AD73 Watch: Diane Harkey Will Not Get a Free Ride
Posted by: Tomahawk | 03/12/2008 5:35 PM
For most candidates, the deadline to file was last Friday. However, there are several legislative races in Orange County where the deadline was extended until today because the incumbent did not file for re-election. Such is the case in the 73 Assembly District where Assemblywoman Mimi Walters is vacating her current seat to pursue to the 33 Senate District.Dana Point Councilwoman Diane Harkey is the establishment's choice to succeed Mimi in this affluent district and no candidate has emerge to challenge her until a few days ago. On March 10, Mark Patlan, an attorney and businessman, pulled nomination papers and paid for the filing fee in the 73 AD Republican Primary. I've confirmed that Patlan did return his nomination signatures today and the Registrar of Voters is verifying those signatures as I am typing this post.
Patlan did not pay or file a candidate statement which probably means he is either a token candidate with little money or is someone looking to spend more than $400,000 on the campaign.
If you have more information on Mark Patlan, please send me a note: tomahawk@redcounty.com
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AD73 Watch
Data from the Secretary of State website
Diane Harkey for State Assembly cash on hand - $278,788.25
Mark Patlan for State Assembly cash on hand - committee does not exist, has not filed statement of intention
...late start eh? Is he using the brilliant Fred Thompson strategy? My guess is that Mark's role is to be that annoying fly that will eventually get swatted by Harkey. Then Diane will pull out a machine gun from her purse and continue pelleting the poor fly.
game, set, match
The title implies the author is almost gleeful about Harkey having a primary opponent. Tomahawk, please clarify. I'm curious. Are you pleased Patlan is in the race?
Maybe we should have more races for office. The fact that there are so few races suggests that the party handpicks candidates and discourages races.
Given that we have been relegated to permanent minority party status and are unable to field electable candidates for statewide office, I think we need to ask ourselves, "How's that working for you?".
Maybe we should be casting nets to look for viable candidates rather than recirculating the same stale bunch of political hacks (hacks with "machine guns").
Why exactly did we pick Harkey in the first place? A Google search will reveal the recall campaign against her and the allegations of conflict of interest (showing bad judgment at best, corruption at worst) and not paying her taxes.
I can see the Democrat attack ads now if she wins the primary. Even though this is a safe district, Republican registration is falling and there are plenty of independents out there who might be inclined to vote a straight Democrat ticket. She might be vulnerable.
Who picked her, anyway? We're doomed.