A New Democratic Club, Meeting Tomorrow, Plans to Turn Costa Mesa Blue

By
Greg Diamond
– July 29, 2013Posted in: "The OC", Fresh Juice

The Costa Mesa Democratic Club is having a kickoff party tomorrow night (Tuesday July 30) from 6:30 to 9:30 at Creative Outlet Studios, 2035 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa 92627.  (That’s behind the Carpet Land.)  Here is a Facebook event link.

The club will meet at the studios on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  Membership is limited to registered Democrats (who need not reside in the city) who pay $20 dues.

Costa Mesa's Triangle Center rendered in relentless blue

Please forgive us for this overly literal interpretation of the notion of “turning Costa Mesa blue.”

The Daily Pilot quotes the club’s new President, Amber Davidson, as saying that “the group is intended to lend a strong, dynamic democratic voice to the political landscape here in our city.”  Friend of the Blog Greg Ridge is among the club’s officers.  And heck yes, they have a Facebook page!

Costa Mesa was prominent in the news during the 2011-2012 election cycle, during which time the City Council majority led by Jim Righeimer tried to cancel contracts with the city’s unions and force through a charter revision while voters were unsuspecting, nefarious plans foiled by various forms of bumbling.  In the end, Righeimer and his two allies narrowly maintained their majority — over two more reform-minded members of their party — despite losing the charter fight at the polls and losing a series of expensive court battles.  The city has been quieter this term.

Beyond the completely Republican City Council, Costa Mesa has as Republican representatives in Congress (Dana Rohrabacher), the State Senate (Mimi Walters), Assembly (Allan Mansoor), and County Supervisor (John Moorlach).  The partisan composition of its population, however, is not quite so skewed.  As of today, Costa Mesa has just under 50,000 registered voters.  Of these, about 39.5% (19,251) are registered Republicans, 33.3% (15,159) are registered Democrats, and 24.5% (12,257) express no party preference.

All in all, Costa Mesa Democrats have a long way to go — but at this point, they’re on track!

About Greg Diamond

Somewhat verbose attorney, semi-disabled and semi-retired, residing in northwest Brea. Occasionally ran for office against jerks who otherwise would have gonr unopposed. Got 45% of the vote against Bob Huff for State Senate in 2012; Josh Newman then won the seat in 2016. In 2014 became the first attorney to challenge OCDA Tony Rackauckas since 2002; Todd Spitzer then won that seat in 2018. Every time he's run against some rotten incumbent, the *next* person to challenge them wins! He's OK with that. Corrupt party hacks hate him. He's OK with that too. He does advise some local campaigns informally and (so far) without compensation. (If that last bit changes, he will declare the interest.) His daughter is a professional campaign treasurer. He doesn't usually know whom she and her firm represent. Whether they do so never influences his endorsements or coverage. (He does have his own strong opinions.) But when he does check campaign finance forms, he is often happily surprised to learn that good candidates he respects often DO hire her firm. (Maybe bad ones are scared off by his relationship with her, but they needn't be.)