OC Blog

AD73 Watch: New Majority Endorses Diane Harkey For Assembly

This came over the transom a few minutes ago from The New Majority:

New Majority Endorses Diane Harkey for State Assembly
Orange County Chapter Weighs in on Walters Replacement

COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA –– Today the New Majority, Orange County and San Diego Chapters, announced its endorsement of Diane Harkey for State Assembly District 73.  The New Majority is one of the most influential political action committees in the state of California, and a major player in state and federal candidate races.

AD73 Watch: Family Action PAC Endorses Harkey

This just came over the transom from the Diane Harkey for Assembly campaign:

DIANE HARKEY IS ENDORSED BY THE FAMILY ACTION PAC FOR 73RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Orange County (CA)--- The Family Action PAC announced today that they are endorsing Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey for the 73rd State Assembly District in the Republican Primary Election to be held  June 3rd,  2008.

Lincoln Club Endorses Harkey

LINCOLN CLUB ENDORSES
DIANE HARKEY FOR 73rd ASSEMBLY

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2007) – The Lincoln Club Board of Directors last Friday unanimously endorsed Hon. Diane Harkey, Mayor of Dana Point, for the 73rd Assembly District. Harkey is running for the seat that would be vacated by current Assemblywoman Mimi Walters if Walters is elected to the 33rd State Senate district seat.

Lincoln Club primary endorsements are rare. The Club’s bylaws prohibit the Club from endorsing in primary or general elections where two or more Republicans are running, unless approved by three-fourths of the Board of Directors. Harkey is running unopposed, and since the Club endorsed and supported her primary campaign for the 35th District of the State Senate, the Board unanimously voted to endorse her.

“Diane Harkey is a proven conservative, and is the best candidate to represent South Orange County,” said Lincoln Club President Richard K. Wagner. “We can count on her to stand with other Republicans in the State Legislature to hold the line on spending and to be an advocate for the business community.”

Founded in 1962, the Lincoln Club of Orange County is an association of business men and women and professionals who support candidates and causes to limit the size of government, and promote low taxes and pro-business policies. More info: www.lincolnclub.org.

And the OCYR Endorsement goes to...

After one chaotic hour and nine motions later, the Orange County Young Republicans voted to endorse the following candidates for the upcoming June Primary election:

33 Senate District: Mimi Walters

35 Senate District: No Endorsement (at this time)

60 Assembly District: Larry Dick

71 Assembly District: No Endorsement (at this time)

73 Assembly District: Diane Harkey

I will have a full commentary later about OCYR's bizarre endorsement process in a different post.  A congratulation is also in order for the candidates who received this group's support tonight.

AD71 Watch: Neil Blais Signs "No New Taxes" Pledge

This just came over the transom from the Neil Blais for Assembly campaign:

Blais Signs "No New Taxes" Pledge
Continues Commitment to Protect California Taxpayers

(Rancho Santa Margarita) - Today, Conservative Republican Neil Blais signed the "No New Taxes" pledge by Americans for Tax Reform, continuing his longstanding opposition to increased taxes.

"Government needs to live within its means, just like our families do each and every day across California," said Blais, who is currently on the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council.  "I am going to Sacramento to cut wasteful spending, and slow down the rampant growth of government."

AD73 Watch: How Real Is This Harkey Recall Thing?

Not being a Dana Point resident, it isn't easy to get a sense of the reality of the proposed Diane Harkey recall. My first instinct was to view it as fall-out from last November's council elections in which a Harkey-backed slate won and incumbent Jim Lacy was defeated for re-election -- and now Lacy and others are paying Harkey back by muddying up her Assembly bid with a recall campaign.

The effort has already hit a snag, as Martin Wisckol reported yesterday on Total Buzz.

Diane Harkey Recall?

The city bitter politics of Dana Point have taken a new turn, as reported yesterday by Martin Wisckol at Total Buzz:

At tonight's Dana Point City Council meeting, Jerry Grunor plans to announce the launch of  a recall drive against controversial Mayor Diane Harkey. He had also planned to serve Harkey with a "Notice of Intention to Circulate Recall Petition," but he says she caught wind of that and called in sick. So he'll be mailing that to her via certified mail.

AD73 Watch: Sheriff Carona Endorses Diane Harkey

This came over the transom earlier today:

MAYOR DIANE HARKEY ENDORSED BY ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF MICHAEL CARONA FOR THE 73RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Orange County (CA)--- Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey announced today that she has been endorsed by Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona for the 73rd California State Assembly District Republican Primary election in June of 2008.

AD73 Watch: Rackauckas Endorses Diane Harkey For Assembly

This just came over the transom from the Diane Harkey for Assembly campaign:

MAYOR DIANE HARKEY ENDORSED BY ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKAS FOR THE 73RD ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Orange County (CA)--- Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey announced today that she has been endorsed by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas for the 73rd California State Assembly District Republican Primary election in June of 2008.

AD73 Watch: Cassie DeYoung - Will She Or Won't She?

Rumors of an possible Cassie DeYoung candidacy in the 73rd Assembly District next year are on the upswing. Several knowledgeable sources I've spoken with say she's been talking to consultants about the possibility of challenging Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey, who thus far is the only candidate -- announced or unannounced -- in the AD73 Republican primary.

As readers remember, DeYoung spent a record $3.75 million on her ferocious-but-losing Supervisor campaign last year against now-Supervisor Pat Bates. It's too bad campaign consultants don't offer frequent flier mile-type programs, because DeYoung would probably have earned a free Assembly campaign from Forde and Mollrich.