From The Archives: 1968 Special Election In The 1st SD

Former OCTA and OCBC honcho Stan Oftelie has been in and around Orange County politics for many years, and is a walking institutional memory for OC political history.

Stan recently recalled an earlier special election in the 1st Supervisor District -- back in 1968:

Here’s something to think about:

In 1968, when First District Supervisor C.M. (Cye) Featherly retired, the wildest political scramble in county history resulted in an 11-person field for the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Eleven candidates is the biggest field for a Supervisorial race ever. In the 1968 race, the favorite of the Santa Ana establishment, dry cleaner Tom Larson, a Republican member of the Santa Ana City Council, ran third and failed to make the run off. Santa Ana attorney Jerry Patterson, later a Santa Ana City Mayor and a member of Congress, ran seventh out of 11 candidates, well behind nutjobs and frequent government critics Jan Boer and Cliff Frazier.

Democratic attorney Bob Battin ran first in the primary and then easily won election in November, when Republicans failed to coalesce behind the only Republican still standing, a Republican Central Committee member named Pat Duggan.

I guess this is the point: if the field gets too big and unmanageable, the best candidates can't always get their message out. Larson and Patterson relied heavily on mail (such as it was in 1968) and going to service clubs to speak. Battin was a relentless precinct walker, famous for handing out Bob Battin Matchbooks, and won the huge scramble with a good ground game in the primary and a strong push by union precinct walkers in November.

I don't necessarily believe the First District in 1968 and the First District in 2007 have much in common, unless a really large field of candidates emerges and it becomes difficult for any candidate to rise above the noise level. Then strange things may happen and, once again, the ground game becomes important.

Comments

[Bladerunner]

Thanks Jubal for a great post. Oftlie IS a fountain of knowledge about the good old days of OC. While the district may demographicaly have changed in the almost 40 years since battlin Bob Battin won, the lesson of that election still holds true...turnout, turnout, turnout. The best mail in the world won't be enough.Wasn't then, won't be now.

[Coto Resident]

Will B. King may end up being the Steve Rocco of this election.

[This History Lesson Points to Victory for Janet!]

I believe this trip down memory lanes shows us that Janet Nguyen will be our next Supervisor and Carlos Bustamonte will place 5th or 6th. It's perfectly clear to anyone who is a student of history and knows anything about Janet.

[Is Shirley Grindle a nut job?]

Neither Boer nor Frazier were "Nut Jobs".
Both WERE Gadflies but Boer was very smart and like Shirley Grindle liked to
hold politicians feet to the fire. She single handedly kept the city of Santa Ana from
moving the Bowl (football Stadium) to the edge of town. Frazier had an Aircraft Maintenance
business at OC Airport. His issues mostly revolved around the Airport and
it's use and control. Neither were crazy but they were both a thorn in the
side of the establishment.

[No Happy Ending for Battin]

Stan should have told blog readers the rest of the story. Battin went to jail. For those who are interested in knowing what can happen to winners of Special Elections who lead a life of crime, check this link:

http://online.ceb.com/calcases/CA3/77CA3d635.htm

[No Happy Ending for Battin]

Is the Steve Knobloch who worked for Battin the same one who is on the San Clemente Council now??

No, Knobloch and Knoblock are two different people with different spellings for their last names.

[UMBERG PULLS PAPERS!]

I just heard Tom pulled papers. Will Rosen return them? Will Janet? Will Carlos pull out? Jubal...please find the answers to these questions for you readers.