This came over the transom this morning:
S.O.A.R. PAC Endorses Tom Tait for Anaheim Mayor, Kris Murray and Gail Eastman for City Council
ANAHEIM, CA – Today, Support Our Anaheim Resort Political Action Committee (S.O.A.R. PAC) announced its endorsement of Tom Tait for Anaheim Mayor, Kris Murray and Gail Eastman for Anaheim City Council. The endorsements were made after months of interviewing the candidates and reviewing their experience and background-which included evaluating their commitment to the Anaheim Resort District and their vision for Anaheim’s future.
“Tom Tait shares our passion for the success of Anaheim, its people and the continued economic growth of the city,” said S.O.A.R. Executive Director Jill Kanzler. “As a successful business owner, employer, City Councilmember and longtime Anaheim resident, he has a proven record as a dynamic leader in this community and we believe he will make a great mayor for our city.”
“Both Kris and Gail have the experience, skills and passion needed to be fantastic City Councilmembers,” said Kanzler. “They have shown that they understand the importance of tourism for the region and bring a strong understanding of what the success of the Anaheim Resort District means to all of Orange County. We are endorsing Kris and Gail because they share our commitment to the economic growth and vitality of the Resort District as well as all of Anaheim.”
The Anaheim Resort District is a critical economic engine for Anaheim. Representing less than five percent of Anaheim’s land, the Resort District generates 50 percent of the City’s tax revenues. In addition, it creates jobs and unparalleled economic impact throughout all of Orange County. S.O.A.R.’s Political Action Committee was established last year to help advance candidates and causes that support the Resort District’s vitality and ability to contribute to the local community.
Mayoral candidate Tom Tait was appointed to the Anaheim City Council in January 1995 to fill a vacancy and complete an unexpired term. He was subsequently elected by the voters in November 1996 to serve a full four-year term and was re-elected without a challenge in 2000. He was elected by the Council to serve as Mayor Pro Tem from 2002-2003. Tom served on the Anaheim Planning Commission; the Anaheim Budget Advisory Commission; and as a member of the Anaheim Community Block Grant Foundation. He has been active in the community of Anaheim where he has lived for 22 years.
Kris Murray has nearly 20 years experience working with the federal and state governments as an advocate for the needs of Orange County. She serves on the Anaheim Public Utilities Board and last year was appointed vice chair. In 2009, she was appointed unanimously to serve on the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board of Directors as the city’s representative. She has also served on the SOAR advisory board and the Anaheim Chamber Government Affairs Committee. In addition, Kris serves on the board of both the Orange County Taxpayers Board of Directors and the California Women’s Leadership Association.
Gail Eastman has been an active member of the Anaheim community for nearly 30 years. She has served as a member of the Planning Commission, on the board of directors for the Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade, the Anaheim Historical Society as Secretary, Membership and Newsletter publisher. In addition, Gail serves on board of the Anaheim Transportation Network and previously served as co-chair of the SOAR advisory committee. She was also honored by State Senator Lou Correa as the 34th District “Woman of the Year” for her active role accomplishments in the community.
S.O.A.R. is a broad coalition consisting of more than 10,000 Anaheim residents and business leaders committed to preserving and protecting the Anaheim Resort District. One of S.O.A.R.’s key goals is to elect strong leaders who will support a healthy and economically viable Anaheim Resort District.
“After looking closely at each of the candidates for Mayor and City Council, we believe Tom Tait, Kris Murray and Gail Eastman have the experience, passion and vision to best represent the people of Anaheim at City Hall,” concluded Kanzler. “We encourage our S.O.A.R. members and all Anaheim voters to join us in our support for these candidates.”
This is an endorsement that matters: SOAR PAC has a membership base, and it has the resources to support endorsed candidates with contributions and voter contact.
[Full disclosure: I am a consultant to the Tom Tait for Mayor campaign.]
Comments
the SOAR endorsements
I am perplexed as to why SOAR would endorse Tom Tait for Anaheim mayor rather than Shirley McCracken. Ms. McCracken has been heavily involved with SOAR from its inception and has been a staunch supporter and volunteer in Anaheim for decades. Was Mr. Tait involved with SOAR from its beginnings? I have heard that Mr. Tait was employed by the development company which fought to put low income, high density housing in the resort district. If this is true, then why is SOAR supporting someone with a suspicious background? I think SOAR has sold its soul to the devil.
I will be terminating my membership in SOAR immediately.
"I am perplexed as to why
"I am perplexed as to why SOAR would endorse Tom Tait for Anaheim mayor rather than Shirley McCracken."
I'm not. SOAR recognizes that Tom is head-and-shoulders more qualified for the job. I also don't think SOAR views its endorsement as something that should go to the person who has been standing line the longest.
Perhaps they'd rather the mayor be someone with experience as a job-creator, with leadership experience in both business and government, someone who has had to make tough calls and executive decisions as the man in charge, and not just one of five votes.
Perhaps SOAR didn't want to endorse someone who sued the City of Anaheim when she wasn't appointed to fill a council vacancy.
"I have heard that Mr. Tait was employed by the development company which fought to put low income, high density housing in the resort district."
You heard wrong. Way wrong. Tom did not work for SunCal. Tom, in fact, is employed by Tait & Associates, of which he has been president since 1990.
One more thing: feel free to express your opinions here. Commenters aren't required to agree with me or any other contributor on Red County. But if you venture into character assassination territory again, you're comment will be removed. Tom Tait's integrity is rock-solid. The slimy personal attacks I'm starting to see from McCracken supporters bespeaks of desperation stemming from the knowledge they are backing a losing candidate.
Tom was NOT there for SOAR,
Tom was NOT there for SOAR, but Mr. Pringle is there for Tom, and now SOAR is there for TOM.
Gotta love politics in Anaslime!
knickers in a twist
I was going to stay out of this because of my background with SOAR, but the first comment has a point. Tom did not work for SunCal (Matt Cunningham did) Tom was working for the ParcAnaheim development that ALSO wished to put residential into the Resort District, at a different location. Because of that conflict Tom refused to stand with SOAR in protecting the zoning that he had helped to put in place. In contrast, not only did Shirley McCracken stand with SOAR, she hosted petition signing events, spoke at press conferences, and was there for SOAR every inch of the way. So it is rather discombobulating to hear that SOAR shafted one of their own for someone who has not had a track record of being pro-Resort. It was a legit question to ask Matt, and that person is not alone, I have been chewed out already offline.
It probably would have been easier to explain, except that SOAR endorsed Harry Sidhu for 4th District Supe over the objections of some members, because he was "there for the Resort", in fact SOAR did not even interview any non-SOAR candidates for 4th District, but they then chuck that criteria to endorse an anti-SOAR candidate over one of their own. Yeah, folks are going to ask, even those who like Tom have to think this is hinky.
As far as character assasination, where have you seen McCracken supporters railing on Tom? To the contrary, I have seen Shirley demand that her supporters NOT go negative on him. The poster above did not question Tom's part in the endorsement, only SOAR's, and you are over-reacting, Matt. While we are at it, let's go for full disclosure. Until recently, I was a member of the SOAR PAC Board that endorsed those candidates. I am no longer on that Board. And Matt Cunningham handles communications for the Tom Tait for Mayor campaign. So none of us are without bias here.
"Because of that conflict Tom
"Because of that conflict Tom refused to stand with SOAR in protecting the zoning that he had helped to put in place."
Huh? "Refused to stand?" Would you rather Tom had thrown his client overboard for the sake of scoring political points?
"So it is rather discombobulating to hear that SOAR shafted one of their own for someone who has not had a track record of being pro-Resort."
How is Tom not "pro-Resort"? Pursuing policies that encourage economic growth in Anaheim helps the Resort Area, as well.
"As far as character assasination, where have you seen McCracken supporters railing on Tom?"
How about the commenter to whom I was responding calling Tom "someone with a suspicious background." Tom Tait?
I don't think you attack Tom's character, Cynthia, but you routinely and unfair dismiss him as just "a nice guy" as if that is all there is to him.
As for SOAR's endorsement of Harry Sidhu in the 4th, I'd point out that Harry is an Anaheim councilman, whereas Shawn Nelson was a Fullerton councilman -- after all, the "A" in SOAR stands for "Anaheim." ;)
Tom Tait and SOAR
How on earth has Tom Tait EVER been pro-resort? He is VERY anti-Disney, who is the major landowner in the Resort, the major employer in the Resort, the major taxpayer in the Resort, and when they wanted to redevelop Anaheim Stadium and asked the City of a tad ($30 million) of the total expense, Tom voted NO. Please provide one, just one, example of what Tom has done in the past to be pro Resort. What is he going to do when the Convention Center comes to the Council and asks them to approve a much needed expansion, vote NO?
Sometimes politicians should throw money to the side and stand up for their political beliefs and for those whom they have served for over 20 years, and just say NO to a developer who wants to do something that will be bad for the City of Anaheim , like build houses across from Disneyland in the Resort Area. Its called integrity, not greed. Its called consistency and NOT semantics. Unless you can disprove me, I believe that Mrs. McCracken was single handedly the largest signature gatherer on behalf of SOAR.
Just one example of being pro-Resort and pro-economic development, and ARTIC doesn't count (cuz when is that ever going to be jobs and or money for the Resort.........please).
Score one for Mr. Pringle, oops, I mean Mr. Tait.
go back in history a bit
Matt, my point is that Tom Tait had no problem working to put development into an area that he had previously voted to maintain as Resort-income-producing. He showed he was willing to compromise the integrity of the goose that lays Anaheim's golden egg in exchange for money to his firm. That is something that should make pro-Resort voters nervous,and i think that is what the above post was trying to say, although I do not know as they did not sign their name for me to follow up with them. If they are genuinely disturbed they should contact SOAR Exec Director Jill Kanzler to learn more about why Tait was selected. Soar's endorsement of Harry Sidhu was not based on him being an Anaheim candidate, it was based on being a pro-Resort candidate, The criteria was not that SOAR would only meet with Anaheim candidates for the 4th but that they would meet only with those who were active members of SOAR. I can say that because it was disclosed outside of the PAC Board, and therefore not subject to confidentiality, I will not reveal the animated discussion surrounding it. But that criteria was clearly not followed for the subsequent endorsement for another office, (which I was not involved in) and I have to admit that the person above is not the only one today to take offense to the criteria seeming to change. Nobody is attacking Tom, but questioning the integrity of that endorsement process certainly seems fair, I have done so myself and am debating my involvement with the group altogether.
Matt, my point is that Tom
"Matt, my point is that Tom Tait had no problem working to put development into an area that he had previously voted to maintain as Resort-income-producing. He showed he was willing to compromise the integrity of the goose that lays Anaheim's golden egg in exchange for money to his firm."
Cynthia, in an earlier comment you question that McCracken supporters are engaged in character assassination of Tom Tait, and then state how Shirley has forbidden her supporters to do any such thing. And then you proceed to falsely claim Tom sold out his principles for money! That is a) just low, and b) not even consistent with your proclaimed intention to keep it clean.
I have no interest in re-fighting the Resort Area battle. It's over and done with, and the housing market collapse has obviated it, in any case. But it is worthwhile to provide readers with accurate context.
The ParkAnaheim project you refer to – for which Tom’s company did the engineering -- was a retail/high-end, mid-rise condominiums mixed-use project on the fringe of the Resort Area, on the other side of the 5 freeway. The city council was supportive. City staff was supportive. Disney had no problem with it. So how exactly was it “compromising the integrity” of the resort district?
It had been moving through the city approval process for a year with no problem before it, unfortunately, got sucked into the Disney-SunCal battle -- which was fatal to the project and financially devastating to the property owner, who tried to stay out of the fight.
Cynthia, you are distorting the record, blowing things out of proportion and taking a very, very low blow at a good man. If you are trying to help Shirley out, you are achieving precisely the opposite.
"Nobody is attacking Tom, but questioning the integrity of that endorsement process certainly seems fair..."
Cynthia, as I pointed out above, you are attacking Tom in this very same comment. And why is the "integrity of the endorsement process" compromised simply because you disagree with who was endorsed?
It seems Cynthia has mastered
It seems Cynthia has mastered the ability to misstate facts for the purpose of smearing good and decent people. What she is attempting to do here to Tom Tait is no different than her recent post in which she attempts to sum up the candidates running for Anaheim City Council. That post was nothing more than a mishmash of smears based on partial, inaccurate and inadequate information. My recollection is that Dalati responded and tried to clear up misconceptions about him, I think everyone else just ignored her. Of course she gave a glowing report on her friend that once flew in a police helicopter.
Openly stating Tom Tait is compromising his integrity without knowing all of the facts is simply wrong - but coming from her, par for the course. For this reader, Cynthia Ward has lost total credibility.
once again, the power of john
once again, the power of john lewis is quietly demonstrated
I guess that this is one of
I guess that this is one of the few times that I have to agree with Matt. Shirley did do a lot of work on behalf of SOAR, but as Matt says, does that qualify you to be Mayor or put you at the front of the line for an endorsement? Shirley would most likely make a very competent Mayor as I'm sure that Tom Tait will. I think that dropping out of SOAR is like dropping out of a political party simply because you did not agree with something they did or endorsed someone that you do not support. All I have to say is grow and join the real world. We are all different and after the election we will all have work together to keep Anaheim a world class destination.
I am done
Yes, it does. The SOAR PAC established criteria for endorsing that considered ONLY those candidates that were SOAR members, and had "been there" for SOAR. They set that agenda, not me. Now they are suddenly changing the rules to fit the desired outcome of a select few. No way am I playing that game.
I will submit my resignation before they have to ask for it. Now that I have been so outspoken, I am no longer a benefit to them at this point.
Well, the resort helps
Well, the resort helps Anaheim but its also apart of its woes- having a high tourists industry means that Anaheim has had to higher people also with low skills, hence it problem with a lot of low skilled immirgants that of course have children and the push for more affordable housing. Anaheim needs something besides the tourists industry which could draw a more skilled workforce like Irvine.
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