OC Blog

AD71 Watch: Steven Choi's Statement on Voter ID Law

This came over the transom last night from the Steven Choi for Assembly campaign:

IRVINE COUNCILMEMBER STEVEN CHOI SUPPORTS ID FOR VOTING

Irvine, CA - In response to the Supreme Courts decision to hear a case regarding an Indiana law requiring identification at the ballot box, Irvine City Councilman Steven Choi released the following statement:

"Non-citizens and other ineligible individuals should never be allowed to vote in our elections," said Steven Choi.  "One of the main reasons that these individuals can get away with voter fraud is that right here in California we do not require a picture identification to vote."

AD71 Watch: Sup. Campbell Endorses Neil Blais

This just came over the transom from the Neil Blais for Assembly campaign. Look like there may perhaps be a "keep the seat in Orange County" sentiment brewing during this pre-primary phase of the campaign:

Popular Orange County Supervisor Endorses Neil Blais for Assembly

(Santa Ana) - Today, Supervisor and former Assembly Republican Leader Bill Campbell joined incumbent Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, and a growing chorus of prominent GOP supporters for Neil Blais' 71st Assembly District campaign.

"Neil Blais is a true friend of the taxpayers, and he has a proven track record of fighting for lower taxes and more efficient government," said Supervisor Campbell.  "Just as important, Neil will fight to ensure that we receive our share of state transportation funds so we can continue to improve our traffic flow.  And, he'll work to advance the completion of projects like the 241 South and the 91 freeway.  That's why we need Neil Blais fighting for us in Sacramento, and I am proud to support his candidacy."

AD71 Watch: Mike Duvall Endorses Jeff Miller

It's dueling endorsements in AD71 today. This one came over the transom from the Jeff Miller for Assembly campaign:

Assemblyman Mike Duvall Endorses Jeff Miller in AD 71
Orange County Support Continues to Grow

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Orange County Assemblyman Mike Duvall today endorsed Republican Jeff Miller for Assembly in the 71st District.  Duvall joins Congressman Ed Royce as key Orange County supporters of Miller.

“I have known Jeff Miller for years. Jeff built a successful business in Orange County and he is a hard-charging conservative who understands business and local government,“ said Duvall. “Jeff has been at the forefront of efforts to relieve traffic congestion on the 91 freeway. I know that Jeff will join with me and Assembly Republicans in fighting to rebuild California’s infrastructure, increase border security, reduce wasteful spending and hold the line on taxes.”

AD71 Watch: Ackerman, Spitzer and Schroeder Endorse Neil Blais

This came over the transom a little while ago from the Neil Blais for Assembly campaign. I'm tempted to call it the Holy Trinity of OC Politics, but that goes against Mike Schroeder's "Dark Lord" image:

Major Announcement:  Influential Orange County Trio Endorses Neil Blais for Assembly

71st Assembly District Incumbent Todd Spitzer, Senator Dick Ackerman, and former State GOP Chair Mike Schroeder supporting Blais

(Orange) - In a major announcement, today 71st Assembly District incumbent Todd Spitzer joined his colleagues Senator Dick Ackerman and former GOP Chairman Mike Schroeder in supporting Neil Blais for the open 71st Assembly District.

AD71 Watch: Makarechian Hosting For Jeff Miller

This just came over the transom from Jeff Miller for Assembly:

Hadi Makarechian to Host Monarch Bay Club Fundraiser for Jeff Miller
Congressman Ed Royce to be Special Guest Speaker

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - - Hadi Makarechian, one of Orange County’s leading businessmen and GOP donors, will host a fundraiser for 71st district Republican candidate Jeff Miller on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at the Monarch Bay Club in Dana Point. United States Congressman Ed Royce (R-Orange) will be the special guest speaker at the event.

Makarchian is the President and Chairman of the Board of Capital Pacific Holdings, among the nation’s most successful real estate development companies.

AD71: OC Young Republicans President Endorse Jeff Miller

This just came over the transom from the Jeff Miller for Assembly campaign:

OCYR President Endorses Jeff Miller for Assembly

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - - The President of the Orange County Young Republicans has endorsed Jeff Miller for Assembly in the 71st District Primary.

“What a candidate stands for, and what he is capable of doing, matters much more than where he lives,” said Fago. “There are four candidates in this race, three of them live in Orange County. But the best choice is Corona Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Miller.”

AD71 Watch: Senator Marian Bergeson Announces Support for Neil Blais

This just came over from the Neil Blais for Assembly:

(Rancho Santa Margarita) - Today, former Senator Marian Bergeson announced her endorsement of conservative Republican Neil Blais in his campaign for the 71st Assembly District, adding her name to a growing list of local elected officials, school board trustees and Republican leaders who enthusiastically endorse Neil's campaign.

"Neil Blais believes, as I do, that state government should focus on solutions that will encourage and strengthen local control," said Senator Bergeson, who is a former Chair of the Senate's Local Government Committee.  "I trust Neil to fight for greater local control, while also working to improve Orange County's schools and transportation infrastructure."

AD71 Watch: Jeff Miller Leads The Fundrasing Pack

Corona Councilman far outdistanced his AD71 GOP primary competitors in fund raising for the first six months of this year:

Candidate      Total Raised    Expenditures    Cash-On-Hand

Jeff Miller        $272,051.99    $44,119.19       $233,710.70 
Neil Blais         $237,765         $45,586.86       $207,152.98 
Steven Choi     $34,045.25      $5,596.02         $28,449.23

Mission Viejo Councilman John Paul Ledesma's  numbers aren't online  yet.

Miller's numbers are even more impressive when you consider he didn't loan himself a dime, in contrast to the other principal candidate, Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Neil Blais. When you subtract the $100,000 Blais loaned his campaign, the amount of money he's raised from sources other than himself drops to $137,765.

Obviously, Irvine Councilman Steven Choi's fundraising total is minuscule compared to Miller and Blais, a situation somewhat mitigated by the fact Miller and Blais have been in the race longer. Still, Choi is going to have to ramp up the fundraising or find some rocket of an issue if he's going to be competitive.

I'll post Ledesma's number's as soon as I get them.

AD71 Watch: Blais Raises Almost $240,000

Time to clear out the transom. This came over it yesterday from the Neil Blais for Assembly campaign:

Neil Blais Assembles Strong Finance Effort for First Half of Year

(Rancho Santa Margarita) - Republican Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Neil Blais raised close to $240,000 for the first half of this year in his campaign for the Republican nomination in the open 71st Assembly District. 

AD71 Watch: Jeff Miller Raises $272,000

This just came over the transom from the Jeff Miller for Assembly campaign:

Jeff Miller Raises Over $272,000 on First Report

Mission Viejo, CA - - Republican Assembly candidate Jeff Miller will report today that he has raised $272,051 for his campaign for the 71st Assembly District. Miller, the Mayor Pro Tem of Corona, is the leading GOP candidate to succeed Assemblyman Todd Spitzer.

"Jeff has exceeded every goal we set for raising funds," said campaign consultant Dave Gilliard. "Even more impressive than his total is the fact that it does not include any loans or donations from Jeff himself. This money all came from supporters and is all spendable by the campaign."