DPOC’s 14th Annual Truman Awards Dinner a big success

There was a distinct feeling of hope in the air at last night’s Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) 14th Annual Truman Awards dinner, which was held at the Irvine Airport Hilton.  The room was packed to overflowing.  I could see a few seats available here and there, but not many – and the crowd spilled out into the hallway as Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer gave a stirring keynote address.

Schweitzer was damn impressive, as had been promised.  I loved when he told a long story about an Irish lady who came here illegally at the age of 17, using her sister’s passport.  That young lady ended up traveling from New York to Montana, where she was given several acres of land to homestead.  She ended up marrying another Irish immigrant and of course Governor Schweitzer is her direct descendant.

Schweitzer addressed the issue of immigration head on, saying that those who come here to build a new future are the strength of this country.  Amen!  I loved hearing that – and so did the audience.

Schweitzer also talked about how outgoing President Bush has screwed things up for us all over the world.  Not only will many Americans be relieved when Barack Obama takes over, I think much of the rest of the world will be quite relieved.

Schweitzer also talked about education, the environment, and health care.  This is a guy who cares deeply for his fellow Americans.  And he is a fantastic communicator.  You won’t find many, if any, like him in the GOP.  And of course he is the Chair of the Democratic Governors Association.  The poor Republicans are going to have a Hell of a time matching wits with Schweitzer!

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer

The audience by the way was unbelievably diverse.  I have been to similar functions put on by the OC GOP.  Those were predominantly lily white.  Not so at the Truman dinner.  There were a lot of Latinos and lots of other folks too.  The ladies were all decked out in their finest, as if they were attending the upcoming Oscars Awards.

Fullerton Mayor Sharon Quirk

As for the awards themselves, it was nice to see some of Orange County’s leading women Mayors be honored.  Those who received awards included La Habra’s Rose Espinoza, Laguna Beach’s Jane Egly, Irvine’s Beth Krom, Huntington Beach’s Debbie Cook, and Fullerton’s Sharon Quirk.  Each of them is infinitely better than Santa Ana’s lame Mayor, Miguel Pulido – and they are heads above most of the Republican Mayors in the O.C.

One has to wonder why the DPOC is still such a second banana to the OC GOP.  Must be a leadership issue, but then the DPOC just reelected their so-so Chairman, Frank Barbaro.  Some folks never learn.

Assemblyman John Perez

The Samuel Gompers Award was presented to a new State Assemblyman, John Perez of Los Angeles.  Gompers was a union organizer in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  He promoted the idea that economic organization was the key to a more satisfying life, according to the Truman Dinner program.  He looked like a very surly fellow, judging from the black and white photo in the program.

Samuel Gompers

I have no idea how the rest of the program went.  I got tired of standing in the lobby.  I was asked to attend as a member of the press, which I thought was amusing, but apparently I got there too late to be seated, as I arrived about a half hour after the program got underway. So I took a few pictures and left early.

According to the program I was provided with, the Truman Awards were presented by Tom Daly, the Orange County Clerk-Recorder who will be running to replace Chris Norby on the Board of Supervisors, when Norby terms out.  The Gompers Award was presented by Eric Bauman, the Chair of the L.A. County Democratic Party.  Bauman is also running for a Vice Chair position with the California Democratic Party.

Other program highlights included Anaheim Union High School District Trustee Jordan Brandman leading the Pledge of Allegiance, and a Welcome by Irvine Councilman Larry Agran.  There were also “Special Remarks” by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, from the 12th Assembly District.  I have no idea who she is or where her district is.

I ran into Alicia Berhow as she was leaving early to head for the airport and a flight to D.C.  She was radiant as always.  I also ran into Lynette and Sergio Verino.  I did not recognize most of the other folks in attendance, but I saw that many of the tables were sponsored by labor organizations, such as the SEIU.

Congratulations to the DPOC’s Melahat Rafiei, for putting on a great event.  Maybe some of the money they raised tonight will help the DPOC take the 68th Assembly District in two years.  Or perhaps they can save some of it to take out Supervisor Janet Nguyen in four years.  I suspect some of it will go to Daly’s campaign against Republican Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu.