OC Blog

Harkey Outmails Harman

Lurk Manor isn't middle-of-the-road, but is in the middle of the 35th SD -- where we've YET to see a mailer from the Tom Harman campaign -- that's in contrast to the growing pile on the kitchen counter of Diane Harkey pieces that are hammering Harman for being weak-kneed on illegal immigration and taxing baby diapers.

Matt Cunningham at the FlashReport Blog examined that this afternoon: The 35th SD Special Election Keeps Heating Up.  In part,

The 35th SD special election is only six weeks away (April 11). Dana Point Councilwoman Diane Harkey has been campaigning hard -- at least eight campaign mailers to date, including an absentee ballot program. Two of the mailers hit Assemblyman Tom Harman hard on his votes for tuition for illegal immigrants and sponsorship of the diaper tax [by the way, OC Blog has been posting the mail as it goes out -- click here for an overview]. Harkey has the endorsements of just about every major OC GOP political leader, as well as Lincoln Club and the HJTA. The New Majority will likely make a decision in the near future.

Today, this simple, hard-hitting Harkey ad began airing on local cable channels, contrasting the two candidates on illegal immigration.  I'm not sure what to make of the Harman campaign. Other than two taxpayer-funded "constituent communications" that went out to 87,000 voters on the topics of the Taxpayer Protection Act and stopping illegal immigration, Harman hasn't mailed a single piece, as far as I can tell.

We noted Harkey's TV ad on Fox News within the last hour.  With the election just seven weeks off, we're wondering when Tom's going to really start campaigning, or if he's even got the money left (outside the taxpayer-funded part, of course) to make a serious run at it. 

F&M Clean Up

Rick Reiff's Inside OC column in the OC Business Journal reports a big score for everyone's favorite local PR firm:

Equal-opportunity political consultants Arnold Forde and Stewart Mollrich were on the losing side of last week's state propositions, but for them, at least, there's consolation.  According to a compilation of election filings provided to this column, their Newport Beach firm, Forde and Mollrich, took in $2.8 million from the pro-Prop. 74-77 campaigns.  That makes them easily the highest paid consultants on either side of the battle. 

Rick also reminds us that F&M handles Larry Agran and the Great Park at $50k/month.

OC Blog News Roundup -- November 12, 2005

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

LAT, AP and OCR on yet another black eye for UCI: How a Liver Unit Failed.  Heads need to roll, but we're sure to pay for some educrat's incompetence.  An LAT followup: UC Irvine Could Be Liable Again.  In part,

The university paid nearly $20 million to settle claims related to the UCI fertility clinic scandal of the mid-1990s, in which doctors stole patients' eggs and implanted them in infertile women. UCI also has paid at least $375,000 since 1999 to resolve claims stemming from its donated cadaver program.  Walter G. Koontz, a Newport Beach attorney who represented more than a dozen couples in the fertility scandal, said the case for plaintiffs in the current controversy is strengthened by the federal report that outlined deficiencies in the UCI liver transplant program.  "If the feds come in and decide to shut you down, as a general rule, that is going to give some significant teeth to civil liability," Koontz said.

Bull: 'This was a failure to be successful. This is not an episode of wrongdoing.'  -– Dr. Michael Drake, UCI Chancellor (quote per the OCR). 

Causing sick people in need of transplants to not know of organ availability (and turning them down when offered) isn't only wrongdoing; you may find it's criminal.  Don't make the further mistake of trying to cover this up since you're going get get sued -- big time.

LAT and OCR: Four in O.C. Accused of Holding Illegal Immigrants for Ransom.  That's more like it.

DP: Condos by JWA proposed.  Manhattanization makes sense.

DP: KOCE-TV appeal set to begin.

OCR: Police academy plans serious business.  In part,

The new facility will be built on 15 acres of the closed (Tustin) Marine base by the Rancho Santiago district, using money from $337 million in bonds passed by the district's voters in 2002 to improve the district's two colleges: Santa Ana and Santiago Canyon.

OCR: Fullerton district reaches out to ACLU.   ACLU says go pound sand on laptop issue.

OCR: Toll-road opponents get boost.  Surfers link up with environmentalpests.  And there's this related piece from the OC Weekly: Talkin' 'Bout Wave Degeneration.

OCR: OCTA fluent in serving non-English speakers.

McClintock's Election Post Mortum

Here: Senator Tom McClintock’s Statement on the Special Election.

Should Tom McClintock be setting his sights higher than Lieutenant Governor?

More OC Political Post-Mortems

FR Blog contributors Adam Probolsky and Matthew Cunningham put forward some of their thoughts on Tuesday's special election and the fallout here in Orange County.

Mr. Probolsky also puts in his two cents on the Cassie DeYoung/TriTunnel contretemps, harking to the pitfalls of consultants driving your philosphy, rather than the other way around.

FlashReport Interview With Sen. John Lewis on Measure D

FlashReport.org publisher Jon Fleischman has an exclusive interview with former Sen. John Lewis, the No on Measure lead consultant, in today's edition:

Fleischman:  Senator Lewis, you served as senior consultant for the No on D campaign.    Congratulations on the win, were you surprised?

John Lewis: Thanks, Jon.  Those of us in the No campaign could feel the tide turning about a month ago.  We were worried that we may have peaked a little early, maybe a week or so early, but as soon as the absentees came in we knew our worries were for not.

Both conventional wisdom and political insiders predicted your campaign would have a near impossible task of overcoming the incredible popularity of firefighters in general.  How did you overcome that obstacle?

First, we had a terrific team assembled in this campaign.  Chris Jones, Matt Holder and I have collaborated together on many successful campaigns but it was my first time working with Pete Mitchell and he is a professional’s professional.  The four of us made an awesome team.

Second, the County’s political leadership came together as a united front to oppose this tax grab.  I am indebted to Sheriff Carona for convincing me to take on this effort and for his behind the scenes lobbying which resulted in putting our team in place.  Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Bill Campbell was an integral part of this team.  He and the other four Supervisors stepped up to the plate big time in this campaign displaying a united front that impressed voters.  Supervisor Norby also deserves to be singled out for his enthusiasm and hard work.

Finally, I was bowled over by the tenacity, enthusiasm and determination by the two big dogs in this campaign, the Association of Deputy Sheriffs and the Orange County Employees Association.  In years past, AOCDS President Wayne Quint and I have crossed swords on a few campaigns.  It is a lot more fun working with him than going toe-to-toe.  The job that Wayne and Nick Berardino did for their respective memberships was nothing short of spectacular.

You can read the rest of the interview at FlashReport.org.

Harkey To Seek Dana Point Council Endorsement of Cal Border Police Initiative

From the Diane Harkey for Senate campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Wysocki
(916) 443-6703

November 9, 2005

Dana Point City Council Set to Support Border Police Initiative

Councilwoman Diane Harkey Leads Effort to Stop Immigration

(Sacramento, CA) – Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey this evening will introduce a resolution putting the City of Dana Point on record in support of the California Border Police Initiative currently in circulation to qualify for the 2006 ballot.  The endorsement of the City of Dana Point City Council is the latest in a growing list of key supporters of the Initiative.

The Border Police Initiative would create an official state police force to assist the federal government in the enforcement of federal immigration law.  Illegal immigration costs California taxpayers approximately $10 Billion on an annual basis, and the California Border Police would help reduce that amount by cutting the number of illegal immigrants residing in the state.

When asked why she was leading the charge to pass the Border Police Act, Diane Harkey said, “We cannot begin to deal with illegal immigrants within our borders until we stop the constant flow across the border.  It’s obvious that we cannot rely solely on the Federal Government, and that’s why I am supporting the establishment of a California Border Police.”

Harkey, who serves as a Co-Chair of the California Border Police Initiative, was set to introduce the resolution as a way to raise public awareness about the problems associated with illegal immigration as well as aiding the effort to solve a very real public policy problem.

“Cities like Dana Point supporting the Border Police Initiative show that the idea of simply enforcing the law is gaining significant momentum.  Diane Harkey’s hard work and dedication to fighting illegal immigration should be commended, and I look forward to working with her to solve this most important problem,” said Border Police Act author Assemblyman Ray Haynes.

If the resolution passes as expected, Dana Point will join the City of Escondido and the City of El Cajon in supporting the California Border Police Initiative.  “Diane Harkey has shown outstanding leadership in the effort to secure our border and deal with the problem of illegal immigration.  Her hard work is much appreciated,” said Assemblyman Haynes.

For more information, please contact the California Border Police Initiative at (916) 443-6703 or visit the www.CalBorderPolice.com.

#     #    #

We'll see what happens tonight.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore's Take On The Special Election

Following is Assemblyman Churck DeVore's initial analysis of the special election's consequences:

Well, that was a lot of money spent for no immediate effect.

As of 5:54 am, statewide turnout was up to 42.6%, a shade above Secretary of State McPherson's pre-election projections.

Unless there's a mess of late absentees, Orange County apparently had a below normal turnout of 38.4%. This indicates a lack of intensity among Republicans towards the Special Election and the Governor.

In the wake of the across the board defeat in the Special, it should be interesting to see how Sacramento resolves its upcoming challenges in 2006 with the ongoing structural deficit. Democrats will want tax increases. Republicans will seek to hold the line. Gov. Schwarzenegger will either muddle through with more temporary debt, or, he'll go to war against one side or the other: supporting tax increases or spending cuts.

The Governor's 2006 reelection chances will be determined by what path he takes and how he takes it.

One thing I know for sure: in politics, defeat is usually a temporary condition.

All the best,

Chuck DeVore
State Assemblyman, 70th District

At least one thing went right

Pollster Adam Probolsky had some kind words for Neal Kelley, the temporary OC Registrar of Voters in his FlashReport column this a.m.:

There were several gatherings of politicos in OC on Election Night, I tried to hit as many as possible, even if  I wasn't  exactly a card carrying member of their club.  My itinerary started at the HQ of the OC Professional Firefighters.  I saw the first returns there, saw some old friends and drove on to the Registrar of Voters.  I met Neal Kelley, the Acting Registrar who did a bang-up job.  He implemented new result schemes, now technology and release results almost on a precision basis.  Kelley deserves a resounding round of applause,

We agree -- the online results were impressive and timely -- a far cry from his predecessor as Gustavo Arellano wrote last week in OC Weekly: Master of Disaster.  If he wants it, Kelley needs to keep this job permanently.

Reform Terminated

Assemblyman Todd Spitzer was on Bill Handel's KFI program this morning with his analysis of yesterday's debacle and Arnold's "pickle".  Listen here.