The Buzz

Street corner rallies are effective in raising public awareness. The rallies have impact with regard to issues and not so much with getting votes for city council candidates. In the elections of 2006 and 2008, council incumbents John Paul Ledesma and Frank Ury easily won with almost no street corner presence.

***

Photos of Ury campaigning for Dave Leckness have been widely circulated. Ury, who touts his voter registration as a Republican, has endorsed Leckness, a Democrat. When Ury emailed members of the county Republican Central Committee two weeks ago, telling them which Republicans shouldn’t be endorsed, his pleas were largely disregarded. As for Ury’s ambition to run for higher office, the county GOP generally doesn’t endorse candidates who have blatantly campaigned for Democrats.

***

Councilwoman Trish Kelley mentions her Republican registration only when she’s up for reelection. Lately, she’s implying the Republican Party endorsed her. She was rejected by the OC GOP during their first endorsing committee meeting, and she didn’t apply for the California Republican Assembly endorsement. Incredibly, she’s using the official Party logo on her campaign mailers. She’s touting her endorsement by the OC Taxpayers Association, which is a one-person organization. Reed Royalty is the president / CEO / receptionist / janitor, etc., of the San Juan Capistrano-based “group” of one. He was active in promoting the El Toro Airport in the 10-year-long battle – in the face of Mission Viejo residents.

***

Who will win the Nov. 2 council race? It’s much easier to guess who won’t win. At the bottom (or near it) will be political newcomer Sam Mamola, who hasn’t campaigned. Other newcomers are Fred Carr and Ken Golemo. They’ve campaigned, but it’s difficult for newcomers to win without grassroots or a substantial cash infusion. Mark Dobrilovic hasn’t campaigned, but he did well in the June 8 race for GOP Central Committee, placing seventh for six seats. Somewhat predictable, a whole bunch of candidates will be clumped together in the middle, unable to distinguish themselves among so many contenders. Campaign finance reports indicate that Richard Sandzimier doesn’t have the financial backing to be a shoo-in, and Leckness, who comes across during council meetings as a loon, has not secured his seat as an incumbent. If Kelley wins, it will show how many voters aren’t paying attention.

***

The OC Register confirmed that the teachers union and their so-called “Children First” group have spent $350,000 since Sept. 30 to buy control of CUSD. That’s an obscene amount of money for a local school board election. The teachers union is outspending the conservative reform incumbents by a ratio of more than a 16 to 1. The OC Register found the union had formed a new Political Action Committee to hide unprecedented spending from voters and the press.