City of Orange Political Machine

Well, What Now

2006-12-05T23:27:00.000-08:00

I attended the "Oath of Office" celebration tonight at Orange City Hall to witness Carolyn Cavecche, Mark Murphy and newcomer Denis Bilodeau swear to serve the City of Orange and its residents.

So, I took a month off from blogging, in the next week I will present my new blog that will track and follow local politics and what occurs in Orange.

Now I can promise I will be fair or too onesided, but I will keep the blog up to date.

So tune in again soon...

I am VOTING the following way...

2006-11-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

The title of this post really covers most of it.

We all have been getting lots of mailers and fliers in and around town, So I thought I would do my own.

I didn't realize how much people have been wondering about me, so here you go.

My name is Jessica Schaffer (yup, like the street), I have lived in Orange my entire life and I just turned 25 years old (10-23-06) I am also a "grad" of Chapman. I consider myself a Republican and conservative.

So here is "Jessica's Voter Guide" and in this one...there are no paid ad's.

Governor...Arnold Schwarzenegger(not a great choice, he abandoned us, however the others are worse).

Lt. Governor...Tom McClintock (He should be governor).

Secretary of State...Bruce McPherson

State Controller... **Undecided**

State Treasure...Claude Parish

Attorney General...Chuck Poochigian

Insurance Commissioner...Steve Poizner(I met Steve, and he is solid...You Cruz we loss).
Board if Equalization...Michelle Steel

US Senate...Michael S. Metti (Libertarian)

Congress...Philip H. Inman (Libertarian) or Ed Royce(Republican) Not sure yet

State Senate (Dist 34) Nobody (I don't live in that area, but its worth a mention).

State Assembly
....................60th...Bob Huff
....................71st...Todd Spitzer
....................72nd...Michael Duvall

Rancho Santiago Community College...(Area 2) Nobody

Orange Unified School District
......Trustee Area 1...Alexandra Deligianni
......Trustee Area 4...No Selection
......Trustee Area 5...Kimberlee Nichols
......Trustee Area 7...Rick Ledesma

City of Orange Mayor:

I am completely undecided. I know that I am not happy with Carolyn Cavecche and her actions on the council. When I watch, all she does is try to upstage her counterparts and is more worried about looking good then doing something. Her actions have been very transparent. She has done little to nothing on illegal immigrants loitering on the East Chapman.

But then we have the other choice, Mike Alvarez, who is a total mess. This guy will switch back and forth depending on the direction of the public opinion winds. He lacks leadership abilities and did little nothing as a prior to councilman. Also, the recent discovery of his family owned "Boarding House" has really turned me off towards him.

I hate to say it, but maybe the best choice is 1 of the 2 outsiders. Either Juan Pablo or Andrea Simmons-England.

Orange City Council:

This has been a very nasty and ugly race. The leading candidates have acted with disgrace and it is truly a shame.

However, I am positive that Carol Rudat is not a resident of Orange, and with that know..she is a NO.

So the question, who will I vote as a City Councilmember...

1. Denis Bilodeau
2. Darren Smith

Why not Mark Murphy you may ask, again, the last few years there has been little movement to control illegal immigrants and loitering in the city. This is a huge issue and the incumbents need to be held responsible for the lack of action in the City.

So there you have my choices, like them or not......

Interesting conversation earlier tonight with a candidate

2006-10-30T20:09:00.000-08:00

Earlier this evening I was speaking with a candidate for Orange City Council. We spoke about a number of items and the one thing that was clear was the slim chance of winning. However, it was interesting to hear the thoughts on the other candidates and the debates surrounding others.

He did ask me to keep his name private, and I will honor that, mainly bescause he was very upfront and he is afraid of attacks from others.

Question: What doo you think your chances are of winning on November 7th?

Answer: I don't stand a chance, if I finish at 5th, I would be very happy. I think that I am a relative unknown. I hope people think about it and realize I have lived here in Orange for a long time and I dedicated to a progressive city.

Question: Your thoughts on the current City Council?

Answer: I have stated a number of times, that they more or less are doing a good job. I am not happy with every thing, but they all are doing a solid job and letting people know they care. I think that the Council is addressing issues and trying to find soluations.

Question: You said addressing issues. What is 1 issue, that needs to be really tackled?

Answer: The illegal alien boarding homes. I think the City of Orange, has done good in doing a sweep of day-workers. However, they only did that one time. Also, the "Boarding House" ordianc is effective, but the City needs more code enforcement officers to actually do the "follow up".

Question: It has been said, that the day laborer issue and boarding house has taken to long to come about, your thoughts.

Answer: Well, I think that when the City Council, let go of the former City Manager (Dave Rudat), that is when things started to happen. I think that the City Council, finally took control of city hall back. I think that Rudat was not willing to do anything towards enforcement.

Question: You mentioned Dave Rudat as a problem. However, his wife Carol is now a candidate for City Council, any thoughts?

Answer: Yes, she is a candidate. A candidate that is evil in every sense of the word. 1st the question of where she lives is a primary question. Her attacks on the current city council is amazing, as again, most of the positive changes took place once they fired her husband. She is attacking people left and right and is rumored to be behind the "Dump Denis" campaign. I also understand that Carol Rudat is a destructive personality. I hope she is unsuccessful, it would be the worst thing for the City. After all, the city is finally running smooth and like a family.

Question: What is "Dump Denis"

Answer: It was a series of signs that popped up over night all over town. It said "watch me spend your money", www.dumpdenis.com, when I went to the website it was an ugly "hit" on Mr. Bilodeau. I think it shows a very low point in Orange Politics, and a 1st time that something like this as every happened. I hope the city will remove these signs, they are uncalled for and are an attack of somebody's name only.

Question: Who are you voting for?

Answer: Well, myself..that was kinda of a funny question.

Question: How about the 2nd vote?

Answer: I will be voting for Denis Bilodeau, I don't think he is the best, but I think he can do the job. I also want to send a message to Carol Rudat, and that message is go back to Newport Beach.

Question: Since you feel your already out of the running, any thoughts on running again?

Answer: I was thinking about running again in 2008, but I like the current council, I think I will wait till 2010 when the seat Murphy will hold will be open by term limits.

***

I thought the most interesting part of the interview was the portion of the conversation about Carol Rudat. There was much more to it, but I printed just a small part. Also, as we talked about Carol rudat, our waitress interupted and asked if that is the lady that is from another city and is trying to "carpetbag", very interesting to hear.

Well, I have already made it clear, that I have decided NOT to vote for Carol Rudat or Jeremy Wayland. I will hope that all of you follow that advice. Rudat is a terrible candidate and should be defeated.

So much has been happening

2006-10-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

The campaigns here in the City of Orange have been extremely interesting. Most people haven't gotten around to start thinking about it, however, I have.

I already know that I am not voting for some, but I still am very undecided.

Who I wont be voting for:

Carol Rudat, who all information points out lives in the City of Newport Beach. Also, recent info on multiple lawsuits she is involved in. Also, she is just plain for of lies. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and I will say, that her double talk of issues is bad news. Would she make a good councilmember, NO. I watch the councilmembers every now and again, and I like what I currently see and I don't want to disrupt that harmony. So again, She is a NO Vote!

Jeremy Wayland, With everything I have read directs me to only one answer. He is a Carol Rudat supporter, which in my books makes him un-electable. Now he has come out in the past few days with a letter of support for Denis Bilodeau, however, for to long he hit at Denis. Which makes me wonder about him, is he that smart or just that naive. So again, He is a NO Vote!

Phil Martinez, Frank Finn, and Robert Douglas, these candidates have published themselves has either heavily supported by unions or are running as Democrats. I have seen nothing from them that instills confidence that they can be good leaders in our City. I also saw them on tv the other night and was only left with one thought. These guys, have no clue. So again, They are NO Vote!

So that leaves me with the following candidates to consider:
Bilodeau
Smith
Murphy
Crain
Caglia
Hinger

As for the Mayor race, I have elimated 2 from possible choices.

Pablo and Simmons-England will NOT e receiving my vote. Just no info available at all.

That leaves me with Mike Alvarez and Carolyn Cavecche, who do I like. NETHIER, however, somehow they will have to get me to vote for them. I truly wish that we had more to choose from.

Carol Rudat and Waylnd a team that won't be getting my vote

2006-10-12T16:15:00.000-07:00

I have seen a lot of dirt and mud via the blogs over the last couple of weeks. With that said and things that I truly believe are true I have made a couple choices. On who I won't be voting for!

Carol Rudat...a last minute candidate running for Orange City Council and wife of former Orange City Manager. It has been prven to my satisfaction that Mrs. Rudat doesn't live in Orange. It also appears to me that she is only running to get even with the current city council who fire her husband. Also found it interesting that her husband was recently fired by the County of Orange, because of Carol Rudat and her "Carpetbagging".

The Next....

Jeremy Wayland...A young candidate that in has been the biggest supporter of Carol Rudat and her game plan for a victory. He is what has been called a "spoiler" his complete campaign has been supported by Rudat as she is the puppet master. It has been great fun to watch Jeremy self-destruct and his campaign to go down in flames.

So there you have it....A couple of candidates that are not going to get my votes.

Carol Rudat votes to be counted

2006-10-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

My God, local elections are fun to watch...

To catch you up to date,

Carol Rudat a candidate for the Orange City Council, and was being accused by many many people as being a "carpetbagger". The facts were very interesting and I found it hard to believe that the candidate lived in Orange. Carol Rudat was being accused of residency in the City of Newport Beach. Other the last 2 weeks the OC register and a number of blogs (oc Blog and orange politicos) had been following the series of events. Those events, a complaint was find with the OC Registar of Voters and was forwarded to the California Secertary of State. More interesting is that OC Registar of Voters boss was the husband of Carol Rudat, Dave Rudat. Dave Rudat was asked by the Orange County CEO, to step down from his position with the County of Orange. Oh yeah, did I mention that Dave Rudat was also the former City Manager for the City of Orange, yup, where Carol Rudat is a candidate for City Council.

See the bigger picture now....But wait it does get better.

So following the complaint with the County and the State, another resident in the City of Orange filed a complaint with the County of Orange Superior Court to have her removed because of voter registeration fruad.

Fast forward past the last couple of days today. Carol Rudat lost in court this morning and was told that her votes would not count because she was unable to prove that she indeed held residency. However, by this afternoon, Rudat and her attorney's were able to reverse the ruling and she will remain on the ballot for now.

Of course the investigation by the State of California continues.

Now, as an undecided voter in the Ciy of Orange, I must admit it is fun to watch, but I think picking on the poor lady was just a bunch of political insiders trying to play games. However, would I vote for Rudat, NO. I would never vote for somebody that has only lived in the city for a couple of months.

If anything out of the court cases has proven is that she indeed only moved back to the City of Orange to run for City Council because her husbad had been fired and she wants revenge.

Ok, that is it. Who will I vote for City Council. I Still don't know.

I don't know who to vote for yet?

2006-09-20T17:40:00.000-07:00

I have no idea who to vote for the 2nd seat. I will vote for Mayor Murphy of course for the 1st seat on the City Council and I am leaning heavily towards Alvarez for Mayor. However, its the 2nd seat I can't decide on.

I have been reading info on a canidate for the City Council (Carol Rudat) that doesn't even live in the City of Orange, WHAT? I thought it was the law? Apparently it does have everybody in a twist. Lots of info on OC Blog and Orange-Politico's blogs.

In watching the candidates at the recent forum. I was interested in a couple of candidates. However, I have learned from other blogs again, that 2 are heavily endorsed candidates from labor unions. That to me is scary and is not good for Orange. So they are out.

I would like to hear more about Bilodeau, but it is almost impossible to find any info on the guy. Also funny, but looking around, it seems that he is the only one out there not advertising himself.

I would also like to meet Darren Smith, he appears to be worth a chance, he too is not really campaigning very hard.

I find it very interesting to follow the races!

I will post again, shortly!

September 11th

2006-09-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

While I dedicated this blog to the orange elections for Mayor, City Council and for the OUSD School Board, i felt compelled to make a statement.

Today is the 5th anniversary of the attacks on our nation. Today, I still have a sense of rage, and disappoint that we the USA the mightest nation in the world, can't bring Bin Laden to justice.

I will never forget those that lost theirs lives on 9-11 and I will never forget those that have died since in the war on terror.

I love this nation and I love our freedoms.

God Bless

Carol Rudat Story, being chased by everybody, WOW

2006-09-07T23:03:00.000-07:00

Orange City Council candidate, Carol Rudat, has been called a "carpetbagger", and a fraud. I have been reading posts and comments asking for everything from a total withdrawal from the race to an investigation by the District Attorney's Office.

I think the best course, is to let the DA's office investigate the whole matter. I do truly believe from reading material on OC Blog, the Orange-Politico's and Greater Orange eBlog, that voter registration fraud has occurred. In statements, in the OC Register she took up residency in her Orange home in July, while her voter registration was filed in April.

Another question has been asked a number of times about ...WHY...why would you move from a wonderful neighborhood in Newport Coast less then 2 blocks from the Ocean and only a few blocks from her real estate business. To basically a run down neighborhood on the outskirts of Old Towne Orange, in a very high density area, where the property owners of the apartments, could care less about their effects on the neighborhood.

Well to the point, I plan to attend the announced City Council Candidates Forum and hope that we can get a real answer?

Council candidates will speak at forum
By COURTNEY BACALSO
The Orange County Register

ORANGE Â Voters can hear from City Council and mayor candidates at a forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.
Each candidate will have an opportunity to make an opening and closing statement as well as answering any questions from the audience and a moderator.
The forum begins at 6 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 300 E. Chapman Ave.
It will also be televised live by Time Warner and will be repeated on the local cable station throughout the months of September and October.

And to the DA's office, Please investigate the matter....The voters demand it!

OH NO, Hand is caught in the cookie jar!!

2006-09-05T19:26:00.000-07:00

**The OC Blog and numerous other blogs I have started reading are all talking about this story, interesting. I guess this makes the choice for City Council down by 1. I won't vote for somebody that has just moved into the City.**

Does Orange Council Candidate Carol Rudat Actually Live In Orange?

Carpetbagging isn't unusual in legislative and congressional races -- central OC used to have a tradition of being represented by legislators who didn't live in their districts.

But Orange City Council candidate Carol Rudat is taking the art of carpetbagging to an entirely new level: the evidence is convincing she doesn't even live in Orange. I first got wind of this this past Friday, and subsequently saw a report on it on Orange Politicos via the Greater Orange eBlog.

A little background is in order. Carol Rudat is the wife of Dave Rudat, a 33-year City of Orange employee who was let go as City Manager last year. He is currently the interim Deputy CEO for the County of Orange.

The Rudats bought a house in Old Towne last year. I have heard from several sources that it is empty. Even the trash cans in alley behind the Rudats' house are empty, while their neighbors are all full. An empty house and empty trash cans are pretty good indications no one is living there.

Voter registration records tell a similar tale. Carol Rudat registered to vote at an Anaheim address in June 1980. This voter registration card dated April 30, 1998 has her registered at a Corona Del Mar address. On January 9, 2001, Mrs. Rudat registered at a new address -- still in Corona Del Mar, just a couple of blocks from the beach. (Plug the address -- 254 Evening Cayon Road, Corona Del Mar, 92625 -- into Windows Live Local and click on "bird's eye view" -- nice neighborhood, but definitely not the City of Orange).

Carol Rudat didn't register to vote in the City of Orange until April 21, 2006 -- just a couple of months before filing to run for Orange City Council.

According to her walk piece, Carol Rudat moved to Orange when she was eleven and went to school in Orange -- but the walk piece doesn't claim she lives in Orange. The Greater Orange eBlog states "Both the Rudats were very active in many Greater Orange community organizations."

That's all well and good -- but if a person wants to be elected to a City Council, that person ought to actually live in the city. It is abundantly clear the Rudats live in Corona Del Mar and not Orange. If Mrs. Rudat wants to be a councilwoman, she should run for Newport Beach City Council.

Why is Carol Rudat running for council in a city she doesn't live in? That's a subject for another post.

Signs..Signs, everywhere are signs!!

2006-09-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know who to vote for yet.

The signs for those running for office have started to appear on the street. So far the list of candidates with signs that I have noticed are as follows:

***Mayor***

1. Mike Alvarez
2. Carolyn Caveeche

***City Council***

1. Carol Rudat
2. Denis Bilodeau
3. Robert Douglas
3. Jeremy Wayland

Who to vote for???

2006-09-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

I was at the Orange Food Fair tonight and saw 2 candidates for Mayor of the City of Orange.

The 1st was Andrea Simmions-England, I was at a beer booth and some other people were talking about it. I guess she actually goes by the name "Andy". She is extremely cute, however, seems way to young for such and important role. I wasn't very impressed in watching her for the couple of minutes I did see her. I hope that I can she some of her handouts and talk with her in the near future.

The 2nd candidate was Carolyn Cavecche. She was working at the Orange County Republican Booth at the fair. I didn't get to really ask her a lot of questions. Again, she seemed very wrapped up into herself. Oh well, maybe I will speak with her in the future as well.

As for City Council Candidates, I saw was Mark Murphy, who was working with Carolyn Cavecche. I guess he is helping her in the race to replace him.

The other city council candidate I talked with and her name is Carol Rudat. She handed my a flier and it had some interesting info in it. I asked her a couple of questions, but the main was...Why do you want to serve as an elected official in the City of Orange? She went around and around on her answer...but I never felt like we got the truth, she was avoiding something for sure.

That is it for now.....

Election watch info...just more info for me.

2006-08-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

I found this on the Greater Orange eblog

eLECTION Watch 2006
a news anaylsis series by Orange Net News /O/N/N/

Official Candidate Statements for Local Races
The ballot statements for the special district candidates are now posted on the Orange County Registrar of Voters website. Below our editorial staff has provided a synopsis and analysis of each statement with a rating system: (X) meaningless; (+) favorable; (-) unfavorable. In comparing the statements, it becomes obvious that Alexia Deligianni and Chris Emami have very similar statements and endorsements which give the appearance of a slate. The direct link to each of the candidate’s statement for the local special district candidates follows each synopsis.

Orange Unified School District
Trustee Area 1:

Alexia Deligianni (Educator)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+)educational background (doctorate and teaching credential)
• (+) “will work to send our tax dollars directly to the classrooms”
• (+) “I promise that my fiscal ideas will put students first”
• (+) “Include music and the arts at all grade levels”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (-) “ensure competitive academic programs and strong student achievement” The phrase “competitive academic programs” is a college and university buzzword used in student recruiting literature. The phrase is meaningless in K-12 education.
• (X) “ensure a safe learning environment” This implies that the current learning environment in OUSD is somehow unusually unsafe, a claim that cannot be substantiated.

Positives/Negatives:
• (+) Endorsed by the Music Matters Coalition
• (-) Included in her endorsements are two of the former recalled fringe board’s allies Phil Yarbrough and Dr. Ken Williams. (Williams gave recalled OUSD Trustee Kathy Ward an “office job” after her recall).

Full Statement at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3171-2.pdf

George Cardenas (Business Owner/Parent)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “while some OUSD students excel, many others lag behind” The only candidate to acknowledge this fundamental truth and problem.
• (+) “ I also propose building improvements”
• (+) “fair compensation to attract the best in the profession”
• (+) “ I also propose a business-education partnership”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (X) “We have too many portable classrooms” Two Measure A Bond proposals were defeated at the polls that would have addressed this problem.

Positives/Negatives:
• (+) Statement identifies district problems and offers some ideas.
• (-) While refreshingly acknowledging the gap in student achievement, no specifics on ideas to address these problems. Perhaps public acknowledgement is a step.

Full Statement at:
http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3171-3.pdf

Melissa Smith (Incumbent)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “stability has been restored”

Personal Opinions in Statement:
There is no proof of “distinction” or of “restoring excellence”
• (X) “I've served as a member and President with distinction”
• (X) “I'm proud of restoring excellence to our Orange Unified schools”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (-) “Each year we have operated with a balanced budget”- California law requires a balanced budget. In the budget crisis, Smith voted to cut classroom based programs (i.e. Music and Class size reductions) to balance the budget.

Positives/Negatives:
• (-) “Our students are now meeting and exceeding their academic goals and test scores continue to rise” This is not entirely true. While students across the state continue to improve in test scores, in Orange County, OUSD is second only to Santa Ana Unified in state identified Underperforming Schools based on student scores.
• (-) “I made sure that OUSD remained fiscally responsible” In four years, Smith never questioned or voted against any spending proposal by the OUSD Administration including her many votes to support the millions spent on the Focus on Results Consultant Program (a top OUSD Administrator compared the program to “marriage encounter training”).

Full Statement at:
http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3171-1.pdf

Trustee Area 4
Denise Bittel (Businesswomen)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) Small business and vast amount of educational Community Service experience
• (+) “I will execute fiscal responsibility for our taxpayers” One of only two candidates to acknowledge the taxpayers in their statements.
• (+) Supports a "reduction of students in our classroom”
• (+) “Establish a Fiscal Oversight Committee” comprised of community members to "check and balance”

Personal Opinions in Statement:
• (+) “I believe that we are not giving our students the educational experience they need to be prepared for a global economy” Refreshingly, Bittel clearly states this is her personal belief and focuses on student education.
Positives/Negatives
• (+) Lists her business experience and eight substantial community volunteer positions that prepare her for being a Trustee

Full Statement at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3174-3.pdf

Kathy Moffat (current incumbent)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “Teachers are staying in our district”
• (+) “OUSD is no longer plagued by constant lawsuits”
• (+) “a new School News publication provided at no cost to our district”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (-) “Our new Ninth Grade initiative brings rigor” after four years in office, pointing to a program just approved this month is a stretch, and what is this “rigor” word she keeps using and why was “rigor” missing for 4 years?
• (-) “combined with a rigorous curriculum” The curriculum was designed by the state, years before the word “rigor” became the “cool” word to say when ever you could.

Positives/Negatives:
• (-) “Our schools are showing ongoing dramatic improvement in student achievement” This is not entirely true. While students across the state continue to improve in test scores, in Orange County, OUSD is second only to Santa Ana Unified in state identified Underperforming Schools based on student scores.
• (-) Uses the new educational buzz non-word “rigor” (the only candidate to do so) does not say much for Moffat’s continued “want-to-be” image problem.

Full Statement at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3174-2.pdf
To view the real world meaning of “rigor” CLICK ON: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rigour

Trustee Area 5

Paul-Dean Martin (Theater Arts Educator)
No Candidate Statement filed

Christopher K. Emami (Youth Program Director)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “Protect Charter Schools”
• (+) “include Music and the Arts at All Grade Levels”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (X) “…I will work to…create competitive academic programs” The phrase “competitive academic programs” is a college and university buzzword used in student recruiting literature. The phrase is meaningless in K-12 education.
• (X) “promote athletic programs and Healthy Students” Promoting “Healthy Students” is a meaningless statement.
• (X) “ensure a safe learning environment” This implies that the current learning environment in OUSD is somehow unusually unsafe, a claim that cannot be substantiated.
• (-) “I will keep our schools safe and fight to keep felons away from our children” The job of trustee is not involved in keeping “felons away from our children”

Positives/Negatives:
• (+) Endorsed by the Music Matters Coalition
• (+) Includes his website
• (-) Included in his endorsements is the former recalled fringe board’s ally Dr. Ken Williams. (Williams gave recalled OUSD Trustee Kathy Ward an “office job” after her recall).

Full Statement at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3175-3.pdf

Kimberlee Nichols (current incumbent)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “We must continue to improve our District and improve student performance while controlling the costs of operations”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (X) “We must insure that the education we provide properly prepares our students for the 21st century.” Who is we? A trustee does nothing to insure student preparation; this is from a district slogan that is recited at the beginning of each OUSD Board meeting that has no real meaning or impact.
• (-) “I supported...a balanced budget and living within our means” California law requires a balanced budget. In the budget crisis, Nichols voted to cut classroom based programs (i.e. Music and Class size reductions) to balance the budget.

Positives/Negatives:
• (X) “I have supported efforts to recruit and retain high quality teachers, staff and administrators.”
• (-)“I support…a balanced budget and living within our means” In four years, Nichols never questioned or voted against any spending proposal by the OUSD Administration including her many votes to support the millions spent on the Focus on Results Consultant Program.

Full Statement at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3175-4.pdf

Trustee Area 7
Larry D. Cohn (Buisness owner)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “I am committed to bringing common sense, conservative, businesslike approach to OUSD”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (X) "With a solid financial foundation we can continue to meet the goal of quality education in clean safe classrooms with the best teachers available”. California law requires a balanced budget

Positives/Negatives:
• (+) Lists six substantial community volunteer positions that prepare him for being a Trustee
• (+) Includes his website address and a telephone number to contact him

Full Statement at: http://www.oc.ca.gov/election/candidate/gen2006/3177-1.pdf

Rick Ledesma (incumbent)

Statement Strong Points:
• (+) “I’ve proven to be the Board Member who asks the tough questions”
• (+) “stands up to the educational bureaucrats”
• (+) “ the lone voice demanding the district is held accountable to the taxpayers, parents and children of the district”
• (+) “...with my over eight years of experience as a Board Member I have implemented and proactively affected this district by approving Charter Schools, demanding accountability, and becoming a leader by eliminating bilingual education.”

Meaningless items in Statement:
• (-) “...I know how to meet the challenge of focusing every resource possible to the classroom with a limited budget.” Ledesma has supported the controversial OUSD Administrative consultant program Focus on Results Consultant Program that only “trains” a few teachers from each school. After many years and millions of dollars with no hard evidence of any benefit ( a top OUSD Administrator compared it to “marriage encounter training”), Ledesma has begun questioning the administrators on the continued dumping of funding into Focus on Results Consultant Program

Positives/Negatives:
• (+) “I have the leadership experience and integrity necessary” Unlike the rest of the current Board, Ledesma has questioned and often voted against Administrative requests. In addition when he is outvoted, he has provided out of the box ideas to save programs (i.e. video taped broadcasts of the Board meetings over cable TV.) he firmly supports. He often pulls items from the Consent Agenda that go against his core beliefs to discuss or vote against.
• (+) “As Director of Financial Analysis for a large corporation”

This is the list of candidates for Orange

2006-08-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

The official ballot order for the November 7, 2006 municipal election:

Mayoral Race in Ballot Order:

Carolyn V. Cavecche, Orange Councilmember
Mike Alvarez, Orange Businessman
Andrea Simmons-England, Orange Businesswoman
Juan Pablo Serrano-Nieblas, Shaman

Member of City Council in Ballot Order:

Andrew J. Hinger, Student
Robert L Douglas, Small Business Owner
Denis Bilodeau, Orange Planning Commissioner
Mark A. Murphy, Orange Mayor/Businessman
Phil Martinez, Orange County Park Ranger
Arnold L. Crain, Retired Chef
John Antony Ueland Caglia, Project Manager
Jeremy Wayland, Realtor/Property Manager
Carol Rudat, Small Businesswoman
Frank Finn, Peace Officer
Darren Wm. Smith, Information Systems Manager

I have started a blog!

2006-08-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

I have decided to start a blog after reading some others.

I am going to follow the election cycle only and then I will decide if this is something I want to continue.

I am a voter in the City of Orange and I m not sure who I am voting for. I am starting this blog to help educate all and maybe help me make up my own mind on the different races and measures that we all vote on.

Thanks again, Hope your reading this.