight crime and serve as a champion for victims’ rights. His campaign begins race with massive spending advantage of $1,261,925 Cash On Hand. New poll indicates voters feel less safe under DA’s watch.
Orange County, CA – July 10, 2017 – Supervisor Todd Spitzer announced his candidacy for Orange County District Attorney challenging Tony Rackauckas. Orange County has seen murderers’ sentences reduced and violent criminals released into our communities early because of the District Attorney’s inept safeguarding of public safety. A former reserve Los Angeles Police Department officer, Supervisor Spitzer served for nearly ten years as an Orange County Deputy District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney handling cases at nearly every level. He has real hands on experience handling thousands of cases including nearly 100 jury trials to verdict.
Todd Spitzer has received numerous commendations and honors for his work such as Orange County Prosecutor of the Year (chosen by his peer line prosecutors), Victims’ Advocacy Lifetime Achievement Award from Crime Survivors, Inc., Victims’ Advocacy Recognition from Parents of Murdered Children, Outstanding Prosecutor by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Legislator of the Year by Crime Victims United California and Legislator of the Year by California State Sheriffs’ Association.
Spitzer has a track record of utilizing modern tools to fight crime. While in the State Legislature as an Assemblyman he was the Statewide Chairman for Marsy’s Law for California (Prop. 9, Nov. 2008), the most comprehensive Victim’s Rights Constitutional protection in the Nation, and Joint Authored Megan’s Law on the Internet (AB 488, Parra and Spitzer) that created an on-line database for the public to search for registration and residency information for convicted sex offenders.
Spitzer launches his campaign with a significant lead over his opponent, Tony Rackauckas, announcing more than $1,261,925 cash on hand compared to the last filing by Rackauckas showing $44,844 cash on hand.
Supervisor Spitzer stated, “I refuse to stand by as Tony Rackauckas destroys the District Attorney’s office and uses it as his own personal fiefdom for he and his cronies while the public’s safety suffers. I’m proud to announce my campaign for District Attorney and pledge to always uphold the rule of law, put people’s safety first and work tirelessly to make certain justice is served for victims and their families. We must restore faith and trust in our law enforcement and justice system.”
Supervisor Todd Spitzer pledges not to accept any endorsements from current elected officials. “First we have to clean up the corruption in the DA’s office and be fearless in the pursuit of public corruption wherever it exists. That’s why I will not accept endorsements from any current elected official. The DA must be impartial and beholden to no one.” Tony Rackauckas’ own Chief District Attorney Investigator, before he was fired by Rackauckas, alleged that Rackauckas interfered in political corruption investigations to help his political friends. Rackauckas’ history has repeatedly shown that he fires staff who reveal Rackauckas’ misuse of office for his own political and personal gain.
“As a former prosecutor and current Chairman of the Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, I know what it takes to get justice for victims and work with the community to solve crimes and ensure violent felons stay behind bars. But we also must work to stop crime before it starts. As a former high school teacher and School Board Trustee and business owner, I know that solutions to complex crime problems begins by solving critical issues like homelessness, our kids’ broken education system and ensuring that our economy is growing to provide job opportunities for everyone. As Supervisor, I’ve already pioneered policies in our County to help address these issues and make our communities safer. It’s time to focus on rebuilding the DA’s office, including modernizing it by bringing the latest in crime fighting tools to our hard-working prosecutors. “
“Rackauckas has been in office for 20 years. This breeds corruption, complacency and a public failure of leadership. 20 years is long enough. While crime rates rise and the DA’s absence of leadership is causing cases to be botched and murderers to be let free, the real tragedy is that victims and their families are not getting justice. I’m running for District Attorney to be an advocate for every victim that has been let down by Tony Rackauckas. Every community deserves protection from criminals,” Spitzer said.
When weighing whether to run for District Attorney, Todd Spitzer tested in a June 2017 poll if public safety was listed as one of top three concerns. More than 1/4 Orange County voters feel LESS safe than a few years ago. Voters likely feel less safe because in fact, they are.
Under Tony Rackauckas’ failed watch as Orange County District Attorney crime rates have skyrocketed 23 percent in 2015 and there are over three times as many crimes per square mile just in Santa Ana as the rest of California, where shootings alone are up 556% since 2012. Even in cities like Brea and Westminster violent crime is up over 50%, while it spiked over 60% in usually low crime Rancho Santa Margarita.
Spitzer’s Chief Strategist, John Thomas, said, “As Tony Rackauckas approaches over 20 years in office it’s time for a new DA. Someone with the integrity and experience of a top prosecutor but also the understanding to know that we need to stop crime before it starts by focusing on proven and effective prevention methods like after-school activities and job training programs. Todd Spitzer is a battle-tested prosecutor who has the right priorities to restore faith in the DA’s office and get back to the business of fighting crime.”
Thomas continues, “Finally, the voters have a choice to replace Tony Rackauckas who has let down Orange County long enough. We look forward to running an aggressive campaign to hold DA Rackauckas accountable for the misconduct, misdeeds and mistruths that he continues to spread. We are not as cynical about voters as Rackauckas and his handlers. We know people are paying attention to the news and are disappointed that Orange County’s top prosecutor is out of touch and unethical.”
“Laziness, misconduct, abuse of power, failure to report political donations and outside employment, rampant sexual harassment–Rackauckas seems to believe the DA’s office is auditioning for an episode of Animal House or Shark Tank rather than a premier public safety agency.”
“Supervisor Spitzer begins the race for District Attorney with substantial advantages including his lifelong dedication to victims, a proven record on public safety, and a massive war chest to engage the voters. Meanwhile the OC Grand Jury refers to the District Attorney Tony Rackauckas as running the office with a “failure of leadership” and practicing as a “a lazy law firm”. (Orange County Grand Jury, June 2017) The void in leadership has blown up in scandals that continue to implode the District Attorney’s Office threatening the integrity of our justice system and maligning the great work of the employees who want to be proud again of their public agency.”
Supervisor Todd Spitzer has dedicated his life to keeping families safe and was inspired to dedicate his career to public service as an Orange County Supervisor and former California State Assembly Member. A champion for public safety, Supervisor Spitzer is recognized as an expert on security issues, whose reputation as an advocate for victims’ rights is respected nationally.
Supervisor Spitzer Chaired the groundbreaking campaign for Proposition 9, Marsy’s Law, the nation’s most comprehensive Victims’ Bill of Rights, and served as Statewide Co-Chair for Proposition 83, the nation’s toughest sex offender punishment and control law as well as Proposition 69, which requires the collection of DNA samples from all felons. Fighting to protect our community, he joint -authored Megan’s Law on the Internet, the landmark legislation requiring the release of public information related to sex offenders and as a former deputy and assistant district attorney he handled complex criminal matters while managing line prosecutors.
In his current term as Third District Supervisor, he secured Orange County’s first year-round, supportive housing shelter for the homeless, established an Ethics Commission, gained passage of pension reform measures and strengthened public safety oversight by expanding the Office of Independent Review.
Spitzer earned his Bachelor’s degree from UCLA (1982), a Master’s degree in Public Policy from UC Berkeley (1989), and a Law Degree from UC Hastings School of Law (1989). While at Hastings, Spitzer was awarded the George Moscone Fellowship, for the law student dedicating his career to public service.
Spitzer is a former high school teacher and reserve police officer assigned to DUI enforcement and patrol duties. He is a doting father of a son and daughter and a dedicated husband to Judge Jamie Spitzer, Presiding Judge of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.
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Posted in 3rd Supervisorial District, Orange County District Attorney's Office | Tagged: Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas | Leave a Comment »
Posted by Chris Nguyen on January 26, 2016
Orange County Board of Education President Robert M. Hammond is kicking off his re-election on Thursday at 6:00 PM at the Bluewater Grill in Tustin.
Hammond may well be the first person ever whose endorsements include both former Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante (D) and current State Senator John Moorlach (R). Moorlach’s challenger for re-election to the Senate, Assemblyman Don Wagner (R), has also endorsed Hammond.
Besides Lieutenant Governor Bustamante, Hammond’s endorsements also include the majority of Orange County’s State Senate delegation, State Assembly delegation, Board of Supervisors, and Countywide officeholders.
(In the interest of full disclosure, the consulting firm that owns OC Political ran Hammond’s successful 2012 bid for County Board of Education and is running his 2016 re-election bid.)
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Posted in Orange County Board of Education | Tagged: Andrew Do, Bob Huff, Ceci Iglesias, Cecilia "Ceci" Iglesias, Cecilia Iglesias, Claude Parrish, Cruz Bustamante, Don Wagner, Eric Woolery, Gloria Romero, hugh nguyen, Janet Nguyen, Jeff Lalloway, Jeffery Lalloway, John Moorlach, Ken Williams, Linda Lindholm, Ling-Ling Chang, Mark McCurdy, Matt Harper, Matthew Harper, Michelle Steel, Mike Munzing, Phil Yarbrough, Robert Hammond, Robert Ming, Shari Freidenrich, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas, Travis Allen, Young Kim | 1 Comment »
Posted by Newsletter Reprint on March 9, 2015
This came over the wire to OC Political earlier today from former Assemblyman/former Supervisor Jim Silva (a slightly edited version was published in the Daily Pilot this afternoon)…
With the special election for state Senate District 37 set for March 17, the familiar lament about negative advertising fills the op-ed pages, blogs and social media sites.
He said this, she said that, he said the other thing, with each of the two front-runners denying the particular charges leveled against them.
So with all this noise, who do you believe? Who is best suited to represent the 37th Senate District in Sacramento?
The answer can be found by looking at the endorsements of the elected officials you know and trust. Assemblyman Don Wagner’s endorsements are a who’s who of Orange County conservative leaders: District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Sheriff Sandra Hutchens both endorse him as the best candidate to keep our community safe.
Four of the five current county supervisors (Lisa Bartlett, Andrew Do, Todd Spitzer and Michelle Steel), and three of the four who served the last term with candidate John Moorlach (State Senators Janet Nguyen and Patricia Bates as well as Spitzer), have endorsed Wagner as the best candidate to work effectively in Sacramento to pass legislation that helps Orange County and California. Orange County Auditor-Controller Eric Woolery, Assessor Claude Parrish and Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen likewise endorse Wagner.
All three of Orange County’s congressional representatives, Reps. Ed Royce, Mimi Walters and Dana Rohrabacher, the vast majority of the Republican caucus in the state Assembly, and many others round out the overwhelming support Wagner enjoys among those who have worked with him and Moorlach.
The reason for this overwhelming support is simple: Wagner has a well-earned reputation for taking a common-sense approach to the problems that face Orange County and the state and, while maintaining his conservative principles, working across the aisle to get legislation passed and signed by the governor.
That is why Wagner has been recognized as the legislator of the year by the Orange County Republican Party and the Orange County Business Council and has received the Collaborative Lawmaker Award from the Association of California Cities.
Orange County needs a principled and effective leader in the state Senate, and Wagner is that candidate.
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Posted in 2nd Supervisorial District, 37th Senate District, Republican Central Committee | Tagged: Andrew Do, Claude Parrish, Dana Rohrabacher, Don Wagner, Ed Royce, Eric Woolery, hugh nguyen, Janet Nguyen, Jim Silva, John Moorlach, Lisa Bartlett, Michelle Steel, Mimi Walters, Orange County Business Council, Pat Bates, Sandra Hutchens, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas | 4 Comments »
Posted by Chris Nguyen on December 18, 2014
Supervisor’s Chief/Businessowner Andrew Do (R-Westminster), California State Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Councilmember/Deputy DA Chris Phan (R-Garden Grove), Television News Anchor Chuyen Van Nguyen (NPP-Garden Grove), and Office Specialist Lupe Morfin-Moreno (R-Santa Ana)
The Secretary of State conducted the ballot order lottery on Tuesday and transmitted the results to the Registrar of Voters, and Andrew Do was the big winner, so here’s how each candidate will appear on the January 27, 2015, ballot (assuming their designations aren’t challenged in court by December 26):
- Andrew Do, Supervisor’s Chief/Businessowner
- Lou Correa, California State Senator
- Chris Phan, Councilmember/Deputy DA
- Chuyen Van Nguyen, Television News Anchor
- Lupe Morfin-Moreno, Office Specialist
Most OC Political readers are familiar with Do, Correa, Phan, and even Morfin-Moreno, but most have expressed little knowledge of Nguyen. To fill everyone in, let’s take a closer look at each candidate:
- Andrew Do (R-Westminster), 51 years old
Do is a partner in a law firm who was a deputy district attorney for eight years and who served as Chief of Staff to former Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who vacated this Supervisor’s seat to become a California State Senator. As an attorney, he has served as President of the Asian Bar Association of California and the Vietnamese-American Bar Association of Southern California. He is a former adjunct professor at Cal State Fullerton and judge pro tem in the old Orange County Municipal Court. Fleeing Vietnam as a child, Do grew up in the First Supervisorial District, attending Junior High and High School in Garden Grove. He is a graduate of Santa Ana College, UC Davis, and UC Hastings.
Do was elected to the Garden Grove City Council in 2008 and served for three years. (He now lives in Westminster.)
Do’s candidacy for Supervisor is endorsed by the Republican Party of Orange County, former Supervisors/current Senators Janet Nguyen and Pat Bates, Supervisor-Elect Michelle Steel, Congressmen Ed Royce and Dana Rohrabacher, Congresswoman-Elect Mimi Walters, and Assembly Members Young Kim, Travis Allen, Matt Harper, and Don Wagner.
- Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), 56 years old (though he will turn 57 on January 24)
Spending the majority of his career in elective office, Correa was an investment banker and real estate broker before entering the State Assembly. He is a licensed attorney, though opted to go the banking and real estate route before entering politics. A native Californian, Correa grew up in the Fourth Supervisorial District, attending K-12 in Anaheim. He is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton and UCLA.
After narrowly losing a 1996 Assembly bid by 93 votes, Correa became a State Assemblyman in 1998, termed out in 2004, and then held this same Supervisor’s seat from 2005-2006. He resigned from the Board of Supervisors in 2006 to enter the State Senate, where he stayed until terming out last month. His resignation from the Board caused a February 2007 special election, only the second special election for Supervisor in Orange County history. Janet Nguyen won that special election to fill his old Supervisorial seat and now holds his old Senate seat.
Correa’s candidacy for Supervisor is endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County, Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens, District Attorney-Public Administrator Tony Rackauckas, the Orange County Labor Federation (i.e. association of unions), the Orange County Employees Association (i.e. general public employee union), the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association (i.e. the fire union), and the Orange County Business Council.
- Chris Phan (R-Garden Grove), 40 years old (though he will turn 41 on January 14)
Phan has been a deputy district attorney for two years. He served on active duty in the United States Navy as a Judge Advocate General (anyone remember the TV show JAG?) from 2001-2008. He was a JAG defense attorney from 2001-2003, JAG prosecutor from 2003-2005, and served generally as a JAG attorney from 2005-2008. He is currently a lieutenant commander in the Navy reserve. Fleeing Vietnam as a child, Phan grew up in Indiana and has lived in Orange County for six years. He is a graduate of Indiana University and Southern Illinois University.
Phan was elected to the Garden Grove City Council two years ago. Ironically, Phan holds the exact same seat that Do held for three years.
- Chuyen Van Nguyen (NPP-Garden Grove), 65 years old
Nguyen is currently an anchor on VNA-TV (Vietnam America Television), Channel 57.3. He has previously been an aircraft parts manufacturing supervisor, marketing consultant, newspaper publisher (Tieng-Chuong), and staffer for former State Senator Joe Dunn (D-Santa Ana). He was a pilot in the South Vietnamese Air Force from 1970-1975 and was a Lieutenant when Saigon fell. Politically, he was active in various Vietnamese organizations in the early 1990s. After fleeing Vietnam, Nguyen settled in Texas before eventually moving to Westminster.
In 1998, Nguyen ran for Mayor of Westminster and came in fourth out of five candidates (Tony Lam won his third election to the City Council in that same election); Mayor Frank Fry was re-elected, beating Mayor Pro Tem Joy Neugebauer by 3.5%. (He now lives in Garden Grove.) Considering his poor finish in 1998 when he held greater name ID than he does now and considering he didn’t even have the $2500 to get a ballot statement, he is expected to only play spoiler in this election by splitting the Vietnamese vote.
- Lupe Morfin-Moreno (R-Santa Ana), 57 years old
Morfin-Moreno is currently an office specialist with the Orange County Health Care Agency. Politically, she is best known as an anti-illegal immigration activist and Minuteman. A former Central Committee member, she lost her Central Committee bids in both 2010 and 2012 (Central Committee members who were elected in 2012 now serve four-year terms, rather than two-year terms due to change in the California Elections Code, so the next Central Committee election is in 2016). A native Californian, Morfin-Moreno grew up in the First Supervisorial District, attending elementary, junior high, and high school in Santa Ana.
Morfin-Moreno previously ran for Mayor of Santa Ana in 2012 (coming in fourth out of six candidates), this same Supervisor’s seat in the 2007 special election (coming in ninth out of ten candidates after dropping out of the race), the State Senate in 2006 (losing the primary to Lynn Daucher, who then loss the general election to Correa), the Santa Ana Unified School District in 2002 (missing a seat by 486 votes) and in 2000 (coming in seventh of nine candidates).
Do, Correa, and Phan got ballot statements while Nguyen and Morfin-Moreno did not.
Here’s Do’s statement (assuming it isn’t challenged in court by December 26):
At the urging of many Orange County leaders, I decided to run for County Supervisor. My experience includes:
Orange County Judge Pro Tem; Deputy District Attorney; City Councilman; Small Business Owner; Orange County Supervisor’s Chief of Staff.
As a Deputy District Attorney, I spent eight years fighting to make our community safe, prosecuting violent criminals and sex offenders.
As your Supervisor, I will fight hard for:
Local businesses and job creation, higher educational standards, health care programs, less waste in government, strong public safety, and anti-gang programs. I oppose tax increases.
Serving as Chief of Staff to California State Senator and Supervisor Janet Nguyen gives me valuable experience and an in-depth understanding of issues facing our area. Senator Nguyen urged
me to run for Supervisor.
I have deep family roots in central Orange County, having attended Jordan Jr. High, Bolsa Grande High School and Santa Ana College. I’m a graduate of the University of California, Hastings School of Law.
U.S Representatives Ed Royce and Mimi Walters, Senators Janet Nguyen and Pat Bates, Assembly members Young Kim and Matt Harper and Supervisor Michelle Steel have all endorsed me and I would be honored to receive your vote. Please visit www.AndrewDo2015.com. Thank you.
Here’s Correa’s statement (assuming it isn’t challenged in court by December 26):
It’s been an honor to work for you as your State Senator. Now, I respectfully ask for your support as your County Supervisor.
In the Legislature, my priorities have been jobs, public safety and public education. My work has earned me endorsements from respected leaders and organizations, including:
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
Orange County Professional Firefighters Association
Orange County Business Council
I helped cut taxes on small businesses and stopped unnecessary regulations. As a result of my work, I’ve been honored by the Orange County Taxpayers Association and named the California Small Business Association’s “Legislator of the Year.”
I’ve made our schools better and safer. I brought more education money and local control back to Orange County. I also co-wrote the new law to protect our children from heinous crimes. That’s why the California School Boards Association made me their “Legislator of the Year”.
It’s been an honor to represent you during these difficult economic times. Now, I’d like to bring my understanding of our communities to work for you as County Supervisor.
No one will work harder. I respectfully ask for your vote.
For more information please visit: www.loucorrea.com
Here’s Phan’s statement (assuming it isn’t challenged in court by December 26):
Embracing our diversity. Uniting our community. Serving our people!
As a former refugee, I am blessed to live the American Dream! I have served our country with honor and pride as a Navy officer for over 14 years. I am currently serving our community as an Orange County Deputy District Attorney and a Garden Grove City Councilmember. I humbly ask for your support to become your 1st
District Orange County Supervisor.
Military experience and public service taught me that our strength lies in our diversity. Orange County is truly a melting pot of culture, background, and ethnicity. As Supervisor, I will work hard to attract businesses to our District, increase employment, provide greater safety for our community, and protect our resources.
Over many months, I have walked and met many of our District’s residents. I have listened, learned, and shared many ideas with our residents so that I will be well-equipped and prepared to serve our County to the best of my ability.
Please learn about my candidacy at www.votechrisphan.com. I would be honored to have your vote and support. Together, we will ensure a brighter future for our County and forge a better tomorrow for our families. Thank you!
(Cue my usual Nguyen disclaimer: Senator Janet Nguyen and candidate Chuyen Van Nguyen are not related to each other, and neither of them are related to me. The last name Nguyen is held by 36% of Vietnamese people.)
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Posted in 1st Supervisorial District | Tagged: Andrew Do, Chris Phan, Chuyen Van Nguyen, Democratic Party of Orange County, Don Wagner, Ed Royce, Frank Fry, government employee unions, Janet Nguyen, Joe Dunn, Joy L. Neugebauer, labor unions, Lou Correa, Lupe Moreno, Lupe Morfin-Moreno, Lynn Daucher, Matt Harper, Matthew Harper, Michelle Steel, Mimi Walters, oc gop, OC Labor Fed, OCBC, OCEA, OCGOP, Orange County Business Council, Orange County Employees Association, Orange County Labor Federation, Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, Pat Bates, Republican Party of Orange County, Rohrabache, Sandra Hutchens, Tony Lam, Tony Rackauckas, Travis Allen, union, unions, Young Kim | 5 Comments »
Posted by Former Blogger Chris Emami on June 5, 2014
Chris Nguyen posted a humongous grid of endorsements that broke down all the major organizations and what candidates they endorsed for non-partisan offices in Orange County. You can take a look at his humongous grid of endorsements here. As a follow-up I have done the math on how the endorsed candidates fared in the Tuesday election and have given credit to an organization for endorsing a candidate that either won outright or advanced to the November election.
Here is a guide to the abbreviations: OC GOP = Republican Party of Orange County, DPOC = Democratic Party of Orange County, CRA = California Republican Assembly, HJTA = Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, CWLA = California Women’s Leadership Association, OC Tax = Orange County Taxpayers Association, OCBC = Orange County Business Council, and CTA = California Teachers Association.
Anybody that got 75% and higher can be considered an organization with a valuable endorsement but the big winners from this election cycle were the California Women’s Leadership Association (Orange County Chapter) and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association both of which managed to endorse no losers.
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Posted in 2nd Supervisorial District, 4th Supervisorial District, 5th Supervisorial District, Anaheim, Buena Park School District, Democrat Central Committee, Irvine Unified School District, Orange County, Orange County Assessor, Orange County Auditor-Controller, Orange County Board of Education, Orange County Clerk-Recorder, Orange County Public Administrator, Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, Republican Central Committee | Tagged: Al Mijares, Allan Mansoor, Atlas PAC, Bob Vu, California Republican Assembly, California Teachers Association, California Women's Leadership Association, Carmen Luege, Carolyn Inmon, Claude Parrish, David Boyd, Democratic Party of Orange County, Derek Johnson, Elizabeth Parker, Eric Woolery, Evolve, Family Action PAC, Frank Davies, Frank Ury, Fred Fascenelli, Gary Pritchard, Greg Diamond, Helen Hayden, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, hugh nguyen, Ira Glasky, James Benuzzi, Jeff Ferguson, Jim Moreno, Joanne Motoike, Joe Carchio, Joe Williams, John Willard, Jorge Lopez, KC Jones, Kevin Haskins, Lincoln Club, Linda Lindholm, Lisa Bartlett, Measure A, Measure B, Measure C, Measure D, Measure E, Michelle Steel, Mike Dalati, Monica Maddox, Orange County Business Council, Orange County Labor Federation, Orange County Register, Orange County Taxpayers Association, Planned Parenthood, Republican Party of Orange County, Robert Ming, Rudy Gaona, Sandra Hutchens, Shari Freidenrich, Shawn Nelson, Steve Rocco, Thomas Martin, Tom Pollitt, Tony Rackauckas, Wayne Philips, Webster Guillory, Women in Leadership | 2 Comments »
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