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Do – Martinez – Bui
This post has been delayed because I couldn’t figure out how to end it. I still can’t quite figure it out, but I’m giving up. It’s not due to a lack of inspiration, but to the fact that it presents a problem for which there is no easy or good solution — especially if, as both major parties (but Republicans especially, this time) want to be “politically correct. Maybe you can help me out in comments.
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I had planned on attending last month’s DPOC meeting a couple of weeks back, but wasn’t able to do so for reasons announced to the local political blogosphere by the Liberal OC’s distended rectum known as “Pinky”:
Hey Greg. Hope that kidney stone hurt like hell
(And Chmielewski let that one in! No surprise there, of course. Note, we’re using Chumley’s real name here through the primary, as he is a candidate for DPOC office and deserves a certain measure of respect — from which our pre-election publication of “Pinky’s Greatest Hits” may detract a bit.)
Anyway: thanks, Trumpfinger, it certainly did! It felt like someone was hammering my left testicle on an anvil. There’s no way that you could possibly understand! But I was recovered by that Wednesday.
And so we move on to the main story from that meeting, to quote directly from Derek Humphrey’s press release for Michele Martinez:
The Democratic Party of Orange County (DPOC) voted overwhelmingly to endorse Santa Ana City Councilmember Michele Martinez’s campaign for Orange County Supervisor at Monday night’s general membership meeting.
Had I been there, I’d have added my vote in her favor. Yes, I’m still pissed at her ruining Julio Perez’s chance to run one-on-one against now-Assemblyman Tom Daly — who was just in the news today for having failed to support the Democrats big push for a phased-in $15/hour minimum wage. (Thanks, Tom! You make criticizing you so easy!) But, just as Tefere Gebre did at the time, I blame that more on the serpentine seducer Jose Solorio than on Martinez herself. And I’m not enamored of her being part of the Melahat Rafiei stable of candidates, but if you want to get the big “Business Democrat” money these days, that seems to be the way to get a chance to do it. (Not necessarily “to do it”; just to get the chance.) And, despite what her detractors (some of whom will likely be speaking up below) say, she’s plenty bright and surely has been better seasoned from her time leading organizations like NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected Officials and SCAG, the Southern California Association of Governments. So, sure — I’ll support her.
What I really loved from the press release, though, was this quote from a press release from DPOC Chairman Henry Vandermeir:
Democrats can count on Michele Martinez to fight for the values and priorities of our party. As a local City Councilwoman and regional leader, she has proven herself to be a responsive and effective advocate for the issues that matter most to Orange County families. Michele represents the best hope that our party has had in a number of years to win a seat on the Board of Supervisors, and we encourage all Democrats to vote for her. We plan to make this campaign one of our highest priorities as we head toward the Primary Election.
Well, unless that “number of years” of “1,” this statement indicates that Martinez gives us Dems a better chance of winning the First District than Lou Correa did in his special election against Andrew Do and two other Vietnamese candidates a year ago.
That race, which had no incumbent (the spot is now held by Do), was supposed to be a “gimme” for Correa — and my belief is that Correa probably won a fair count. But the count was not likely fair: I heard lots of first- and second-hand reports from people suggesting voter intimidation at the polling booths and absentee ballot fraud, in which absentee ballots were filled out on behalf of people who didn’t necessarily even know that they had received them.
As usual in OC politics, where personal safety wins out over ethics most of the time, people did not want to go on the record. First, they were afraid of now-State Senator Janet Nguyen — this is not conjecture on my part, as I asked people to go onto the record and this was their reply. Second, what would have been the point? These were not “ballot counting” issues; they would not show up in a recount (as Correa did for a time pursue), but only in a active and expensive court case. Neither Correa nor the other party with presumable standing — the DPOC itself — chose to pursue these reports of corruption. (“Forget it, Jake: It’s Little Saigon.”)
As it happens, I think that Vandermeir is probably correct in his assessment, despite Do being the incumbent, for three reasons. First, the one he’d probably cite is that this is a Presidential election year, where Dems might be expected to have a better advantage than in a special election. Second, as I hope Henry knows, the scuttlebutt is that Andrew Do and Janet Nguyen reportedly had a falling out not long after his election, which is why she encouraged Garden Grove Councilman Phat Bui to run for the seat.
The third reason is speculative: it represents something that I hope, rather than know, is true.
Michele, last fall, lectures a skeptical Los Amigos on the importance of having “one of us” (i.e. Lou Correa) represent a latino district. Vern differs with Greg on his characterization of her as “bright.”
It may be that Martinez will just fight harder than Correa did if it looks like fraud took place either in collecting and returning absentee ballots, or at the polls.
That is: I think that Martinez simply has more guts than Lou Correa does.
I presume, though I don’t know, that Martinez will make the runoff. At that point, either (1) Do makes the runoff because he’s the incumbent or (2) Bui makes the runoff because the rumor is true that he really does have Janet Nguyen’s support. Either way, it would not be surprising if some shenanigans went on to achieve one or other result — although it would be surprising if the loser (between Do and Bui) spilled the beans over it.
Martinez has a clear interest in the race — and a clear interest in making sure that whatever shady dealings may be going on in June do not go on in November. And the best way to do that is to ensure that everything gets watched very closely IN JUNE. That — especially addressing absentee ballot fraud — would take a lot of work ahead of time, including probably getting clearance to ask voters who turn in their forms early if they remember voting and to follow up with absentee voters who turned in their forms late after the fact. It would be a dry run for November.
Orange County has a kind of political schizophrenia about chronic reports of fraud within the Vietnamese community. On the one hand, many people believe that it is happening. (The specific concern seems to be that absentee ballots are being ordered on behalf of people, filled out for them, and returned for them. It’s a scam that more commonly comes up in discussions of votes by those in nursing homes.) But then our Orange Countians sort of chuckle at it, in a “boys will be boys” sort of way. And some of the chuckling is nervous, as in an “I don’t want to be accused of being racist” way. In other words, we’re up against political correctness. Lots of people seem to think that something hunky may be going on, but no one wants to be the one to say. Lou totally crapped out when he reached his moment of truth.
To me, that has it absolutely backwards. If lots of people think that Vietnamese politicians — and, to my knowledge, other Asian groups like Koreans, Filipinos, Chinese, Persians, and Arabs are not widely suspected of this sort of chicanery — are breaking election laws, AND IF THEY REALLY AREN’T, then such a situation is intolerable.
It’s the position that “well, sure they’re cheating, but they’re Vietnamese immigrants, what do you expect?” that is the racist one.
We Democrats have had our own adventures — some continuing — with minority groups associated with our party being accused of voter fraud: it’s come up with Latinos, Blacks, Jews, Irish, Italians, etc. Republicans have had their previous accusations with Cubans, Jews, and various white ethnics.
Everyone is better off if minority communities (as well as, it should be unnecessary to add, majority communities) elect people who will not stand for fraud within their own communities. My creed is that there are good and bad actors within every race, every religion, every ethnicity, every ideology, and every political party. We as a society want to limit ourselves to only GOOD actors gaining political control from every group from furthest right to furthest left, from most libertarian to most statist.
Of course, any such effort has to deal with a significant problem: one doesn’t want to become the equivalent of Curt Pringle posting poll guards to intimidate Latino voters. This is the sort of situation that requires sensitivity and tact. There is not only nothing wrong with Vietnamese casting lots of votes in elections, but there is everything right about it. There’s everything right if, of course, they are actually seeking their own ballots, casting their own votes, signing their own names, and returning them without someone altering them.
This is where I’d love to be able to present a great idea about how to proceed — but I don’t have one. I presume that if there were a sting operation of some kind, it would have to come from some branch of government — we don’t want to be Curt Pringle posting poll guards, after all — and the (excellent) Registrar of Voters office does not to my knowledge have the capacity to do field investigation at all, let alone undercover investigation. The District Attorney is almost totally worthless. It is doubtful that either the State (AG? Secretary of State? FPPC?) could do anything here, or that the federal government would get involved.
So that means that there’s the possibility of no deterrence against such actions at all — perhaps for the foreseeable future — as well as no clearing the air of widely suspected improprieties in Little Saigon. That’s not good. I see only two other ways that anything could be done: one would be a bigger media investigation than I’d expect to find … and the other is that some people who know what’s going on would have to speak up. (Our lines are open!)
The splits in the Vietnamese community — especially that between Do and Janet/Bui — may give some hope that some people might step forward to try to ensure a clean election this June (although perhaps not in November.) But then again — this is Orange County, and the one thing that those of all ethnicities seem to agree upon is: “don’t stick your neck out, don’t get involved.” It’s not much of a civic motto, but at least we come by it dishonestly.
And some of us are PISSED that Julio and Terre ruined Michelle’s chance at going head to head with Daly .
I chatted with Michele during that time, at the Santora Arts Building. She was nice, but it didn’t seem like she presented a big contrast with Daly ideologically. She spoke glowingly of “political insiders” who had explained to her how politics works. She wouldn’t name names but it sounded like Solorio.
The big pearl of wisdom she wished to impart was that instead of FIGHTING big business special interests (as Julio would have done) it was more productive to make deals and compromises with them. I yawned. She gave me a ride home.
She also told me that she doesn’t speak Spanish but is “interested to learn MORE about the hispanic culture!” and her hard-to-place accent was from growing up playing basketball with black guys in San Antonio Texas.
Later that year some ne’er-do-well “stoled” her bicycle. Remember that?
How come you guys find many of the OC Dem women not bright? So a light conversation, a chat, gave you a definitive opinion of this person.
Somewhere I read that SQS’s opinion on the $15 wage increase was dismissed because she is a teacher….and not a businesswoman…
“How come you guys find many of the OC Dem women not bright?”
For starters, many of them are not.
Because….they don’t fit our definition of what is bright?
And many women of course are bright. Politics though seems to draw a lot of ones that get ahead with cuteness.
Brilliant = Debbie Cook, Jill Hardy. Jan Flory on the OCWD. Sandy freakin Genis and Katrina Foley. Diana Lee Carey. I could probably go on.
Cuteness? and guys can be charming but it is called charismatic…..
Somehow the Martinez, Sanchez, Nguyen, Chings, and others are not in your list.
“You guys”?
To quote the inimitable Mr. Zenger- (a quote I’m astounded is not here)
” Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! “
“So a light conversation, a chat, gave you a definitive opinion of this person.”
And no, not just that conversation, I’ve seen many SA council meetings, and heard her speak elsewhere.
Vern differs with Greg on his characterization of her as “bright.”
Y’all think Lo is bright, too.
Anyhoo, here is proof of the link between this Phat Bui character and everybody’s fave crooked politician, Janet Nguyen – some dopey bill to allow people to sell rice cakes for 24 hours, un-refrigerated. Apparently, for centuries the Vietnamese folks have been leaving these gooey-looking morsels out for days and days on end with no ill effect.
So who shows up in Sacto to praise the author of this critical legislation and actually testify?
http://ocpoliticsblog.com/2016/04/07/bui-testifies-for-nguyens-bill-to-allow-rice-cakes-to-be-sold-at-room-temp-for-up-to-24-hrs/
My guess is that Nguyen and Do have had another falling out after he used her slimy machine to get in office in the first place.
Sounds like the one bill that many-termed assemblyman Van Tran was known for, according to his hapless acolyte Joe Dovinh – the one allowing New Year’s Pastry, or Bánh chưng, to be sold past its safe date. Remember the hilarious interview?
http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2010/04/meet-joe-dovinh-phus-democratic-challenger/
Look again: Vern didn’t address Michele’s brightness. I don’t think I’ve ever addresses LoGal’s.
I’m fine with Janet’s bill, although I would like to see consumption confined to adults. Hopefully no one dies. And if someone does die, it will be a very instructive lesson for everyone about food safety. (That’s why I don’t want minors eating them — they shouldn’t be left to weigh the risks.)
Your guess was already in the post.
Actually yes Greg, Look at the second picture I added to your post, with a caption.
Aha. I’m reading these from the comments page.
If there are chronic reports of fraud within the Vietnamese community, it is not a delicate but a serious allegation. The VOC would’ve had investigated already.
I don’t know if VOC ever investigated. Do you? And, much as I love them, their investigating or not is not definitive. This would be a tough story to crack.
Michelle doesn’t speak Spanish?
Michele is a lot of things but bright is not one of them. Listening to her speak at Council and Committee meetings can be excruciating. She does not speak Spanish yet it appears English is her second language 😉 However, she is a tough fighter. Tougher than Correa for sure.
BTW, remember the minor political thing with that AMCAL deal last year? Sarmiento’s favoritism and the Housing Manager getting fired and all that. Where the City ended up making an even worst deal.
First, after the press last year starting with this blog, the City reversed course and issued an RFP for the $5 million in housing money (after firing the Housing Manager who objected to gifting it to AMCAL). Meta Housing after a competitive process was awarded that money back in November.
Meanwhile the City, over the airport’s objections, approved a rental project that will place 1200 households 500-600 ft below the flight path and took responsibility for any issues with noise or health or accidents. That developer paid a $9 million inclusionary housing fee…
…to AMCAL which at the April 19th CC meeting and May 3rd CC meeting received all approvals needed to proceed with project. It includes a guaranteed $2 million profit with another $1 million in section 8 rental subsidies. So $10 million will now be going to AMCAL for just 69 units of affordable housing. a market rate developer could build 69 units for less than that.
Meanwhile the City faces issues with substandard housing and hundreds of homeless at the Civic Center but thinks it is okay to place 1200 households under a flight path while gifting an affordable developer $10 million (again without competition). This is just like the 80’s when the City built hundreds of multifamily units only to see them turn immediately into slums.
To see how it is done the right way…the City of Temecula issued an Affordable Housing RFP for $12 million plus city properties and expects to receive dozens of proposals, and will get hundreds of units out of the deal. The City of Santa Ana will get 69 units and place these residents in, Sarmiento’s own words, a “high crime area”. Studies show that environment and location affect a family more than low income families coming in from the outside affect a neighborhood. But I doubt someone like Sarmiento has ever read a housing study or made policy based on facts. Otherwise, they would have put that $10 million up for competitive bid like better managed city’s do. Heck, Temecula’s downtown is even more interesting than Santa Ana’s these days.
Just thought you would like the update on last year’s story (which also included Kelly Reenders leaving as Executive Director of Community Development after just 18 months for a lower position – Economic Development Manager – at City of Dana Point. Staff just keeps churning away over there).
Janet’s the same. Viets can’t understand her Vietnamese, the rest of us can barely understand her English. Neither woman appears to have a first language somehow; or perhaps it is yet undiscovered.
Yeah but Janet Nguyen actually got into UCI and allegedly graduated.
Speaking of Lou’s toughness…
I appreciate that he admitted once (at Los Amigos I think) that he used to run from the police as a young latino in Anaheim; you’d think that would make him less of a hardcore law-and-order enthusiast nowadays, since he knows how easy it is for a young man to get on certain cops’ to-catch-and-beat-up list.
But then the other day, when he ran away from us protesters, ducking back in to the DA’s Victims Rally after promising to help us get in, we started thinking:
Isn’t “Correa,” after all, related to the Spanish verb correr, to run? Yo corro. Tú corres. Ellos corren. Lou Correa.
El Corredor!
Michele has an accent from urban Houston, as I recall, with a large amount of African-American influence. Don’t judge people by their accents. It’s not just rude, it’s also often inaccurate.
No real opinion here on the latter part of your comment, but I’m glad that you got to put it all into writing.