Perhaps my articles of Wednesday and Thursday have caused some kerfuffling over in the “Rackauckas for District Attorney” camp. (Or perhaps that is simply a literary device to capture reader interest.) Either way, this e-mail from OC Political‘s Chris Emami, working in his campaign management capacity, appeared in my inbox last night as 10:12 p.m. To prove that I’m a good sport, I’ll publish it in full.
District Attorney Tony Rackauckas Files for Re‑election
Recently Raised $419,000 in Single Night Fundraising Event
ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas filed his declaration of candidacy for re-election. He filed his paperwork and took the candidacy oath this morning at the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
Before the filing period opened, Rackauckas raised a record‑breaking $419,000 toward his re‑election bid this year in one night. The gala event, held at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, was attended by hundreds of enthusiastic, committed supporters of Rackauckas.
“I am very humbled to have this kind of strong support from so many different segments of the Orange County community,” said District Attorney Rackauckas. “This is an endorsement for the hard working men and women of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, who work tirelessly to make sure that Orange County remains a place where people can feel safe to live, work and play. We have particularly targeted dangerous gang members and violent sex offenders to keep our County safe.”
In preparing for his bid for a fifth term as Orange County’s top prosecutor, Rackauckas has also amassed a large and impressive bipartisan list of endorsers, including Sheriff Sandra Hutchens; Supervisors Shawn Nelson, Patricia Bates, and Janet Nguyen, Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce; State Senators Lou Correa, Bob Huff, and Mimi Walters; Assemblymembers Travis Allen, Tom Daly, Curt Hagman, Diane Harkey, and Don Wagner; Board of Equalization Member Michelle Steel; Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Scott Baugh, and former Democratic Party of Orange County Chair Frank Barbaro. Rackauckas also enjoys the support of numerous local city council members from all across the county, along with numerous prosecutors, law enforcement, and victims’ rights leaders.
“Tony Rackauckas, who for more than a quarter of a century has been working to bring better balance to our justice system, has not just talked the talk, he has walked the walk,” said longtime victim advocate Collene Campbell, National Chair of Force 100 and Founder and President of Memory of Victims Everywhere (M.O.V.E).
In addition to having the financial resources to fund a countywide re‑election effort, the Rackauckas campaign has also secured placement on 17 of the most prominent slate mailers, which will produce millions of pieces of mail sent to Orange County’s Republican, Democratic, and No Party Preference voters.
“Tony Rackauckas is a well-respected professional who people know truly has been fighting for public safety for more than four decades,” said Senior Republican strategist Wayne Johnson. “He’s a career prosecutor, not a politician looking for higher office, and I think that’s what people are looking for in a District Attorney. Having worked for hundreds of political candidates over the years, I can say with certainty that Rackauckas couldn’t be in a stronger position as he approaches his re‑election.”
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Paid for by Rackauckas for District Attorney 2014. ID# 970780.
This is pretty much how traditional politicians think about campaigning — that waving a huge stack of cash around will ward off all challengers — and not thinking about how it looks to voters. It’s sort of cute, actually. They have no idea how insurgent politics works.
To be fair, though, this message wasn’t directed at me — or at any readers other than anyone advising Todd Spitzer and perhaps some additional potential challengers. The Rackauckas Caucus knows that I’m in the race — and will make them spend that money. They just want to keep others from joining the race. Once people perceive weakness — who knows where that could lead?
Let’s help them out and really drive that message home! Here’s the invitation to that swanky $419,000 event:
Page 1:
Page 2:
I suppose that how much you want to have a DA who is beholden to these sorts of people depends on what you want from a DA. That’s all I’ll say here and now — I’ll save my critique (the content of which is probably pretty obvious) for another time.
(Thanks for the ammunition, Chris!)
Will your blog articles concerning your candidacy be subject to “in kind” declarations by both yourself and the Orange Juice Blog?
If the law requires it, then I sure will — but I doubt that it does. What’s the right way to indicate “infinity” on the form?
It looks good to people like Skallywag though!
If he’s got the most money, he MUST be the best!
“The best that Money Can Buy”? Sure looks it by the price. What does $419K work out to, per voter? (And that’s not the final tally, right?)
It’s one event I think.
Yes, that’s just from one “record-breaking” event.
I just love that this came out so abruptly — and so late in the evening. It’s a SURE sign that they’re not worried about anyone else AT ALL!
*Nick Yocca is a great man……you should have tried to get him to support you Greg. Although, I think Nick has been on Tony’s team for sometime.
*Baugh, Duda, Ware are very understandable….Tony Moiso….wow…
pretty powerful array of backers Greg! Don Bren, can’t be far behind
along with…….well…..you know!
TRUTH. The whole truth and nothing but the truth is what we need to look closely at when considering re-electing Mr. Tony Rackauckas. He has a history of good and not so good (as do we all), but lately I suggest his competency for good judgment is in question. Perhaps for the sake of Mr. Rackauckas we should NOT re-elect him.
There is a time for all good men to step aside and let another attorney that has shown himself capable to take over. I think that time has come. I have a fondness for sports but even I would consider it cruel to put an old horse that was once a grand champion on a race track. I’m not calling Mr. Rackauckas an old hag just that there are better choices to be had (ie. Mr. Greg Diamond).
I submit a possible reason Tony had no opponents in the past is because of the respect his colleagues have for the man (not a bad thing). In sports time demands retirement like that of Michael Jorden to whom many hated to see leave the basketball COURT. I’m sure that can also be true of the OCDA that has held his position for so long. Think about it…even our county supervisors have to leave their seats after a couple of terms. Tony’s had a good long run.
Now about competency and sound judgment. Tony went after violating the constitutional rights of citizens that have been through the grinder of probation and parole from going into parks, beaches and harbors. This was a massive waist of both staff time and money. He could make a better impact by supporting educational measures than punitive ones. Either his knowledge of the law is lacking or the understanding of it’s real purpose and function. Either way as a DA he should know better.
Another example: Why would the DA. take a murder case recently to which he flopped? Although he is an attorney and can do such but as DA isn’t his position more that of a leader and administrator? It would be like having our sheriff standing on the corner giving out parking tickets. Can she do it? Yes, would she be as proficient as her staff that does it every day? Probably not. Again we need a DA that exercises good judgment. TRUTH
Can someone clarify the facts in this expose’ of our DA and his chief of staff. Warning the graphics might be offensive to some:
http://once-fallen.blogspot.com/2014/05/grand-theft-oc-ballad-of-tony-rackauckas.html
Well, I think that this part in bold is incorrect:
But what do I know?
Good catch on that one Greg! I’m just wondering if Tony is aware yet that he has an opponent? I mean as an attorney that doesn’t seem to know what is and is not constitutional. Perhaps his lacking goes as far as him thinking he’s running once again unopposed. Someone in his office will remind him daily between naps I’m sure.