OC Blog

Bob Salladay Leaving L.A. Times & "Political Muscle"

Bum-mer.

I just spotted this on Political Muscle, the awesome LA Times political blog run by Bob Salladay:

This is my last posting on Political Muscle. After a decade of covering California governors, lawmakers, the gubernatorial recall, the Florida recount, dozens of propositions and endless campaigns, I've decided to take the buyout offer from the L.A. Times. It's time to travel in a different direction.

AD60 Watch: Chino Hills Mayor Pro Tem Curt Hagman Kicks Off Campaign

From Red County/San Bernardino with a H/T to FlashReport Blog:

Yesterday, GOP Assembly candidate Chino Hills Mayor Pro Tem Curt Hagman held a campaign event in the Los Angeles County portion of the 60th Assembly District that was well-attended by a number of influential district residents. Hagman is seeking the Republican Party nomination for the 60th Assembly District, a seat currently held by departing incumbent Bob Huff. Huff is vacating the Assembly seat to run for State Senate.

OC Republicans Say, "Thank You, Loretta Sanchez!"

Did you hear about the fund raiser House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did for the Democratic Party of Orange County last month?

Don't worry if you didn't -- it never happened because Loretta Sanchez put the kibosh on it.

According to local Democratic insiders, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was supposed to come to Orange County last month to headline a fund raiser benefiting the Democratic Party of Orange County. All the arrangements were in place for an event that would have raised an enormous sum of money to fund the DPOC's ambitious plans for strengthening its presence county-wide and contest OC GOP inroads in central OC.

Little Saigon Outreach Headquarters Grand Opening

Little Saigon Outreach Headquarters Grand Opening
LITTLE SAIGON OUTREACH HEADQUARTERS
Asian Village Mall
9191 Bolsa Avenue, Suite 209
Westminster, CA 92683
May 30, 2007

Dear Friends,

As part of our ongoing outreach effort and constituents service, we will be inaugurating the Little Saigon Outreach Headquarters to better serve our mutual constituents in Central Orange County. Below are details of the grand opening celebration:

Senate Passes The "Help Re-Elect Lou Correa In 2010 Act"...

...otherwise known as SB 812, which passed the state Senate on May 24 by a 22-13 party-line vote. It would outlaw per-registration bounty programs.

I discovered this via a post by my friend Claudio Gallego on Orange Juice. Being a good Democrat, Claudio fans the flames of myth-making the OC Democrats have been stoking since registration flipping scandal broke amidst news of the OC GOP erasing the Democratic registration advantage in the 34th Senate District.

According to Claudio:

• The OC GOP believes it can only make registration inroads via registration fraud
• Correa's bill is simply intended to stop registration fraud
• Any Republican who voted against SB 812 must be for voter fraud

Yeah. And I'm the Tooth Fairy.

Romney Adds Duane Dichiara, Mike Schroeder To California Team

This just came over the transom from the Mitt Romney for President campaign:

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES ADDITIONS TO THE CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Boston, MA – Governor Mitt Romney announced today that Coronado Communications, led by Duane Dichiara, will head the daily operations of the California Romney for President campaign.  Rob Stutzman and Mike Schroeder were named Senior Advisers for the California campaign.  They join previously announced State Chairs Tony Strickland and Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman.

"California will play an important role in the upcoming primary elections, and this team will be critical in making sure every voter knows about my message of change in Washington," said Governor Romney.  "I look forward to working with them so we can bring conservative leadership back to our government."

Red County/OC Blog News Roundup -- May 31, 2007

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain:

New CUSD School District Chief Quits -- OCR and LAT
Dennis Smith says he will not take over as superintendent.

Op-Ed: Irvine's Living Wage Hypocrisy -- OCR
Howard Klein writes, "Irvine's council majority, like all "progressives," only exercise their compassion with the cheapest currency available – other people's money." Right on, Howard.

Symbolism Above Good Governance In Irvine -- OCR
The City Council majority's living-wage ordinance puts city taxpayers on the hook.

UCI Chief Meets Jewish Groups -- OCR and LAT
Chancellor encourages community involvement against incidents of perceived hate speech on campus.

Political Events Converge At UC Irvine -- DP
Three self-proclaimed former terrorists visited the Bren Events Center on Wednesday night to urge students to condemn Islamic fundamentalism, comparing America's modern enemies to the Nazis and calling on Muslims to take a stand against human rights abuses in the Middle East.

Anaheim Union On Rebound After Fiscal Trouble -- OCR
A Grand Jury report says the district is on the right track after mismanagement.

Interim Great Park CEO Named -- OCR
Assistant City Manager Sharon Landers will step in to manage the park until a permanent CEO is found.

Family Of Man Who Fell From Bridge Sues Everyone -- OCR
The family said the Santa Margarita Parkway Bridge poses unreasonable risk to motorists and pedestrians.

Newport Council Makes Decision On Group Homes -- DP
The Newport Beach City Council voted 6-0 Wednesday to continue a moratorium on new group homes but let the moratorium on new short-term rental permits expire. Councilman Keith Curry was absent.

That's Debatable: Railways In The Land Of Freeways -- DP
Sen. Tom Harman and Assemblymen Chuck DeVore and Van Tran on the Governor's proposed cut-backs in high-speed rail.

Alicia Robsinon's Political Landscape: Mile-High Celebration -- DP
Alicia cover the Newport-Mesa political waterfront.

AD71 Watch: Taxpayer Groups Endorse Jeff Miller For Assembly

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

Jeff Miller Endorsed by Local Taxpayer Groups; Signs NO NEW TAX Pledge

ORANGE COUNTY, CA - - Republican Jeff Miller has been endorsed by two local taxpayers groups, the Corona Taxpayers Association and the Inland Empire Taxpayers Association.   

“California continues on a spending binge that threatens the future well-being of our state,” said Miller. “Every year, the pressure from liberals to raise taxes increases. I am committed to opposing any and all efforts to raise taxes on California’s taxpayers and I am proud of the support I am receiving from local taxpayers groups.”

SD33 Watch: By The Numbers

There will be three competitive Republican legislative primary battles next year: AD 71, AD 60 and SD33.

These are three heavily Republican seats in which winning the GOP primary is tantamount to a general election victory. Red County/OC Blog already described the AD71 contest with by-the-numbers post of the basics of the campaign: candidates and their teams, registration and geographic distribution of GOP voters, etc.

Now let's take a look at the battle for the 33rd Senate District, which is represented by termed-out Senate GOP Leader Dick Ackerman and boasts 259,850 Republican voters who will determine the next senator:

Following is a breakdown of Republican voters by city (I got these numbers form the ROV on May 10):

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.