Yesterday, Otto Bade, the GOP's 2004 nominee for the 69th Assembly District, turned in 40 signatures to qualify as a write-in candidate for the 34th Senate District. Today was the deadline for doing so.
I just spoke with the OC Registrar of Voters office, and the signatures are valid. The next step is for the Secretary of State to certify him as a write-in candidate, which will probably happen in tomorrow or the day after.
It's becoming like Night of the Living Dead Republicans in central Orange County with unkillable GOP zombie candidates roaming the electoral landscape. First, Tan Nguyen and now Otto "Yes, I've Had A Checkered Past" Bade. Who's next? Jeff Chavez? Bob Dornan?
I haven't spoken to Otto yet, so I don't know what rational he's giving for his write-in candidacy. The real reason is likely political payback against Sen. Dick Ackerman and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher. When Otto ran for Assembly two years ago, Ackerman didn't lend him the political and financial support he believed he was entitled to as the GOP nominee. My understanding is Ackerman, correctly, believed Bade checkered past (which is being charitable) rendered him a DOA nominee and he didn't want to waste limited resources on Bade's campaign. Daucher had endorsed Bade, but withdrew the endorsement when she found out about Bade's myriad legal problems.
Clearly, Otto is trying to torpedo Daucher. The question is, is he doing so in conjunction with interested Democratic parties.
More on that later...
UPDATE: I called Otto Bade to get some comment, but there was no answer. I'll let you know if Otto returns my call.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Martin Wisckol over at Total Buzz has reaction from the Daucher campaign.