Yes, we know you’re excited.
Didn’t finish all of the City Council races — but we do have over half the county by population! Today’s the last day of candidate filing, except when it isn’t, and we’re not sure where it isn’t, and we have too much going on today to check. If it really matters to you whether filing closes today, you should not be relying on last-minute reporting by a volunteer-run website anyway.
Here we go.
Aliso Viejo:
The seats of Mike Munzing, Dave Harrington, and Bill Phillips are up. If they all filed, then filing is complete, because City Hall is taking today off. Did they file? Did anyone else file? The City’s website offers no guidance.
Anaheim:
We’ve been following the report filings, but they are not the final word. The website doesn’t show who has and hasn’t actually filed. So the best we can offer is this:
In 1: Freddy Fitzgerald Carbajal has qualified for the ballot as of Thursday morning. The applications of Leonard Lahtinen, Orlando Perez, and Angel Van Stark are pending. No word about Denise Barnes, Mark Daniels, or Steven Albert (Chavez) Lodge.
In 3: Dr. Jose Moreno’s application is pending. No word on Jordan Brandman, Robert Nelson, Linda Lobatos, or Jennifer Rivera.
In 4: Robert Williams’s application is pending. No word on Lucile Kring, Art Ferreras, Christopher Dunshee, Jonathan Meeker, or JoJo “the Faker” Moreno..
In 5: Mark Lopez’s application is pending. No word on Steven Faessel, Donna Acevedo-Nelson, Ana R. Martinez, “Red” Lester. or Thomas Anderson.
Brea:
Marty Simonoff and Christine Marick both appear to be running for re-election. If anyone else is challenging them, it’s not evident on the website.
Buena Park:
The City’s website has information on the new districts — the two southernmost, 3 and 4, are on the ballot this year — but no information on who’s running.
Costa Mesa:
Righeimer opponents Sandy Genis, Jay Humphrey, and John Stephens look like they’re allied to take on Righeimer supporters Steve Mensinger, Allan Mansoor, and Lee Ramos. I believe that Julie Mercurio decided not to run and that leaves Al Melone on his own.
Cypress:
Nothing about the election at all. I think that they win!
Fullerton:
Finally, a city that does it right! I presume that filing will go on until Wednesday, as eligible incumbent Jan Flory isn’t running. Her colleagues Bruce Whitaker and Jennifer Fitzgerald are running. So are some familiar names: Larry Bennett, Jane Rands, Roberta Reid, Jesus Silva. And some less familiar ones: Herbert Glazier, Jonathan Mansoori, Joshua Ferguson, Susan Gapinski, and (making Donald Trump look moderate and measured by comparison) Joe Imbriano.
Garden Grove:
Nice Web page; nothing about who’s running.
Huntington Beach:
While Jill Hardy and David Sullivan are running for re-election, Jim Katapodis withdrew a week ago, so I believe that filing continues through Wednesday. (Don’t trust my word on this, though!) Challengers include Alexander Polsky, Avery Hanson, Karen Leighton, Lyn Semeta, Patrick Brenden, Joe Carchio, Aleksandr Donovan, Hemesh Patel, and Ron Sterud.
Irvine:
Beth Krom just announced that she won’t be running for re-election, so once again I presume that that means an extension for Council seats. And Steven Choi isn’t running for re-election as Mayor, so ditto. From there. the unofficial record of where things stand gets sort of wild.
For Mayor, Mary Ann Gaido and Katherine Daigle will run again, but this time joined by former Assemblyman Don Wagner and Great Park opponent Gang Chen.
For City Council. a dozen candidates for the two seats, only one of whom (Christine Shea) is an incumbent. Of the other eleven, the “heard of before” category includes Anila Ali, Evan Chemers, Shira Farhavar, Melissa Fox, Farrah Khan, and Anthony Kuo. In the other category, Hyunjoung Ahn, Dale Cheema. Ian Daelucian, Matthew Ehorn, and Courtney Santos. That’s a lot of people running for two seats.
Santa Ana:
Mayor: Miguel Pulido versus Battlin’ Ben Vasquez.
Ward 1: Vince Sarmiento vs. Jessica Cha
Ward 3: Angelica Amezcua not looking for candidate-y with under $500 raised. Jose Solorio is running against Shawn Barrows, David DeLeon (who has no filings), and Planning Commissioner Patrick Yrrarrazaval-Correa.
Ward 5: No information listed about Sal Tinajero’s seat.
Nice job, Greg
In Fullerton I’ll back anyone who will agree to keep Jan Flory on the OCWD.
Vern, I agree, but Bruce did a good job while he was there.
Him or her would be fine.
Elect Jane Rands and put her on OCWD.
That would be good.
God, I would love that. In what world (or by what prestidigitation) could we make that happen?
If anyone wants a real expert breakdown on these local races come join me at the Swinging Door for an old fashioned…Who knows my buddy Matt might join and give us his astute perspective.
P.S. Don’t tell Dawn, she thinks I’m actually working when I’m here in Tustin.
Great Work, Greg.
Thanks for work.
Here in Irvine, Christina Shea is obviously the front runner.
Melissa Fox came within 210 votes of beating Jeff Lalloway, so if she can keep enough of the old Agran machine together, she would seem to be the next strongest. Larry’s fake newspaper has been beating the drum for Mayoral Candidate Gaido, so we should know as of the next “issue” who Larry is backing. Presumably, Shira Farhavar would round out a Gaido-Fox-Farhavar Agran-supported slate.
Dale Cheema has huge name recognition here in Central Irvine, where he is a prominent realtor. He has served years on the Woodbridge Village Association, so he is already well known and generally liked by 10,000 high-propensity voters. Not a bad base to work from since victory will probably require about 20,000 votes.
Hyunjoung Ahn appears to be the only Korean. If he can step in Stephen Choi’s shoes, then the “Korean Block” of Irvine would make him a very strong candidate.
Evan Chemers is interesting: he’s a perma-candidate, but he always bangs on the same point, Traffic, which is almost certainly going to be the defining issue of this campaign.
Anthony Kuo is a known quantity, but I am not sure how much name recognition he has. Maybe he rounds out a Wagner-Shea slate?
I need to check my notes on Farrah Khan – I associate her with the Agran faction, but I don’t remember why.
I am quite surprised that Beth Krom isn’t running. She would be the strongest candidate for either mayor or council. Since Measure W passed she isn’t term limited. Maybe she runs in 2018?
What about Sukhee Kang? He has great name ID in Irvine. Tanned, rested and ready.
Farrah Khan is a progressive Democrat but does not like the Agran faction. She does think highly of Melissa. She’s real active among progressive Democrats, and is involved with human-rights-type stuff.
Beth really just seems sick of politics.
Anila Ali must be spitting nails right now.
It would be interesting to see how Melissa navigates the straits between Shiva and Farrah, except that I expect that she’ll try to keep her head down and not endorse other than Gaido.
The Mayor’s race looks interesting and tough to handicap. Katherine’s going to find out how many of her followers are really hers and for hiw many she was a protest vote. I wonder how much Wagner’s heart is really in this. Gaido has been running a good campaign so far.
It’s strange to note how much the statements of Beth and Sukhee sound like each other while neither sound like themselves. That’s PR professionalism for you!
Interesting point Greg, either way – I am not going to sit back and watch the insiders/establishment take the City residents for another ride. I am thankful so many people came out and decided to represent the residents, take a chance to make a difference. Thank you for your story!
Cool. A congruence. A lot of folks are sick of her.
Kang doesn’t live in Irvine anymore; he moved to Fullerton and lost in the June primary for State Senate.
True all that, we know, we helped defeat him; you are unfamiliar with the Zenger Snark.
As a big time elected official I’m sure all these candidates will be scrambling for my endorsement in the coming days. You won’t win Irvine without my seal of approval and without glowing support on my extremely popular award winning blog.
Candidate interviews will be held in my office…errrr garage…on Wedgewood this weekend. The bread winner, I mean Dawn, will be out shopping for my new Comicon costume between 2 and 3 tomorrow so stop by then.
“NOW YOU’RE ATTACKING MY FAMILY!!!!!”
Can you post the video of Dr Jose moreno confrontation with councilman Jordan Brandman?
Yes, please, Greg, did you get that?
For some reason my old computer does not recognize my new phone, so I haven’t been able to download it. I’ll find a workaround….
I just saved a lot of vomit bags and extra showers by blocking the Irvine Troll on VOC! And so can you.
At this moment in Anaheim:
District 1 – Freddie, Leonard, Orlando, and Vanstark YES. Mark D and Chavez Lodge PENDING. We saw Denise Barnes turn in her stuff today.
District 3 – Jose YES. Jordan, Robert Nelson, and Jennifer Rivera pending. Hey, we actually managed to track down the mysterious Jennifer, who’s been getting thousands of latino votes for a few elections now, without doing or saying anything or being seen. So far I haven’t gotten a response to her for an interview, which will be called “Anaheim Mysteries: IN Search of Jennifer Rivera.”
District 4 – Arturo and Robert pending. Is Lucille dropping out? I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion yet. But I’d sure be happy with either Arturo or Robert taking her place.
District 5- Faesell and Lopez YES, Sandra Angel pending! LOL! We met Sandra Angel yesterday, she REALLY doesn’t like immigrants or Muslims, and yet was friendly to Donna. She had no idea what district elections are, and thinks it makes it much harder to run. She was having a hell of a time finding twenty people to sign her papers – she said if she coulda gone all over the city it woulda been no problem, but NONE OF HER NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT 5 SPEAK ENGLISH!
Ana and Red aren’t showing up, but neither is Donna, and we turned in ALL our stuff, with a nice 30 signatures (cushion of 10.) We are actually going to have a ballot statement, thanks to some unexpectedly generous financial backers!
Hey! Linda’s working late! Anaheim just changed again!
1.
YES – Daniels, Fitzgerald, Lahtinen, Lodge, Perez, Vanstark
Barnes PENDING!
3.
YES – Brandman, Moreno, Nelson, Rivera
Lobatos PENDING!
4.
YES – Ferreras, Williams.
Kring and Fake Moreno PENDING! 🙁
5.
YES – Angel, Faessel, Lopez.
Acevedo-Nelson and Martinez PENDING.
(Apparently no Lister or Anderson.)
Looks like the list won’t be updated again till noon Monday. http://www.anaheim.net/3321/Candidate-List—November-8-2016
Thanks for the on-the-spot reporting, Chairman!
The surprise seems to be — that there are almost no surprises! Everyone came to the party except for the people that no one knew. An Angel manifesting is a surprise, though.
TWO damn angels – VanStark and the Trump girl.
Only the Trumpette was a surprise.
RE. Huntington Beach. Are you SURE Dave Sullivan is running for re-election? I sure hope he is, but he’s real bad about answering his phone.
The main concern of a whole BUNCH of us on left and right, former foes now allied, is to prevent a Chamber-run majority – one that will push for Poseidon and more High Density – and that means keeping out Brenden and Carchio by any means necessary.
For that reason I am hoping for a slate of Sullivan, Hardy and Semeta – the only possible combination that could conceivably keep out the well-funded Chamber candidates.
No, I don’t see Sullivan on the link I found.
This makes it very hard to see a way out of a Chamber-backed majority for the next two years at least.
He was listed on the city’s page last night, but that page was not necessarily definitive. If he’s not running, that’s a tough break. Do you know why Katapodis dropped out?
Perhaps vertigo from changing his positions so many times. (Except for on public safety benefits.)
Whitaker and Gapinski are excellent choices in Fullerton. Fitzgerald, Bennett and Silva have not bled enough on the battlefield.
Tell us about Gapinski. And of what specific “battlefield” do you speak ?
What EXACTLTY is Lyn Semeta’s stance on the proposed Poseidon plant? She “believes in responsible desal” is one thing that people other than Lyn have proffered as her viewpoint. In a somewhat humorous twist that statement seems A-OK with some of the very same HB’ers who most obnoxiously taunted residents in the past for stating the exact same thing.
If in fact the, “responsible desal” statement does accurately convey Lyn Semeta’s beliefs. The question remains; Does she consider the proposed Poseidon plant “responsible desal’?
HBV: Semeta is part of the HB against HD crowd and everyone else I know from that group (Swann, Hoskins, Woodworth, etc) has not only been opposed to Poseidon’s plant but acitvely so. I would say on that contxt that “responsoble desal” refers to desal wothout taxpayer and ratepayer subsidies.
Greg – I went to High School with Gapinski and we both wrote for the school paper together. She’s been active with the Republican Women’s Federated. She decided to run because she has not been happy with her record on the City Council since she was elected.
Oh, and the “bled on the battlefield” comment? Ask Vern Nelson ot Ryan Cantor about that one.
Ask Lyn after she gets the OC GOP endorsement, if she gets it. She’s already rubbing them the wrong way on HDD, big time.
Thank you for your imput, Mr. Paden. Like what you wrote and hope that you are right on.
Shameless plug! TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY August 17) at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim the Anaheim Republican Assembly is hosting a NON PARTISAN city-wide candidates’ forum for ANAHEIM CITY COUNCIL.
This is NOT an endorsement convention, all candidates from all parties (or none at all) are welcome, from ALL Council Districts in Anaheim. We tried to reach all candidates, still one or two we were unable to find, but nearly all are attending, and ALL are welcome.
The public is invited to come get to know those who would lead our home town, during this NON PARTISAN EVENT.
WEDNESDAY August 17th REGISTRATION TABLE opens 6 pm event starts 6:30
Phoenix Club
1340 S Sanderson Avenue
Anaheim 92806
Ball Road between 57 freeway and river bed, turn south onto Phoenix Club Drive as if headed in the back gate of Honda Center, first cross street past Hardin Honda is Sanderson, Phoenix Club is southwest corner Sanderson and Phoenix Club Drive, look for “Anaheim Republican Assembly” signs.
EVENT IS FREE and OPEN TO PUBLIC
**This is where Cunningham jumps in and wants to know why REPUBLICANS would let Democrats and the dreaded “Decline to States” into our event. I can’t speak for the unit as a whole, but I personally feel like the Republican candidates can hold their own in mixed company, and nobody benefits when only the candidates from one party are presented in a bubble, safe from the perception of cooties from the other side. There is likely to be a mix of viewpoints on the Council, and I want to see how candidates manage to interact with each other. Don’t YOU wish you had seen the “plays well with others” skills of candidates before electing some of the batch we have now? I hope to see many of our Anaheim (and even non-Anaheim) readers at this event tonight. I promise ALL are welcome. (even Cunningham.)
I think the better question is why a Republican would link and praise a website called “The Liberal OC” five times a month.
Seems like hypocrisy starts with the letter M this month.
Cuz number one it ain’t liberal.
And number two Matt ain’t conservative.
(When Dan was triumphantly texting me after the last election, trying to rub it in my face how well Lou Correa did, one thing he said was “See, like I always say: Central OC is DEMOCRAT but NOT LIBERAL!”)
Did he gloat about what happened to his boyfriend, Sukhee Kang?
No that was my gloating, his doomsaying.
Wathing those two interact is like watching a German Gay taboo porn. Forbidden love.
By any chance were audios / videos taken / will be posted ?
Yes, videos, and they are being uploaded right now.
No one but incumbents filed in Orange, so we’re likely to have no eleection. See:
http://www.cityoforange.org/