Ideally, you will have read the introductory post first — but if you’re here to “cut to the chase,” that’s fine. I mean, we’re not going to do that, but you can skip down if you want to be left confused. We’ll see you when you come back up here.
This is the least competitive of the remaining races, with only 12 men and 9 women running in Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva’s district. There is a slate, headed by Mirvette Judeh for E-Board, but it’s not uniformly of the left. (Maybe it’s uniformly “progressive,” but if so it’s because the word has lost almost all of its meaning.)
The first principle that applies given the attack on the ADEM leg of the three-legged stool, discussed in the introductory post, is that if someone can easily get an appointment from a PLEO (party leader or elected official), and if that won’t compromise their positions, then that’s the leg of stool where they belong — not this one. Here, they’re edging out someone likely tied to the electoral grassroots, which is what the party needs. There, they’re just going to enjoy the convention and vote as their candidate’s Chief of Staff directs. That’s not what we need on the DSCC (Democratic State Central Committee — the governing board of the state party.)
There is an exception, though, and Mirvette falls into it. If you are running for E-Board, you have to first be elected as an ADEM, rather than being a Central Committee member of PLEO appointee. Mirvette is running for E-Board; despite what I expect would be a substantial number of PLEOs who might be willing to appoint her statewide, she is properly considered here.
Here are the male (technically, the “not self-identified as female”) candidates:
Ahmad Zahra, Benjamin Gonzalez, Connor Traut, Eric Barlow, Gregory Ferguson, Harry Langenbacher, Ian Macdonald, Jasson Morris Baker, Joese Hernandez, Jose Trinidad Castaneda, Luis Flores, Rashad Al-Dabbagh.
This group contains several really good activists: just the kind that the assault on the ADEM leg is designed to edge out. So the first thing we’ll do is remove the people who should be getting appointments — either “inside the district” ones from one of the officeholders or top-vote-getters or “outside the district” ones that will likely be a tradeoff between an inside-the-district legislator and someone else. In this district the PLEOs are Gil Cisneros, Josh Newman (still the high vote-getter), and Quirk-Silva.
Males and Such
So, #1: Do not vote for Councilmembers Ahmad Zahra (of Fullerton) and Connor Traut (of Buena Park). They can get onto the DSCC by appointment.
Zahra is a colleague of Quirk Silva’s husband, Jesus Silva, and I would expect that she’d be happy to arrange one. (It would also tie him a little closer to Jesus, which is itself good.) If she wouldn’t play ball, well, he’s the first LGBT Arab elected official either anywhere or hereabouts, and lots of politicians would like to say they appointed him on that basis alone. The likelihood of his being overlooked is minimal. And he’s not going to be giving up his ideals to represent an elected official, because he doesn’t seem particularly ideological.
Traut, the former Boy Wonder of East County, may be the most well-connected Democratic City Councilmember in the County, with ties to a strong fundraising family. And, he has generally taken positions that make the more moderate Democrats in OC (and elsewhere) smile. He is as PLEO a type of candidate as they come; having a tie to an out-of-district candidate would only empower him more. He will probably be better than whoever he’d edge out of an appointment, whereas he’s not as well tied to the grassroots as whoever he’d edge out here.
So that leaves us with choosing seven representatives from ten choices. It’s not all that difficult.
Ahmad Zahra, Benjamin Gonzalez, Connor Traut, Eric Barlow, Gregory Ferguson, Harry Langenbacher, Ian Macdonald, Jasson Morris Baker, Joese Hernandez, Jose Trinidad Castañeda, Luis Flores, Rashad Al-Dabbagh.
McDonald (environment), Hernandez (Latinx), Castañeda (Latinx and environment — and, conflict noted, my former client), and Al-Dabbagh (Arab-American Caucus and, conflict noted, has sometimes written for us) are all strong activists in their areas and aid the CDP’s knowledge of policy and its ties to voters — including one’s on the margins of our obtainable electorate. Flores is, as I recall, one of Traut’s proteges who was just elected to the Centralia School Board. MacDonald just ran for Buena Park City Council. Hernandez has shown real skills as a campaign manager. This is a good group.
I don’t have strong feelings about the final two seats: I found the statements of Barlow, Gonzales, and Langenbacher to be a bit above the rest, but you can read them (navigate to AD-65 statements) and come to your own conclusions.
Females (including Self-Identified)
Flores is the only one of the “self-identified as female” candidates who lacks a candidate statement, so I’m not supporting her.
Rule #1: You Have to Vote for Mirvette
That’s just the way it is. She is hated by the anonymous trolls, because they can see that she’s a powerful, competent, Muslim woman and apparently that drives them bonkers. She’s also an up-and-coming party leader and will be a welcome addition to the E-Board, which requires her getting elected.
So we pick six out of the revised list, which is:
Allison Guzman, Barbara Nelson, Bobbi Lee Smart, Josephine Flores, Mirvette Judeh (EB), Patricia Tutor, Rebecca Kovacs-Stein, Sunny Youngsun Park, Susan Sonne.
Park is a new Buena Park Councilmember, but I don’t think that she has the heft to ensure an appointment. Besides, she’s as progressive and grassroots as her competition. Yes, she does have “the sign thing” — but the voters elected her anyway and I highly doubt that the OCDA is going to jail her or anything. If people want to oppose her on that basis, it’s up to them, but I wouldn’t. She also brings CDP some useful and badly needed ties to the Korean community.
Of the others:
- Guzman is an educator fighting for education. SQS would like her
- Nelson is an influential advocate for women, particularly in politics
- Smart is trained in sociology and has a strong sense of class issues (yay!)
- Tutor endorses a nice list of progressive issues, but less about herself
- Kovacs-Stein is a notable county advocate for the homeless
- Sonne’s statement is very good — informative about herself and the issues
I think that Tutor and Guzman are a step behind in strong competition. Either would be fine.
Recommendations:
Men:
Definitely Ian Macdonald, Joese Hernandez, Jose Trinidad Castañeda, Luis Flores, and Rashad Al-Dabbagh. AND VERN ADDS LANGENBACHER.
Two one from among Benjamin Gonzalez, Eric Barlow, and Harry Langenbacher. (Or leave two spots blank, in case PLEO-appointment types Zahra and Traut win anyway.)
VERN HERE. VOTE LANGENBACHER FOR SURE – A great activist that Greg doesn’t know.
Women:
Vote for Mirvette Judeh (also E-Board), Barbara Nelson, Bobbi Lee Smart, Rebecca Kovacs-Stein, Sunny Youngsun Park, and Susan Sonne
Then, either Allison Guzman or Patricia Tutor for the final seat.
(You have no idea, AD-65, how easy you have it compared to the other five districts! Read them and see!)
Questions for the candidates, comments about the candidates, and comments by the candidates are all welcome!
[E-Board] Mirvette Judeh ✔
[Party Delegate]
Rebecca Kovacs-Stein ✔
Barbara Nelson ✔
Mirvitte Judeh ✔
Susan Sonne ✔
Harry Langenbacher ✔
Rashad Al-Dabbagh ✔
Jose Trinidad Castañeda ✔
Ahmed Zahra ✔
MacDonald, Traut, Gonzalez and Flores are all outstanding and YOUNG individuals who are both aiming on making a change both in their community and the party itself. Four of my votes are for them…and so should yours!
I’m trying to verify your identity as a real person, but I think that I might need a middle initial…. 😉
Well, McKnezie, at least we did what we could for Ian. Do you have any sense of what went wrong? Was there a slate with these winners on it?
Yes there was a slate, Mirvette’s slate, and most of the winners were on it.
GREG AND MARK – it’s AHMAD, not AHMED.
Duly changed. He should still be appointed by SQS or someone rather than edging out someone like Harry Langenbacher, whom I’ve recently heard is a great activist.
Ditto and ditto. Except it might not be SQS, last I heard their relationship was pretty strained.
That’s why I want it to be SQS. Good guidance.
Behold the power of the Orange Juice – we got our pal Harry Langenbacher on even though he wasn’t on a slate!
Results, in order of votes:
MEN. Ahmad, Jose TC, Joese, Luis, Rashad, Harry, Connor.
WOMEN. Mirvette, Susan, Bobbi, Rebecca, Sunny, Patty Tutor, Allison.
Really good results.
Anyone have exact vote totals? They’re informative!
Here’s the whole top seven for each, from Donovan. NOTE that we really want to know who finished #8 and #9 as well, as they are the alternates who are asked to take over if someone becomes ineligible. (After #9, nobody is eligible to step into the vacant spot, at least based on their spot on the list. I don’t know whether or how the vacancy is then filled at all.)
Non-Female
Ahmad Zahra, Jose Trinidad Casteneda, Joese Hernandez, Rashad Al-Dabbagh, Connor Traut,
Benjamin Gonzalez,Harry Langenbacher,[NOTE – this list is incorrect and in the wrong order – Vern.]
Among males, we had wanted Ian Macdonald, Joese Hernandez, Jose Trinidad Castañeda, Luis Flores, Rashad Al-Dabbagh, Harry Langenbacher, and either Benjamin Gonzalez or Eric Barlow.
Electing Flores wasn’t that important to me, but I’m really saddened that we got Traut rather than McDonald. That’s a PERFECT example of what should not happen. Traut was a sure bet to get an appointed spot; McDonald is not.
Female
Among females, we had wanted:
Mirvette Judeh (also E-Board), Barbara Nelson, Bobbi Lee Smart, Rebecca Kovacs-Stein, Sunny Youngsun Park, and Susan Sonne
Elected were: Mirvette Judeh, Susan Sonne, Rebecca Kovacs-Stein, Sunny Youngsun Park, Bobbi Lee Smart, Patricia Tutor, and Allison Guzman
I’m really surprised about Barbara Nelson losing. Did she pull out of the race? I would expect her to get appointed somewhere.
Mirvette for E-Board, of course, is right and just.
Sigh, vote totals, while I wait to hear from the other districts….
MEN
X Ahmad Zahra 88
X Jose Trinidad Castaneda III 87
X Joesé Gloria 79
X Louis Flores 78
X Rashad Al-Dabbagh 74
X Harry Langenbacher 69
X Connor Traut 68
Benjamin Gonzalez 65
Ian McDonald 57
WOMEN
Mark Richard Daniels
1 hr
E-Board
(One Candidate Filled)
X Mirvette Judeh
65th ADEM (Female)
X Mirvette Judeh 108
X Susan Sonne. 101
X Bobbi Lee Smart 96
X Rebecca Kovacs-Stein 81
X Sunny Youngsun Park 80
X Patricia Tutor 61
X Allison Guzman 55
Josephine Flores 37
Barbara Nelson 31
Thanks to Mark Daniels for typing it out
Now I hear that due to RECORD TURNOUT, the other three districts are still counting.
AD 68 – 526 votes (up from 150 or so last time)
AD 74 – 800+
AD 73 – 900+
That’s what happens in a Blue Tsunami County!
Connor texts me: “Ian Macdonald will be appointed by SQS. I expect Benji Gonzalez will be appointed by an elected as well…”
Good for Connor. If he helped with that, I salute him for that.
Hey Greg – I know you don’t control what ads appear here – but maybe try to stop ads from ‘Judicial Watch’ to ‘End Illegal Immigration’ running here – it links to this – https://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/poll/demand-secure-border-now/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=20190110_Judicial-35565_google&utm_content=Judicial-35565&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk7zwjNOT4AIVKAytBh0BKgbLEAEYASAAEgIjFvD_BwE
Can’t do, that sounds like a paid google ad. They come at random, but kind of based on the topic of whatever story.
Sometimes a politician I don’t like will pay for google ads, and I’ll write a story totally criticizing them, and that causes google to put one of their ads on top or bottom.
Don’t click on Judicial Watch ads!
It is regrettable, Joe, though as Vern points out below, if you live by the Google Ads you die by the Google Ads.. But: I can suggest some partial countermeasure.
Would you like to write us a story kicking the crap out of Judicial Watch, which we’ll promote on Facebook, and promoting other organizations that work in opposition to it? I think that Vern would join me in being VERY happy to bite the hands that is feeding us a there few particular crumbs.