Limited Return: Donald Ritze
Posted by: Adam D. Probolsky | 05/12/2008 9:54 AM
I just cast my Vote-by-Mail ballot and voted to re-elect my county supervisor Bill Campbell.
Supervisor Campbell is an honorable man, who has the respect of everyone who has ever met him. He brings a calming voice to any public policy discussion.
His votes on the board of supervisors have proven to be good and prudent. And he is a remarkable accessible elected official.
So why then would he draw a challenger in June's Primary Election?
Because Businessman Don Ritze wants the job and thinks heckling Supervisor Campbell from a far will earn him votes. And while I applaud Mr. Ritze' exercise in election politics, if he is indeed a businessman he will soon learn that his investment will be lost. Starting last week Mr. Ritze bought small but noticeable ads in the OC Register knocking Supervisors Campbell and providing limited positive information about himself. Today I saw a pro-Ritze sign on a Freeway entrance.
A quick look at Mr. Ritze' web page shows little anti-Campbell smack but did have some detailed information about Mr. Ritze' 200-plus avocado trees.
The Ritze web page does list his priorities:
1. NO TAX INCREASES
Well Bill Campbell has already delivered on that with the one possible exception of Measure M but we'll get to that in a minute.
2. Environmental issues
I am not sure what this means, but if it means that he opposes completing the 241, he has a credibility problem with #4 coming up.
3. Waste
Again, unclear what he is talking about. I am an OC Waste and Recycling Commissioner, I invite Mr. Ritze to talk with me about our well run landfills anytime.
4. Traffic
Campbell held usher through a locally controlled funding source for transportation and traffic relief right here in OC. I doubt Mr. Ritze could do any better.
Supervisor Campbell could sit back, relax, govern and find himself re-elected next month with little or no effort. However, I appreciate that he is waging a real campaign, making sure that the voters know his record of accomplishment. And giving reassurance to his supporters that he will not silently wait while he is attacked by a petty campaign. I got my first piece of Campbell campaign mail on Friday (Matt Holder and John Lewis are running his campaign).
No direct mail from Ritze and I doubt we will see any. His campaign tools have been fairly unsophisticated thus far.
Supervisor Campbell is an honorable man, who has the respect of everyone who has ever met him. He brings a calming voice to any public policy discussion.
His votes on the board of supervisors have proven to be good and prudent. And he is a remarkable accessible elected official.
So why then would he draw a challenger in June's Primary Election?
Because Businessman Don Ritze wants the job and thinks heckling Supervisor Campbell from a far will earn him votes. And while I applaud Mr. Ritze' exercise in election politics, if he is indeed a businessman he will soon learn that his investment will be lost. Starting last week Mr. Ritze bought small but noticeable ads in the OC Register knocking Supervisors Campbell and providing limited positive information about himself. Today I saw a pro-Ritze sign on a Freeway entrance.
A quick look at Mr. Ritze' web page shows little anti-Campbell smack but did have some detailed information about Mr. Ritze' 200-plus avocado trees.
The Ritze web page does list his priorities:
1. NO TAX INCREASES
Well Bill Campbell has already delivered on that with the one possible exception of Measure M but we'll get to that in a minute.
2. Environmental issues
I am not sure what this means, but if it means that he opposes completing the 241, he has a credibility problem with #4 coming up.
3. Waste
Again, unclear what he is talking about. I am an OC Waste and Recycling Commissioner, I invite Mr. Ritze to talk with me about our well run landfills anytime.
4. Traffic
Campbell held usher through a locally controlled funding source for transportation and traffic relief right here in OC. I doubt Mr. Ritze could do any better.
Supervisor Campbell could sit back, relax, govern and find himself re-elected next month with little or no effort. However, I appreciate that he is waging a real campaign, making sure that the voters know his record of accomplishment. And giving reassurance to his supporters that he will not silently wait while he is attacked by a petty campaign. I got my first piece of Campbell campaign mail on Friday (Matt Holder and John Lewis are running his campaign).
No direct mail from Ritze and I doubt we will see any. His campaign tools have been fairly unsophisticated thus far.
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
I was pleasantly shocked and surprized to see the ads in the OC Register taking Bill Campbell to task.Too bad Mr. Ritze didn't come out a lot sooner in his bid to run against Campbell.Campbell is part of the problem in OC Republican politics - he's a recycled, career politician who votes for the status quo.One only has to look no further than all the votes in support of everything and anything Mike Carona asked for.Campbell never said no!
The simple fact that we now see a post written by Adam Probolksy in support of Campbell makes it clear to all who Campbell is beholden to and who he will be voting for for the appointment to Sheriff - Jack Anderson.The way Probolsky and his antics have solied the OC Republican Party, I have learned to always vote the opposite of where he stands and I know by doing so I am supporting the right man/woman or issue.
Go Donald Ritze! Way to expose Campbell to the public. You've obviously dug too deep because now you've made it in a posting by Probolsky on behalf of Campbell.I hope and pray the Good Lord blesses your campaign and brings you victory.
I have had the pleassure of knowing both Supervisor Bill Campbell and Adam Probolsky for sometime and they are both straight talking individuals who will take the time to tell you how they think and why. The fact that one is a politician and the other is a professional consultant is not an issue. I hope for AND expect Bill Campbell to win re-election in June and that Adam continues to provide insight and wisdom to his clients and friends.
Bert Ashland
Bill Campbell is not a career politician. He was a successful businessman for decades, raising a family and volunteering in the community, before he ran for his first elected office in 1996. He is a terrific example of a citizen legislator.
ADP - did you get on the I-5 @ Jeffrey? That Ritze sign has been there all alone for a few weeks now. If it wasn't for Supervisor Campbell's 3rd District Report, and the photos from the chili cook-off, I wouldn't even know who this Ritze person is. And to Puttin' on the Ritze - if you think Campbell is beholden to anyone, you're sorely mistaken and don't know him very well.