[Orange] County Supervisor Janet Nguyen is 50 days late so far in complying with a county oridinace [sic] on campaign donations. Some time after the Feb. 6 election, she accepted three contributions in excess of the county's $1,500 limit and put them into a legal trust fund set up by her lawyer. Turns out county code prohibits such trust funds, so the money was moved out of there and the excess donations, they say, were returned.
New desk for reception foyer of Supervisor John Moorlach's office: $8,990, New conference table for Supervisor Pat Bates' office: $3,375, Track lighting with dimmer switch for Supervisor Janet Nguyen's office: $1,300, 90 high-end, "high-concept" Herman Miller office chairs for Treasurer Chriss Street: almost $50,000, 52-inch wall-mounted flat-screen television for EACH NEW SUPERVISOR'S personal office: $4,000 (each) (Street's flat-screen TV cost $7,800). Seeing complete hypocrisy from all these supposed "fiscally conservative" Republicans featured in the Orange County edition of The Los Angeles Times yesterday: PRICELESS!
Follow me after the flip to see just how much taxpayer money our "fiscal conservatives" in Orange County are wasting on their "extreme makeover"...
Today at the Board of Supervisors meeting, the supes debated something that should be fairly noncontroversial -- developing a policy so that sick people who use medical marijuana can be issued ID cards. Really, in a supposedly free society, is it that much to ask that people who can benefit from a little medical pot can use it without getting arrested? I stopped by the meeting for a short time, enough to hear the end of DA Tony Rackauckas' lame-brained argument for ignoring Prop. 215. I also heard members of the public argue forcefully for allowing tragically sick people to get a little relief. [...]
[The OC Board of Supervisors] voted 3-2 against Norby's [original] proposal (Moorlach and Norby were on the losing end), but that Bill Campbell offered a compromise and that measure passed 4-1. Only Janet Nguyen voted "no." [on both measures.] This is not a good sign if one has hopes of Nguyen being a supporter of limited and sensible government.
Steven Greenhut is pissed. The super hardcore libertarian-minded OC Register editorialist lambastes Supervisor Janet Nguyen on Orange Punch for voting against even considering issuing medical marijuana ID cards at yesterday's Board meeting.
So is Janet Nguyen not a "true conservative"? Is she not libertarian-minded? Does she hate sick, dying patients? Or does she just have something else in mind? Follow me after the flip for more on this sordid tale of political posturing, heated controversy, and gravely ill people in the balance...
UPDATE: I just spoke to the media folks over at the CalChamber, who called in response to my phone call. Apparently, the wires between them, the Capitol Morning Report, and umm...me, got crossed somehow. I can now confirm that this was a mistake, and the CalChamber has not endorsed Ms. Nguyen over Van Tran. Well, I guess that Janet will likely be running for re-election. Too bad, that would have been fun.
CalChamber reports endorsing Republican Janet Nguyen for the AD 68 Primary Election. Nguyen is a Garden Grove City Council member and seeks to replace fellow Republican Van Tran who is not termed out until 2010.
It looks like she has no intention of sticking around long in OC's First District, and would rather pursue her fight with Van Tran. Now, I can't say that I'm particularly opposed to that fight. It's just, well, that was quick. It could be an interesting race, Janet Nguyen vs. Van Tran, a lot of interesting relationships there. But, I'll leave that to others to go into.
OK, I just noticed this on Total Buzz... But I'm not really surprised:
Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, the Consigliere Schroeder (see also: Darth Vader, Darth Schroeder, or any Godfather reference) says Trung Nguyen will appeal the judge's decision this week that made Janet Nguyen the winner of the First District supes seat.
Mike told me that Team Trung is waiting for the transcripts from the trial in Judge Michael Brenner's court and they will then file with the state court of appeals. Perhaps the higher court will agree with the "Schroederian view" of the state recount law and maybe Team Janet shouldn't get too comfortable up on the Fifth Floor...
OK, sorry about my ranting. It's just that I live here, and I am sick and tired of these GOP Machine scumbags whine and complain about "gaming the system" when they themselves have used some VERYILLEGALTACTICS to "game the system". Unlike many of their possible victims, these GOP Machine scumbags got their day in court... And the judge ruled that there was no "gaming". Team Trung need to let it go, and allow for Central Orange County to move on.
I hope they realize that soon, and that I can stop ranting about all this crap soon.
OK, I know that I shouldn't be doing this...
But I just can't help it! Total Buzz made me do it! ; )
Got a press release today saying that Assemblyman Van Tran, R-Garden Grove, will be in Santa Ana on Friday to promote the Earned Income Tax Credit -- an income-tax benefit for the poor. Among those on hand will be Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante -- who was among those running for supervisor this year against Tran's candidate, Trung Nguyen -- and the Legal Aid Society of Orange County, which is often finds Democrats more sympathetic to their causes. Former U.S. Treasurer and currently -- take a breath -- California State and Consumer Services Agency Secretary Rosario Marin will also be there.
(Clearly, Andrew and I don't agree on this one. I think that democracy is worth fighting for, even if you don't like the people involved. To me, accuracy is more important than finality. - promoted by Brian Leubitz)
The board is complete. The healing process begins. The unity starts now.
Mr. Nguyen ran a good race, but he should put an end to any more legal action. The county should wish Ms. Nguyen the best as she becomes the first Vietnamese-American county supervisor.
Who cares what the democrat lawyers who work for Fabian Nunez and Don Perata think? It has no force of law. The campaign is over. Schroeder needs to stand down. He is only hurting the GOP's chances of keeping this seat next year.
So why is "Been Around" on OC Blog angry at the "democrat lawyers"? Well, it looks like those "democrat lawyers who work for Fabian Nunez and Don Perata" have just contradicted Judge Brenner's ruling in favor of Janet Nguyen by opining that the County Registrar was required to use a voter verified paper trail (VVPAT) in conducting the full recount. So have these "democrat lawyers" now given new life to Trung's insane effort to overturn the election results? Follow me after the flip for more...
(Just 588 days until Janet's next election, when a Democrat will take back the (non-partisan) seat.- Brian
OK, here's what everyone else is saying... Ryan Gene has a lot so say about Janet and her new job at Orange Juice. And Total Buzz has more on Janet and the GOPers who may want to be her friends again. Stay tuned for more! : ) - promoted by atdleft)
Today, something happened. What we've all been waiting for finally happened. Janet Nguyen was FINALLY sworn in as County Supervisor. THANK GAWD I FINALLY HAVE A SUPERVISOR!! But how long will this last? Will she really be able to follow through on her promise to "unite the district" and "represent everyone"?
(Hooray, more video from yesterday! Jubal/Matt Cunningham now has VIDEO of the Judge's decision, along with VIDEO of Janet Nguyen's press conference, over at OC Blog. : ) - promoted by atdleft)
Ah, finally! No need to revise the agenda...
Janet Nguyen really will be sworn in today as the newest OC Supervisor. The wait is over... It's just too bad that the drama may not be over quite yet. (From OC Register)
Janet Nguyen will be sworn in tomorrow at the weekly Board of Supervisors meeting. Trung Nguyen ducked the many reporters at the courthouse, but his lawyer, Michael Schroeder, said he expected to file an appeal of the judge's decision.
"The judge's ruling was not a surprise," Schroeder said. "We have to take a look at the judge's ruling but I anticipate we will file an appeal."
Janet Nguyen, 30, now becomes the first Asian-American and the youngest ever to sit on the board. She told reporters she was excited, honored and relieved.
"I'm ready - I've been ready - to represent the people of the First District," she said.
Trung Nguyen refused to concede the election and didn't congratulate Janet Nguyen, who left the courthouse and promptly walked over to the county Hall of Administration. There, she was congratulated by Supervisors John Moorlach, Chris Norby and Pat Bates.
"She'll be voting tomorrow," Norby said.
Ah, if only Darth Schroeder, Lord Van Tran, and their loyal lackey Trung can just GIVE IT UP, and LET JANET SERVE FOR GAWD SAKE!! But whatever, they'll likely lose again with the appeal. I'm just relieved that this whole damn thing is coming to a close, whether they like it or not.
Republican Councilwoman Janet Nguyen of Garden Grove won the February 6th - Special Election for the 1st Supervisorial District Vacancy. The seat was previously held by Democrat Lou Correa.
Nguyen will join Republicans John Moorlach, Bill Campbell, Chris Norby and Pat Bates on the Board of Supervisors thus creating an all-Republican governing board not seen in Orange County since 2004. Nguyen also becomes the first elected Vietnamese-American Supervisor in Orange County history.
"On behalf of the Republican Party of Orange County, I would like to congratulate Supervisor-Elect Nguyen in her hard-fought victory," said County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh. "I commend the hard work of all Republican candidates that worked night and day to increase Republican registration and turnout."
"Our member communication efforts during this special election played a critical role in the effort to elect a Republican Supervisor. This Supervisorial win will help continue our positive trend in Central Orange County," said Chairman Baugh.
OK, so I guess now that Trung's done, the GOPers are getting back into good terms with Janet. I guess we'll see if all those nasty wounds will begin to heal.
This just in from Peggy Lowe at OC Register'sTotal Buzz news blog:
Could be a big day here at All-Recount-All-The-Time HQ....As Norberto reported on Friday, Team Janet's lead has slipped to just three votes as Team Trung persuaded Judge Michael Brenner to overrule ROV Neal Kelley on four ballots. Brenner has also promised a decision today. That means, of course, that we might have a swearing-in ceremony at the Board of Supes meeting tomorrow.
OK, so Crybaby Trung begged and groveled enough for the judge to reverse one of the Registrar's rulings. So now, Janet Nguyen only leads by THREE VOTES...
So will this paper-thin lead be enough to survive today's legal action...
And will the other four supervisors FINALLY ACT, and seat the Nguyen who won?
Stay tuned for more as the Great OC Political Psychodrama (hopefully) FINALLY COMES TO A CLOSE...
Here are some wild and wonderful stories from behind The Orange Curtain that you just have to see to believe:
- Irvine protesters hold out hope for peace. There may have been only 80 antiwar activists holding their candles for peace last night, but they certainly made an impact. Martin Wisckol has more in today's Register.
- How have the Vietnamese-Americans assimilated... Or have they? That's been a question that all of us behind The Orange Curtain have asked since the special election debacle began to unfold last month. Guest bloggers Ralph E. Shaffer and Walter P. Coombs have some interesting answers at The Liberal OC. And finally...
A win for Registrar of Voters today...just got back from court, where Judge Michael Brenner denied a motion from Team Trung to see 178,385 documents from the First District election.
Brenner said it appeared that the subpoenas covered "everything having to do with this election," that the suit sought "another recount," and he didn't want to start over. "I have difficulty with the idea that that would be appropriate," he said. Brenner sided with Deputy County Counsel Leon Page's argument that Team Trung had already seen those documents twice -- during the recount and during ballot challenge periods.
Today's action is also, of course, a win for Janet Nguyen's team, as the decision certainly limits what Team Trung can do during the trial.
So at least, the judge is not buying into Team Trung's flimsy case...
Let's just hope that this just hastens the end of this increasingly ridiculously long special election.
- Anaheim's Disney Dilemma... Now in Court! The Plaintiff: Disney, who insists that housing in the resort district would not fit in with the hotels and tourist venues planned for the area. The Defendant: The City of Anaheim, who insists that the city has the right to determine what fits in the resort district... And now, residential developer SunCal wants to help pay Anaheim's legal fees. Stay tuned as the Disney Dilemma erupts in court!
- No Longer Lost in Translation. The City of Santa Ana is finally giving its 45% of primarily Spanish-speaking residents a chance to better participate in city council meetings by offering simultaneous translation of its City Council meetings in Spanish. Es muy bien, porque mas personas en Santa Ana pueden participar en los negocios de su ciudad. : )
And finally...
- Curt. It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words... So I guess it shouldn't surprise me that Mike Lawson's one picture at The Liberal OC says more about the wild and crazy special election fallout than all of my updates combined. Way to go, Mike, you artistic genius. ; )
The declaration of a winner in the Feb. 6 supervisor's race was indeed postponed once again by the Board of Supervisors... Chairman Chris Norby assured those in attendance that Supervisor Nguyen would be sworn in once and for all on March 27.
So as expected, the Board of Supervisors decides to keep Central County's Supe seat vacant. Now while I usually do not agree with hard-right Supervisor Chris Norby, I do agree with his statement that "Three months is a long, long time for one-fifth of the county to be without representation."
- CUSD to Cease Paying for Ex-Superintendent's Legal Bills... So why would they continue to pay the legal bills for this guy, when he has causedso much grief for all the parents, students, and staff at the school district?
- "We Met, But Not for Sex." Defendant Jeff Nielsen took the stand in his own defense in his child molestation trial, testifying that he never had sex with a 14 year-old Westminster boy. He tried to explain away an email asking the boy to meet him for "something quick" as a quick lunch date, even thought the email never mentioned food. Hmmm... This sounds fishy to me...
And finally...
- Mike Lawson Is Famous!! OK, maybe not beyond the county line... But still, I am thrilled to see him featured in this month's "BLADE" magazine for making Drinking Liberally-OC happen every Thursday. Now go ahead, and give Mike some love at The Liberal OC for all the hard work that he does!
H/T to Mike Lawson at 
