With just a few weeks to go, no one can guess who will win the battle over the 72nd Assembly District. Since the seat was vacated amidst multiple sex scandals involving Mike DuVall, Republican candidates Chris Norby and Linda Ackerman have been running hard. Based on the mailers I've received, Ackerman clearly has a lot of money to burn and some deep Sacramento pockets. She also has mastered the art of deceptive negative campaigning. Norby, on the other hand has been relatively quiet. There are the usual yard signs but not much else which is typical of Norby. He isn't the showman that Ackerman is nor does he have the deep pockets of questionable contributors. There is a Democratic candidate, MacMurray, who seems to have also secured funding because his signs are littering every road in northern Orange County. His agenda, based on a robo-call I received, indicates he is all about spending money on education. Been there, done that... The real front runners, Norby and Ackerman, have a long history in Fullerton. Norby was raised in Fullerton and has continuously lived across the street from Fullerton Community College. Ackerman lived in Fullerton for about 19 years before moving to Irvine for about 10 more years. It wasn't until DuVall resigned that she "moved back" to Fullerton.
In a townhall-style phone call by her campaign, a resident asked about her "carpetbagging". She talked in a big circle about how she raised her kids in Fullerton, she worships in Fullerton, she has doctors in Fullerton... Yeah, that didn't really explain her sudden relocation back to Fullerton. There are several issues I have with casting my vote for her. I'm sure she is a nice woman who did a great job supporting her husband's ambitions and raising her kids. My concern is her lack of experience holding an elected office. In contrast, Norby has been in politics for a long time, maybe 20 years. Is that too long and does that mean he is a career politician? Before answering that we need to consider an important fact. As a Fullerton City Council member he received a small stipend for his time spent at council meetings. To my knowledge, and I suppose it's time I research it, Fullerton does not pay a salary to the council memebers; they work as elected volunteers. It wasn't until his election to the County Board of Supervisors that he received a paycheck for his time. So, although he may be a "lifer" with respect to politics, he is certainly not a career politician. Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, he was a teacher in Brea. That was his career while politics and local government were his hobby. Looking at his voting record as a County Supervisor, it is pretty clear that he is a fiscal conservative. I have heard his associates say during an open meeting that they will discuss their individual concerns later. Norby promptly advised the other members that they can not have secret or private discussions on matter for consideration. He then explains his position and gives thoughtful consideration to the input from the other participants. I'm sure he hasn't always voted in the manner I would like but that's to be expected. I'm sure this race will continue to heat up and eventually gain more media attention. So far, the only media outlet to question these candidates was KCAL9/KCBS2 News Central. The reporter, Dave Lopez, was trying to track down another one of DuVall's alleged girlfriends. It was terribly entertaining watching him chasing her around the Summet House restaurant, a 5-star-type of eatery. We'll see...
With just a few weeks to go, no one can guess who will win the battle over the 72nd Assembly District. Since the seat was vacated amidst multiple sex scandals involving Mike DuVall, Republican candidates Chris Norby and Linda Ackerman have been running hard. Based on the mailers I've received, Ackerman clearly has a lot of money to burn and some deep Sacramento pockets. She also has mastered the art of deceptive negative campaigning. Norby, on the other hand has been relatively quiet. There are the usual yard signs but not much else which is typical of Norby. He isn't the showman that Ackerman is nor does he have the deep pockets of questionable contributors. There is a Democratic candidate, MacMurray, who seems to have also secured funding because his signs are littering every road in northern Orange County. His agenda, based on a robo-call I received, indicates he is all about spending money on education. Been there, done that... The real front runners, Norby and Ackerman, have a long history in Fullerton. Norby was raised in Fullerton and has continuously lived across the street from Fullerton Community College. Ackerman lived in Fullerton for about 19 years before moving to Irvine for about 10 more years. It wasn't until DuVall resigned that she "moved back" to Fullerton. 
In a townhall-style phone call by her campaign, a resident asked about her "carpetbagging". She talked in a big circle about how she raised her kids in Fullerton, she worships in Fullerton, she has doctors in Fullerton... Yeah, that didn't really explain her sudden relocation back to Fullerton. There are several issues I have with casting my vote for her. I'm sure she is a nice woman who did a great job supporting her husband's ambitions and raising her kids. My concern is her lack of experience holding an elected office. In contrast, Norby has been in politics for a long time, maybe 20 years. Is that too long and does that mean he is a career politician? Before answering that we need to consider an important fact. As a Fullerton City Council member he received a small stipend for his time spent at council meetings. To my knowledge, and I suppose it's time I research it, Fullerton does not pay a salary to the council memebers; they work as elected volunteers. It wasn't until his election to the County Board of Supervisors that he received a paycheck for his time. So, although he may be a "lifer" with respect to politics, he is certainly not a career politician. Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, he was a teacher in Brea. That was his career while politics and local government were his hobby. Looking at his voting record as a County Supervisor, it is pretty clear that he is a fiscal conservative. I have heard his associates say during an open meeting that they will discuss their individual concerns later. Norby promptly advised the other members that they can not have secret or private discussions on matter for consideration. He then explains his position and gives thoughtful consideration to the input from the other participants. I'm sure he hasn't always voted in the manner I would like but that's to be expected. I'm sure this race will continue to heat up and eventually gain more media attention. So far, the only media outlet to question these candidates was KCAL9/KCBS2 News Central. The reporter, Dave Lopez, was trying to track down another one of DuVall's alleged girlfriends. It was terribly entertaining watching him chasing her around the Summet House restaurant, a 5-star-type of eatery. We'll see... 
