This Monday the OC GOP will be considering the early endorsement of specific candidates for what are considered to be non-controversial races. As one of the researchers for the website Liberty First I thought that it might be a good idea to post a bit about each of the incumbents that is seeking the endorsement:
Denis Bilodeau
Currently Mr. Bilodeau has the following scores along with his rank in comparison to the other 5 councilmembers:
Personal Freedoms/Good Governance- 77% C (2nd)
Fiscal Issues- 100% A+ (Tied For 1st)
Property Rights- 80% B- (Tied For 2nd)
Overall- 85% B (2nd)
His votes that resulted in a thumbs down on the website include:
On 3-25-2008 Denis Bilodeau voted not to audit the City of Orange from top to bottom in order to improve functionality and possibly find ways to cut costs.
On 10-27-2009 Denis Bilodeau voted yes on a second vote to put restrictions on parties being held within the Orange City limits with minor changes.
On 12-8-2009 Denis Bilodeau voted to pass a resolution opposing the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa despite the City of Orange having no jurisdiction.
On 1-26-2010 Denis Bilodeau voted to use the cities power of eminent domain to purchase a gas station.
On 1-26-2010 Denis Bilodeau voted to use the cities power of eminent domain to take over property for the purpose of a bus stop.
John Collins
Currently Mr. Collins has the following scores along with his rank in comparison to the other 5 councilmembers:
Personal Freedoms/Good Governance- 75% C (Tied For 1st)
Fiscal Issues- 80% B- (Tied For 3rd)
Property Rights- 100% A+ (Tied For 1st)
Overall- 80% B- (Tied for 2nd)
His votes that resulted in a thumbs down on the website include:
On 1-20-2009 John Collins voted to not eliminate the position of planning commission alternate which would have saved taxpayer dollars.
On 9-15-2009 John Collins voted to establish a permit parking district that would put restrictions on the personal freedoms of residents.
On 10-20-2009 John Collins voted to pass a resolution opposing the water situation in the San Joaquin Bay Delta despite the City of Fountain Valley having no jurisdiction.
On 3-2-2010 John Collins voted to put a new fee in place for paramedic services or response, which is a mandatory fee on something that is a necessity for city residents.
Leslie Daigle
Currently Ms. Daigle has the following scores along with his rank in comparison to the other 7 councilmembers:
Personal Freedoms/Good Governance- 43% F (5th)
Fiscal Issues- 60% D- (2nd)
Property Rights- 67% D (Tied For 1st)
Overall- 50% F (5th)
Her votes that resulted in a thumbs down on the website include:
On 1-13-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to put restrictions on individual freedoms by making it so a person can not be away from their boat for more than three hours.
On 1-13-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to give the city manager an additional $500 a month automobile allowance despite no requirements in his contract.
On 4-14-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to pass a cleanup bill of a 3% at 50 pension spike to one group of public employees that represent Newport Beach that wasted taxpayer dollars. It is important to note though that she was the only yes vote on this bill that did not support the initial 3% at 50 vote.
On 6-9-2009 Leslie Daigle voted not to allow developers to build parking lots of all sizes, choosing not to repeal a previous ordinance requiring a certain minimum size.
On 9-8-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to add numerous new fees to the City Council including but not limited to an increase in fees for building permits.
On 9-22-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to deny a permit to a property owner that was requesting the right to zone parking, insert more tv's, and serve alcohol.
On 11-10-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to deny the request of a Newport Beach business to extend their hours of operation.
On 12-8-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to pass a resolution opposing the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa despite Newport Beach having no jurisdiction.
On 12-8-2009 Leslie Daigle voted to increase water rates on the residents of Newport Beach despite numerous citizen protests.
On 5-11-2010 Leslie Daigle voted to increase the fees for the use of parking meters and additionally parking lots.
Deborah Pauly
Currently Ms. Pauly has the following scores along with his rank in comparison to the other 5 councilmembers:
Personal Freedoms/Good Governance- 78% C (Tied For 2nd)
Fiscal Issues- 86% A (1st)
Property Rights- 94% A (Tied For 1st)
Overall- 88% B (1st)
Her votes that resulted in a thumbs down on the website include:
On 6-24-2008 Deborah Pauly voted to give the city power to become intruders by investigating properties based on outward appearance.
On 6-24-2008 Deborah Pauly voted to put certain restrictions on parking in the city of Villa Park.
On 6-24-2008 Deborah Pauly voted to put restrictions on the ability of people to distribute information in the City of Villa Park.
On 3-23-2010 Deborah Pauly voted to increase the salary of the city manager by 5% despite a statewide recession.
Comments
"Liberty First" is an
"Liberty First" is an absolute joke! Little more than Mark Bucher's personal vendetta. If the OCGOP is again going to allow Mr. Bucher's personal issues drive the endorsement process, then God help the party. We'll have even more Dems in local office than we have now. And we'll have Mark Bucher and Chris Emami to thank!
What is the problem
Other than the fact that you obviously do not like the website, what specifically is wrong with the methodology? It is easy to come on here and make an anonymous comment but it is far more difficult to back it up with fact. I encourage you to inform me as to where we are flawed on the website and I assure you that it will be examined if you have the facts to back up your claim.
Also
Mark Bucher has helped author a couple of very good initiatives in "Paycheck Protection" and "The Citizen Power Initiative" which have attempted to greatly impact the Republican cause. He has also helped to elect numerous Republican school board candidates to office via "The Education Alliance". What have you done for the Republican cause?
Oh Chris, I've done as much
Oh Chris, I've done as much good for the cause as Bucher has done damage. He is so quick to pass judgment on others, when he lives in the proverbial (broken) glass house. And the OCGOP has him in charge of endorsements? Do your homework, Chris, before you blindly disparage those who have actually demonstrated the values that Mr. Bucher, Liberty First's creator, can only talk about.
Answer His Question
Anonymous, you have yet to point out a flaw in the methodology, as Chris asked. You're shooting the messenger; could you point out what is wrong with the methodology?
Daigle doesn't qualify for
Daigle doesn't qualify for our endorsement because she's raised fees during her last term. Our new endorsement policy specifies that candidates pledge that they won't raise taxes or fees. If that doesn't automatically disqualify her, I will make sure I pull her off the early endorsement list and then have a nice debate about her record.
"I, I, I"... alan seeems to
"I, I, I"... alan seeems to think he runs the central committee. we all know thats his plan but...
Alan, I am curious about your
Alan, I am curious about your newest pledge requirement. What happens when the failure to raise a tax or fee creates a government/taxpayer subsidy? This sounds like another failed OCGOP mandate that will hand more seats to the Dems and DTS candidates throughout OC. Great job, Alan! But hey, it's great to see you crawling back to the Red County you so disparaged just a few months ago. Isn't Art P gonna be disappointed in you?
Chris ~ Shame on you. Your
Chris ~
Shame on you. Your post spins each candidate in the worst possible light. Take Denis for example. You state:
"His votes that resulted in a thumbs down on the website include:"
This statement makes it sound like the Liberty First web site gave Denis a "thumbs down" rating when it did not. Denis received "thumbs up" ratings on all three categories of Personal Freedoms, Fiscal Issues, and Property Rights.
Next, you listed five out of Denis' 33 total votes that the researchers (presumably you), gave a "thumbs down" rating. You neglect to mention that 28 (85%) of those votes received a "thumbs up" rating.
Lastly, it's the city's power of eminent domain, not "cities." I'm not perfect but the web site could use an editor.
While I don't have the time to perform this research for the other candidates, it looks like Ms. Daigle received the only failing grade from Liberty First.
MN
Not my intention
My intention was not for that to take place although you do make a valid argument with posting just the thumbs down scores. I would hope that people would visit the website to view all of the votes.
The rationale for posting the negative votes only was that it would allow people to see where the elected officials were being dinged as some votes are more egregious than others.
I really like Denis and do think that he should be endorsed and I feel the same way about Deborah Pauly.
I think it would be very
I think it would be very interesting to see who the top 10 city council members/mayors are out there! I bet some of the findings would be shocking and others no surprise at all!
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