A friend of mine ran into former Assemblyman Ken Maddox last night at a birthday party, and Maddox affirmed something I posted several weeks ago. He is indeed thinking of running for the OC Board of Supervisors, if Lou Correa moves on to the State Senate in the upcoming general election.
Maddox famously backed the ill-fated OC PLA, after Curt Pringle told him to. He was later trashed by John Campbell in a race for the State Senate. I enjoyed helping Campbell win – I even participated in a cable commercial for Campbell, in which I played the role of a construction company employee (ironically I now work for a general contractor). I’m still waiting for my SAG card! When Campbell moved on to the US House of Representatives, the Senate seat ended up in Tom Harman’s hands.
Other Republicans who are considering running for Correa’s seat include Carlos “Bubba Gump” Bustamante, Orange Juice blogger Tim Whitacre (according to the Liberal OC blog) and Garden Grove Councilwoman Janet Nguyen – who used to work for Maddox. This time she might finish him off, as she has the best odds of winning this seat for the Republicans, in my humble opinion. That will especially hold true if Nguyen is the only woman in the race.
Whitacre would be an interesting candidate because he has a very high name ID and lots of support from area Democrats. You know the OC GOP machine would not be happy if he entered the race!
Democrats who are thought to be considering running include Tom Umberg, Joe Dunn and Nguyen’s peer on the Garden Grove City Council, Mark Rosen. I have also heard Tom Daly’s name mentioned. I don’t see Dunn risking another loss to an Asian candidate, which leaves us with Umberg, Rosen and Daly. Of those possible candidates, Rosen is already working on his campaign, and Umberg is still upset that he lost in the June primary to Lou Correa. Here’s a question – would Correa even back Umberg for the OC Board of Supervisors? Or would Daly really move into the district? I would think he rather wait for Norby’s seat on the OC BOS to open up.
I hope Maddox runs. I would love to help beat him again!
Art this stuff is very interesting—
I’m thinking Dunn has a great chance of winning, given Dunn commits early to this seat he scares off others Dems from running.
I’m thinking Rosen will not tarnish his allegience to the Dem party by running against Dunn. Besides Rosen was appointed to his council seat and his imcubency status is what got him re-elected.
As for Tom Daly I’m thinking he’s content with his current office and like Dunn is waiting to see what Loretta does in 2008. Besides, this is a winner take all election so the last things any democratic candidate wants to do is piss off the party by splintering their similar bases.
Umberg would have to rent another apartment in Santa Ana to run and I’m thinking this election is too close to his last defeat.
This brings us to the Republicans.
If Maddox runs against Dunn. Maddox Losses.
If Nguyen runs against Dunn.
Nguyen losses.
If Bustamante runs against Dunn. Bustamante loses.
If Whitacre get the endorsement of the OC Repubican Party and runs againts Dunn. Whitacre wins.
I’m thinking given the type of election and the fact that the Dem party has an obvious successful plan in winning elections in the central OC Dems keep this seat if Dunn wants it.
10:57,
Great feedback! Luckily for Dunn, I don’t see the OC GOP backing Tim anytime soon. They have put all their eggs in Bubba Gump’s basket. Ironically, he might be the weakest of the GOP candidates I mentioned.
So the question then is will Dunn run? And if he does, and Nguyen manages to beat him, will he completely lose it, having already lost to Chiang? Does Dunn remain relevant in a California where minorities are coming to the forefront, politically speaking?
Yay, Ken Maddox!
Who is “Bubba Gump” Bustamante? Sounds like a character from an Adam Sandler movie.
Maddox carried that area when he ran against Campbell. He also got more votes than Sanchez in the same area. That being said, I don’t think Maddox has any interest in the race.
It would be intersetsing to see Maddox and Nguyen running against eachother in this race. All the skeletons will come out of the closet with these two lol.
I wish people would stop thinking about Tom Umberg running for this seat. His political career is over! I hope that he does not become the Democratic version of Bob Dornan.
South County Know It All says..
Wait, Doesnt Maddox live in Dana Point? Wait, isn’t he that city’s lobbiest? Wait doesnt Maddox run campaigns? Wait, isn’t Maddox running a liberal democrats campaign in South County? Wait, is Maddox still a Republican. It is sad to see someone fall on such hard financial times that he is willing to sell out. What happened to the nice guy, cop Ken Maddox who used to be a conservative Republican? Janet Nguyen would clean is broken clock.
Run, Joe, run!
I really hope that Joe Dunn’s actually considering running for County Supe… all that I had heard before pointed otherwise.
As to Art’s previous comment, I think Joe Dunn has proven himself to be a reliable ally of ALL minority communities in Central OC, and he’d easily win over any of the possible GOP candidates. (Yeah, I do agree with Art on one thing: Whitacre probably won’t get the GOP blessing to run here… too bad, it’s THEIR loss!)
I’m thinking a Dunn campaign for the 1st Supervior should not worry about his June loss. There is no evidence that he is less popular in the central County than previous elections.
“Maddox carried that area when he ran against Campbell. He also got more votes than Sanchez in the same area.”
I thinking the area that your talking is about a precinct or two, near south coast plaza, probably a few hundred votes(if any). Hardly, a good indication of Maddox ability to carry the 1st District.
“They have put all their eggs in Bubba Gump’s basket”
Art, that’s the party’s fault, again. If the party expects that Hispanic Democrats(from SA,GG, and West) will go with Bustamonte they will have a surprise after election day.
The unions in coordination with the democrats candidate will virtually deminish the Hispanic advantage that Bustamonte expects.
Westminster is in the first district.
Jubal,
But wouldn’t it be great if Tim was elected to the BOS? I can only imagine the fun he would have with Carona!
That aside, I do think the machine needs to rethink their commitment to “Bubba Gump” Bustamante. Janet Nguyen has a far greater chance of success in the first district.
Jubal-
“Oh, I’m sure they’re quaking in their boots. A special squad of black helicopter-borne Men-In-Blakc may have to be dispatched to deal with it. “
If Jubal only knew that the Black hawk helicopter was just dispatced from the Las Vegas airport with mobster Tony “The Tiger” Maggiano, two ladies of the nights and the Sheriff. I’m not thinking their boots weren’t shaking, maybe knocking.
Art-
Since this would be a top vote-getter election, Dunn wins.
While Janet gets Vietnamese voters, regardless of political affiliation, she has been ineffective council person.
She passed on voting for or against the enhanced beneits for GG cops, she was undecided on the casino(wanting the people to decide), and violent crime in Garden Grove has gone up during her tenure.
Unlike her brief bid for the Senate, I’m thinking her #1 issue illegal immigration goes in the closet for the pension/benefits issues that Moorlach is bringing with his campaign.
anon 12:17:
Janet ran for the Assembly, not the Senate.
Maddox is a sell out. He is also in BK.
anon 4:26 AM
“Janet ran for the Assembly, not the Senate.”
We are both wrong. Didn’t she do on of those exploretory committe things.
C’mon Joe, say it will be so. Say you will run for Supervisor and put the rest of these wannabe candidates out of their misery.
Ken Maddox is yesterdays news. He had his shot and blew it. Union sell out who takes charity from Diane Harky in the manner of the Dana Point lobby contract.
I’m starting the draft Art campaign. Art how about stepping up?