Nelson, Hunt, and the AOCDS

Why am I happy that Bill Hunt received the AOCDS (Association of Orange County Sheriff Deputies) endorsement and that Shawn Nelson didn’t bother to ask?

Bill Hunt, 2010 candidate for OC Sheriff, said he did not feel the OCGOP chairman Scott Baugh’s mandate was reasonable. Then he sought the endorsement and received it.  That is consistency.

Shawn Nelson, 2010 candidate to fill 4th District OC Supervisor seat vacated by Chris Norby, declined to so much as interview for the endorsement citing conflict with the OCGOP proclamation.  That is also consistency.

I support both candidates for the same reasons. They both feel strong in their convictions and are not easily moved to change their stance on positions.  In other words, they are consistent.

Specifically regarding the AOCDS endorsements, Hunt is running to be sheriff and this I the sheriff’s union. Logically he should seek their support. Nelson, running for the OC Board of Supervisors does not need their support in the same manner as Hunt but it would be good to have. However, Nelson is also running for the OC GOP Central Committee and as such should play by party rules. Hunt, though active in politics, is not a member of the OCGOP Central Committee nor does it appear he wants to be. Hunt is a law man and Nelson is a politician. Don’t fight it, just realize that they are fight two different battles.

Further, Baugh’s hypocritical proclamation aside, all candidates should seek all possible endorsements without pandering to the endorser's cause. As much as the public employee pensions have hurt us, we must remember that the Board of Supervisors approved the pensions and that he labor unions are supposed to fight for every penny and every bit of compensation that they can get; that is their job. The Board should have done a better job negotiating the pensions and salaries down. We must also bear in mind that the Board’s decision was based in part by data provided by actuaries and that this pension tsunami is everyone’s fault.

Chairman Scott Baugh's Call to Action from Informed Patriots on Vimeo.

Shawn Nelson Holds True To His Word - No Public Employee Union Support

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                      CONTACT: Dave Gilliard

March 30, 2010                                                                (916) 626-6804

Shawn Nelson Declines to Seek

Public Employee Union Support

FULLERTON, CA - - Councilman Shawn Nelson, a candidate for Supervisor in the 4th district, announced this morning that he will not seek the endorsement of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs or of any other public employee union. The AOCDS is interviewing candidates today and invited Nelson and the other candidates in the 4th district to be interviewed.


"I hope to receive the support of the Orange County Republican Party and as such I do not believe their stance this year on public employee union support allows me to ask for both their support and that of the unions," said Nelson.

"While some candidates might try to game the system by asking for both endorsements and rely on some technical interpretation to justify their actions, that is not my style," said Nelson. "I will not mislead the party or the Sheriffs Union."

"Public safety has been and will remain my number one priority for as long as I am given the privilege of serving the taxpayers," said Nelson. "As a Supervisor, I will work to make sure public safety receives the funding they need to protect our neighborhoods. At the same time, I will strive to find a resolution to the public employee pension crisis that threatens to bankrupt local governments."

Shawn Nelson is a conservative City Councilman and the leading candidate in the 4th district, where he enjoys the strong support of former Supervisor and current Assemblyman Chris Norby as well as Representative Ed Royce, Senator Mimi Walters, Supervisors John Moorlach and Pat Bates, and the Lincoln Club of Orange County.
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Perhaps my favorite quote from above is this: "...I do not believe their stance this year on public employee union support..." What could possibly make Nelson think that the OCGOP might change their stance next year? Maybe the fact that the OCGOP is losing what little credibility it may have had after, among other things, they failed to boycott or even denounce the California Republican Party's annual convention which was sponsored by at least two major public employee unions.

For what it's worth, which isn't much, I'm glad Shawn Nelson held true to his word.

Big Changes at the California Republican Assembly - What Does It Mean?

But will the change in leadership at the state level mean changes at the local level? I have not had a very good experience with the CRA, but I still think that there is hope. Most of my bad experience with the CRA is similar to that of other non-profit organizations that have a structure and very little support for membership. Based on comments and email exchanges from blogger Sgt. York (Aaron Park), I think CRA is going to have to endure some significant growing and restructuring pains to overcome the years of hypocritical and completely dead-wrong leadership that I have seen. I hope they get it together quickly and return to their core values to help with the 2012 election.

Hutchens: You Should Vote for One of My Opponents

“If you want more guns and CCWs, then you should vote for one of my opponents,” like Bill Hunt!

Regarding the AOCDS endorsement of Hunt, Appointed Sheriff Hutchens said, “They haven’t picked a winner in 10 years, so let’s see how it goes.” I hate to break this to the Sheriff, but neither did the Board of Supervisors when they picked her to take over the OC Sheriff's Department! Since the beginning of her reign she has investigated all of the wrong people and denied OC residents their constitutional rights. Poor decision making on her part will lead OC closer to a second bankruptcy with the law suits that are sure to flood her office from residents harmed by her early release policy for inmates and her belief that her powers supersede the U.S. Constitution.

Remember: "If you want more guns and CCWs, then you should vote for one of my opponents." - Appointed Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, March 29, 2010