I was surprised as anyone when I read Larry Gilbert’s article about the possible OC write-in candidates for the general election coming up on Nov. 7 – there was Otto Bade, listed as a candidate for the 34th State Senate District. I called Bade yesterday, and finally got through to him today, after we played a round of phone tag.
First, let’s take a look at Bade’s history in Santa Ana. He owns and operates a restaurant at the Santa Ana Zoo, the famous La Perla. He also is a caterer through that enterprise. In recent months he has become a realtor, working for Seven Gables Real Estate. In fact I saw one of his signs in my neighborhood recently, in north Santa Ana. He tells me that business is good – in fact he is spending more time on real estate and less on his restaurant business.
Bade ran against Tom Umberg in 2004, for the 69th Assembly District. Umberg was a tough opponent, but Bade was a well-connected Latino candidate, running in a Latino-leaning district, and Bade had a decent resume. He completed an AA degree in administration of justice at Santa Ana College, and he worked as a police officer in Garden Grove and Santa Ana. He also served in Vietnam, as a Marine. However he was undone by another Marine – Tim Whitacre.
Whitacre came out against Bade when some Clinton-like problems emerged in Bade’s personal life. It got ugly – very quickly. Bade raised over $70,000, according to the OC Weekly, but Umberg raised a lot more. And Whitacre ran around all over town bad-mouthing Bade. That was something that Bade never forgot. This year, his final act as a member of the OC GOP Central Committee was to show up and vote to endorse Mike Carona for Sheriff – and sure enough his was the deciding vote. Bade finally got revenge on Whitacre, who was running the campaign of Carona’s opponent, the since-suspended Lt. Bill Hunt.
So why is Bade running against Daucher? He told me today that he likes Correa, and that he feels that the 34th should be represented by a Latino. I stood up for Daucher, but his mind was made up. I heard from other sources that apparently Bruce Matthias might be involved. Matthias ran against Daucher in 2000, for the 72nd Assembly District. It was his bad luck to be running during the short-lived Open Primary. Democrats joined moderate Republicans in electing Daucher. Apparently Matthias held a grudge against Daucher.
Several sources saw Matthias with Bade at the OC Voter Registrar’s office yesterday. Did Matthias recruit Bade? I asked Bade, but he claimed not to know Matthias. Who knows? Maybe they just met – but there could certainly be a conspiracy in the works between them.
What about Correa? Is this an October surprise from his campaign? All I know is that I have spoken to Bade many times over the last year, when taking my three-year-old to the zoo. Bade always has spoken highly of Correa. Thus, I am not overly surprised about all of this, but I am disappointed. This move will utterly finish Bade in the OC GOP. He may as well re-register as a Democrat on November 8. That is too bad – he has been involved in Republican politics for years. I’ll miss him, despite the baggage.
Is Bade’s write-in campaign a threat to Daucher? I don’t think so – unless the unions follow up with a large expenditure and actually tell voters about him. But, in a race as tight as this one, Bade could indeed cost Daucher the election – and that would not be something I would welcome. Correa may be a Latino – but he is a liberal who will reliably vote for bigger government and more handouts. And he supported Carona. No thanks! Good luck Otto – I hope you find some happiness in the Democrat Party. But I also hope your gambit fails and Daucher prevails on November 7.
Bade doesn’t know Matthias? Puh-lease! Matthias was the campaign fundraiser for Bade. I can only guess that this will get ugly for Bade. I doubt the Democrats are hungry enough to take the Republican’s leftovers. Perhaps Bade can join the Green Party like Nativo.
Art
Okay, I may have jumped the gun. Sorry
I assumed that since you posted this message within the last few hours that you were watching the comments come in. I also assumed that as the author you have the sole ability to approve or disapprove comments.(worth considering)
Everybody attacks people like myself for remaining anonymous or not making up a bogus name yet the people who approve the comments remain anonymous. What’s the difference?)
Let’ find out who approved that message and kick them off this blog. If you allow this garbage, you might as well write off this blog as a place wher you can discuss or debate issues. Moreover, that person is not following the rules that prompted you to install the comment moderation tool.
Jose Moreno
Hey Art. Did you know this about Scott Baugh’s past. Apparently back in 1996, Mr. Baugh was indicted on four felony and something like eighteen misdemeanor counts for falsifying campaign reports. After a few years of litigation, Baugh settled with the Fair Political Practices Commission and paid his fines.
8:51,
Yes, I am aware of that. He was led astray by others in our party. He has since been an exemplary legislator, consultant and chairman of our party. I was peeved at him during the Carona-Hunt battle, but I have had a chance to work closely with Baugh all summer and I can attest to the fact that he is a pleasure to work with. I think he is doing a fine job for the OC GOP.
“I doubt the Democrats are hungry enough to take the Republican’s leftovers. Perhaps Bade can join the Green Party like Nativo.”
Thanks, SA92703. We actually have real leaders in our party… Real leaders such as Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, and Jose Solorio. We have folks who are actually working to build up our party here… And we frankly don’t want or need Republican wackos who can’t get along with fellow GOPers.
Now Art, feel free to send Otto Bade, Carlos Bustamante, and your other “unwanteds” to the Greenies…
I know they’re ALWAYS looking for new members. (Hey, they took Nativo!) But please, we’re too busy trying to focus on real issues to deal with unwanted GOPers.
I still have my Otto yard sign, all I need to do is cover 69th assembly with “write in”
Art, Maybe every few post can be a trast post, so people can get it out of their system and keep the threads clean.
Just a moment, back in 2004 the entire Republican Community was backing Otto Bade for the Republican Nomination. Bade won the nomination without attending any debates, addressing any issues. We effectively crushed his opponent in that primary election. Are we all saying that we were wrong in supporting Bade? Who brought Bade before the GOP? Who was his Consultant? We can’t all be wrong regarding Bade, could we?
Anonymous 2:00 you are wrong to assume that the “entire” republican community was supportive of Bade. Ask George Argyros how he feels about Bade. There is some bad history between those two, Otto won a lawsuit against Argyros some years ago. This could be the reason Bruce Matthias was not able to raise much money for Bade. A couple of phone calls from Argyros and the money dried up. Of course it wasn’t until after after the 2004 election that Bade came clean with this information he forgot to metion. Bade did attend at least one forum and when he stated he was for appealing Prop 13, he was quickly advised to never again attend a candidate forum. I believe it was Tim Whitacre who was his campaign consultant, at least initially, and then Tim turned on Bade and supported Rueben Ross. Art’s encounter with Bade, who denied knowing Bruce Matthias, explains it all. Bade is not the most stellar person.
How does Otto Bade plan on winning as a write-in candidate when he can’t even win with his name on a ballot?