Carlos Bustamante Resigns From Two State Commissions
Posted by: Jubal | 07/10/2008 4:25 PM
The LA Times is reporting (H/T Orange Juice) that Santa Ana Councilman Carlos Bustamante has resigned from two state commissions in the wake of the "water bra" comment he made to me and LA Times reporter Christian Berthelsen:Santa Ana City Councilman Carlos Bustamante has quietly resigned from two state commissions he was appointed to by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, after his published remarks last month suggesting that a male candidate for Orange County sheriff could've gotten the job if he had breast implants.
Bustamante, a Republican, was appointed by Schwarzenegger in January to the state Fair Employment and Housing Commission, but his nomination had yet to be confirmed by the state Senate.
In a letter to the Senate Rules Committee on Monday, the governor's office said Bustamante's nomination to the fair employment board was being withdrawn. The commission is charged with enforcing California's civil rights laws and hears complaints regarding discrimination in employment and housing.You can read the rest of the story here.
After the Orange County Board of Supervisors appointed Sandra Hutchens over Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters as the county's sheriff on June 10, Bustamante joked to a blogger: "I kept telling the chief [Walters]: 'Maybe we should get you some implants. Or a water bra.' "
The comment was reported in the Los Angeles Times. Bustamante denied making the remark but the account was confirmed by the blogger, Matt Cunningham, editor of the OC Blog, which looks at Orange County politics and government.
I have no idea why Carlos denied making the remark. I don't think the remark itself was that big a deal, but lying about making it was wrong. If Carlos had owned up to it and apologized, this whole thing might well have turned out differently.
The extent to which this impacts his re-election is questionable. Absent any future repercussions at the County of Orange where Carlos works, this is a one-day story that will be largely forgotten by Santa Ana voters come November. Unless the issue is communicated to voters in the mail by an opponent or hostile IE committee, won't really matter. Voters can only act on information they have.
Although Carlos' resignation delights his detractors, the irony is that to the extent this mini-scandal weakens Carlos politically, it just makes him more dependent on the guy they really despise: the big boss of Santa Ana politics, Mayor Miguel Pulido.
Absent a credible opponent, I strongly doubt this will prevent Bustamante's council re-election (should he seek it), but it will definitely come back to haunt him should he again run for a higher office.
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Politics Behind the Orange Curtain, The 3rd Floor
It's about time!!!!...
Thanks for the H/T Matt. We are working hard to find a good candidate to run against Carlos. I am hoping that we will find a woman to take him on. Wouldn't THAT be ironic? :)
I hate to say this but this "rising star" in the Republican party is now damaged good. Of course I expect Carlos to win re-election since his opponents won't be able to field a strong candidate against the guy.
This guy is not going to be running for higher office anytime soon.