This week we have looked at the possible Republican candidates for Lou Correa’s seat on the OC Board of Supervisors, and we also scrutinized Mark Rosen, the Garden Grove City Councilman who is the leading Democratic candidate. I realize that all of this conjecture is premature, given that Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher is working hard to take out Correa in their race for the 34th Senate District, however, where would we be without conjecture?
So, now let’s take a look at the leading Republican candidate – although she has not announced for the seat, unlike her colleage Mark Rosen. I am talking about Janet Nguyen, who like Rosen serves on the Garden Grove City Council. She has a lot going for her, including:
- Over $100,000 in her campaign account.
- A great ability to raise money – she raised a large amount of money in short time in her abbreviated Assembly race.
- Her strength in the Vietnamese community, which gives her a natural voter base.
- She is the 1st woman elected to the G.G. City Council in 35 years.
- She is the only female candidate being considered so far.
- She has not voted affirmatively on eminent domain, although in fairness to Rosen, she has not had to vote on eminent domain.
- Nguyen has experience at the county level, having worked for a former Supervisor.
Nguyen has been a loyal Republican, whereas her main GOP competitor, Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante, only recently converted to the GOP in 2004. If Bustamante runs, all he will do is split the GOP vote with Nguyen, and guarantee a Democratic victory. Bustamante is far too green for this race. Let’s see what he is able to accomplish as the OC GOP Deputy Chair for the 69th Assembly District. If he actually helps other Republicans to win in Central OC, then we can talk to him about running for Correa’s seat. Honestly, I am not sure he could even be reelected to his council seat. Of course, Jubal over at OC Blog is already waxing poetic about Bustamante’s chances.
In related news, our friends at OC Blog also think that Bruce Broadwater is the Democrat to beat in this race, but I don’t see how that could be true. Rosen has already shown that he can count Republicans amongst his supporters. Broadwater is yesterday’s news. I don’t see him getting any traction in this race. If our Democratic friends are in their right minds, they will show Broadwater the door and get behind Rosen. If current trends continue, he will also be able to count on a lot of GOP support.
The only other Democrat who might be able to contend for Correa’s seat is outgoing Santa Ana Councilman Mike Garcia. His stock has skyrocketed since Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido forced him out of the mayoral contest. Latinos love a martyr! Garcia would run circles around Bustamante.
Janet rocks!
* I had lunch with several folks in Little Saigon yesterday and this topic came up. Ask Janet Nguyen and Mark Rosen how they voted on this issue…
IN BRIEF / ORANGE COUNTY / GARDEN GROVE
Ruling Allows Buddhists to Continue Worshiping
From Times Staff Reports
August 31, 2006
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that a Vietnamese Buddhist temple may hold religious services in a Chapman Avenue building despite the city’s objections over traffic and noise.
U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney asked both sides to forge an agreement allowing the Buddhists, for now, to worship there.
This month the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Quan Am Temple, alleging city leaders had violated its constitutional rights by barring assemblies at the building.
The city rejected the congregation’s request to build a temple there after neighbors complained.
Art:
I think Janet is great.
And try re-reading the posts to which you linked. Then you might be able to accurately represent what I wrote.
Janet would be a GREAT choice for Republicans but why would any self respecting Republican want a County Bureaucrat like Bustamonte in an elected position that is supposed to be a check against the swarms of bureaucrats they are charged with overseeing? Don
Hmmm… Mike Garcia for Supervisor… That actually sounds like a great idea, Art!
Oh wait, Mark Rosen’s already our candidate, and he’s a good guy too! Though I’d love for Garcia to get “sweet revenge” by winning the Supe seat, I don’t want the Dem vote split! How can we take advantage of the split GOPer vote if our side is split as well?
Perhaps Garcia can run for Supe next year… IF Rosen changes his mind and drops out.
“The only other Democrat who might be able to contend for Correa’s seat is outgoing Santa Ana Councilman Mike Garcia. His stock has skyrocketed since Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido forced him out of the mayoral contest. Latinos love a martyr! Garcia would run circles around Bustamante.”
And since Carlos Bustamante and Jose Solorio and Harvey DeLaTorre
were the ones who did Miguel Pulido’s dirty work and threatened Mr.Garcia out of the race, he might want to get sweet revenge
“The only other Democrat who might be able to contend for Correa’s seat is outgoing Santa Ana Councilman Mike Garcia. His stock has skyrocketed since Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido forced him out of the mayoral contest. Latinos love a martyr! Garcia would run circles around Bustamante.”
Come back to reality all you anti-Pulido dreamers out there…Just how exactly does a guy who is OUT OF OFFICE like Mikey will be in a month raise the $300,000-$500,000 he would need to run for Supe.? Give me a break..he would have a hard time winning a school board seat. Mike is done. Bye Bye Mikey.
Two things:
1. “The Walls Have Ears” is deaf! There was no dirty work done, and especially not by Jose Solorio or Harvey De La Torre. Carlos is too stupid to do dirty work, unless it involves shrimp boating.
2. As for Mike Garcia being done, his viability is far more than any other proposed candidate in the Supervisor’s race, with the exception of Joe Dunn. If Mike wanted to, he would be re-elected Ward 6’s Councilmember this November with no real competion whatsoever. The decision not to run was Mike’s alone and for great reasons: family and career. Those who are bashing Mike probably do not have either going for them.
Janet Nguyen vs. Joe Dunn would be an awesome match up. Let’s get it on!
1. “The Walls Have Ears” is deaf! There was no dirty work done, and especially not by Jose Solorio or Harvey De La Torre. Carlos is too stupid to do dirty work, unless it involves shrimp boating.
Really?
Then you must not have heard about the meeting where Jose Solorio and Carlos Bustamante gave Mike Garcia the old heave ho.
Some of that meeting might have even made it onto a tape for all to enjoy.And I’ve been told by City Hall employees that Carlos personally escorted Harvey DeLa Torre into the clerks office to pickup his papers to run for the seat that they tossed Mike out of.
2. As for Mike Garcia being done, his viability is far more than any other proposed candidate in the Supervisor’s race, with the exception of Joe Dunn. If Mike wanted to, he would be re-elected Ward 6’s Councilmember this November with no real competion whatsoever. The decision not to run was Mike’s alone and for great reasons: family and career. Those who are bashing Mike probably do not have either going for them.
HELLO?
Mr Garcia had a fund raiser on Tuesday Eve and told people he was running for Mayor.On Wed he pulled papers.He then got all his paperwork in order and all his signatures as needed.By Friday he just decided to “spend more time with family”????????
Godfather Pulido decided it was time to get rid of what was in his way.Godfather Pulido ordered Solorio and Bustamante to remind Mr Garcia who really rules this city.
Ream and Pulido enlisted guns Dan Young and Rob Richardson to persuade Garcia not to run against Miguel. Look for Richardson to toss his beanie into the mayoral race in 08.
Garcia offered a choice in the mayoral race.I hope the voters remember that Pulido denied us the opportunity to vote on mayoral term limits, put the kabash on Garcia’s run for mayor and reelection in Ward 6
I’m uncertain about the comment regarding Garcia’s stock skyrocketing and Latino’s loving a martyr, but I do know AMERICANS love an underdog.
So all it takes to keep Garcia from running for office is a call from a schoolboard member or an Irvine Company exec? I wonder how many votes he made were influenced by a mere phone call. The guy has no as they South of the border, “Huevos”!
#12 .. keep on grandstanding. That’s what you seem to get off on.