Reader Contest: “Excellence in Service”

Pulido hiding behind Rackauckas

“I admit that this isn’t exactly the best seat,” said Mayor Pulido, “but the service here is absolutely terrific!”

The Democratic Foundation of Orange County (DFOC), among whose members I count some friends, is the private organization set up for “Business Democrats” and other large donors to sponsor speakers in more intimate settings than might otherwise be available and to endorse Democratic candidates.  (Without applying for the honor, for example, I became one of their endorsed candidates in 2012.  This year, not so much.)  This year, while the Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) membership itself heavily favored Roman Reyna for Santa Ana Mayor, although not enough so to gain the supermajority needed for an endorsement, the DFOC did endorse in that race.

I was reminded today that, at the DFOC’s Annual Dinner on November 16, 2014, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido was one of three awardees, receiving the “Excellence in Service Award.”  (It’s actually named after a person, but that person is deceased and does not warrant being made sport of on this account.)

“Excellence in Service.”  Your thoughts — and expansion on what a longer explanation for the award might be?  Best reaction wins.  Ready, go!


About Greg Diamond

Somewhat verbose attorney, semi-disabled and semi-retired, residing in northwest Brea. Occasionally ran for office against jerks who otherwise would have gonr unopposed. Got 45% of the vote against Bob Huff for State Senate in 2012; Josh Newman then won the seat in 2016. In 2014 became the first attorney to challenge OCDA Tony Rackauckas since 2002; Todd Spitzer then won that seat in 2018. Every time he's run against some rotten incumbent, the *next* person to challenge them wins! He's OK with that. Corrupt party hacks hate him. He's OK with that too. He does advise some local campaigns informally and (so far) without compensation. (If that last bit changes, he will declare the interest.) His daughter is a professional campaign treasurer. He doesn't usually know whom she and her firm represent. Whether they do so never influences his endorsements or coverage. (He does have his own strong opinions.) But when he does check campaign finance forms, he is often happily surprised to learn that good candidates he respects often DO hire her firm. (Maybe bad ones are scared off by his relationship with her, but they needn't be.)