WESTMINSTER CITY CANDIDATES BEGIN TO TAKE OUT THEIR PAPERS
Posted by: Lady Fingers | 07/30/2008 12:08 PM
The faces of the Westminster City Council are usually familiar to its citizens. For years, Margie Rice has been the Mayor, and even ran unopposed last year. For years (about 36 years) Frank Fry has been on the City Council. Kermit Marsh has sat for about 10 years now as a Councilman. Andy Quach is also a familiar but more recent addition. Tri Ta, "brand new" to the council was the latest addition after the passing of Russell Paris.
So, while a wide range of candidates run and regularly participate on the various committees and commissions, when they run for council, the city still re-elects the familiar faces. Margie Rice will tell you it's because they are doing a good job. The other candidates will tell you the same people are re-elected for other reasons, "name recognition"; continuous endorsements from other elected officials; etc.
So why do other candidates bother to spend the money and run a grueling campaign - and especially grueling is the filling out of all the forms for the City and County and State - the forms 570, 460, etc. etc. Well let's examine who has taken papers out.....and I'll give my humble opinion as to "why" on each. I realize this may cost me some "friends" but if they can't take my honest opinion then I guess they weren't much of a friend to start with....here we go...
For Mayor: Margie Rice. (Republican) - Why? Because she can win. Because she works very hard, goes into the office each day and frankly, takes the job seriously. She feels she is the City's Leader (and indeed she seems to be) and that if she were not continuously re-elected then things might be different. But her continuing re-election seems to confirm she is the leader of the City and people like her irrepressable style.
For Mayor: Penny Loomer. (Democrat) - Why? Because she was the Assistant City Manager when she retired from the City of Westminster. She knows a great deal about the city. But she was only "Acting City Manager" a few times, and wasn't asked to apply for the job when it was vacant. Her candidacy, while she can cross the Democrat/Republican boundaries with her friendly style, I think is probably overshadowed by the Margie Rice Leadership and Margie's support base is pretty solid. I think Penny can pull some votes but not enough to unseat the veritable powerhouse vote that Margie Rice pulls in.
For Mayor: Allan Krippner. (Republican). Why? Not sure. He has been on the Planning Commission for many years. He is also running for the Midway City Sanitary District. He has also pulled papers to run for the City Council. I'm not sure he knows exactly what it is he wants to do. He lists his occupation as "Recruiting Consultant". I don't think he has a very active practice doing that but would be interested to see his tax returns to see if that's what he really makes a living at. He is "retired" so he must be doing that "part time". He is an avid "jokster" and is a jolly fellow, but I don't think he has the support base or the big picture enough to beat out Margie Rice in this race. When he ran for the MCSD seat he said he spent less than $1,000. But I sure saw a lot of All Krippner signs and he had flyers delivered door to door. Looked like it cost more than a thousand to me.
City Council:
Truong Diep. (Republican) lists his occupation as "Director, Midway City Sanitary District". Actually I think he has a full time job working for Van Tran as a Sr. Field Representative and the Director is an elected position but I'm not sure that would bar him from using it as a ballot designation. He sporadically attends council meetings and is on the Traffic Commission (Appointed by Andy Quach). You can often see him hanging out in Andy Quach's Office along with Tri Ta. He was once Tom Harmon's Alternate to the Orange County Central Committee, but is not anymore. There is a story behind that, but you can ask him yourself about that. No doubt he is a young man with "higher office" ambitions. He has told Kermit Marsh he is working hard to get him elected as Judge so he will have a better chance and winning the Council Seat. What are his chances of wrangling a seat away from Marsh or Fry? Slim to none. He might just be going for Name Recognition which is what a few other candidates are doing. They know the current familiar faces can't last forever so they are setting a path for themselves with exposure as candidates now.
Penny Loomer: (Democrat). Again, she has pulled papers for both Council and Mayor. Maybe she's just not sure what she wants to do yet. As far as wrangling a seat from Fry or Marsh? Don't think so.
Kermit Marsh: (REPUBLICAN) Yep, I think he wins. While he would make a great Judge, he is a sure bet for the Council. If he wins both seats he will give up the council and that leaves the council free to "appoint" someone to his seat. Rumor has it that the Mayor wants B.J. Savage in that seat. Retired from the Police Department and practicallly a fixture at Uncle Pete's Cafe - where many of the City elected's and employees go for lunch and sometimes Dinner. Qualifications? Being an ex-City employee, and Ex- policeman, and sometimes actively involved in doing things like having the city adopt a Marine Battalion; or being the emcee at the Mayor's Ball. He also worked on the City's 50ieth Birthday celebrations, which reportedly were not that well attended.
Allan Krippner: (Republican) Again, a guy who isn't sure what he wants. Or heck, maybe he wants all three! Mayor, City Councilman and Midway City Sanitary Director. But I don't think he can pull the votes for Mayor, nor City Council. He may be able to get re-elected to the San District. But then I haven't seen examined who is running for those seats yet.
Frank Fry - (Republican) Since he's been able to be elected long enough to be in office for 36 years I'd bet he can still do that.
Ha Minh Mach - Ha has run before. He seems a very sincere and extremely polite person. I don't think he has the voter base without spending a serious amount of cash to get enough votes to even come close. He has been improving his communication skills, so hopefully that will help him. I'm not sure he has the big picture, but his sincerity and interest are definite pluses.
Alin Hamade - Alan has run before. He has his own business and attends Chamber functions. He has the time to be seen around town alot. Can he pull enough votes? Well if he spends enough money he might come close. But in my humble opinion, he does not have the big picture. From my observations he doesn't understand some of the basics of our City's operation and funding dynamics. Even though he is on the Financial Review Committe, and The Traffic Commission, every time he's asked "what do you stand for and what are your opinions on (name a city issue) his answer is glib and something like "I feel the same as you do"...although he hasn't asked you how feel yet so its a mystery to me how he "feels the same".
Toby Riola - I have no knowledge of this candidate. But will be looking into his credentials. He lists himself as a "Landscape Designer".
I'll be keeping track of who else comes out of the woodworks....
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
The candidates I would like to see running that are actually worth voting for are not even taking out their papers
Dear Readers: I've heard it rumored that if councilman Kermit Marsh gets elected to judge, then Mayor Rice will strongly recommend to appoint B. J. Savage. Why? Because for one thing he comes across as a "Yes" person and would blend in nicely with the current majority on council. He would become one of the "good old boys" club. I truly don't believe B.J. Savage could run and win on his own merit. My other concern is that I have recently seen him at Westminster City Council meetings publicly denigrate certain citizens who speak at these council meetings. Therefore, I would hope that he would definitely not be a serious candidate an a council appointment position if the occasion arises.
Truong Diep's name is listed first here for good reason. I think Truong will make a great councilman!
Actually CRA Republican, they are listed alphabetically.
OOPS, sorry, no they aren't, they are listed by the day they took their papers out:
7/14 Diep
7/15 Loomer
7/16 Marsh
7/16 Krippner
7/17 Fry
7/22 Mach
7/24 Hamade
7/24 Riola
Just come clean and say Truong will have a great chance of being elected.
I know about the past election experience with Truong but I would like to see you supporting Truong on this one.
When will these folks figure out that Marsh is just a pontificating phony? He won't make Judge (getting beaten by a Democrat is so not Orange County), so Westminsters will be stuck with his running mouth for a few more years.
He relishes his role as Republican parliamentarian as he can shoot his mouth off and thump his chest, except he recently blew an important ruling that had Baugh ready to string him up.
Kermie needs a real job.
Leave Kermit alone. He does a job NO ONE else wants to do as Parliamentarian. He might "pontificate" but he sure does find out the facts and has some good reasoning. He also has a strong voter support base and a huge voter turnout. A lot of people like him, he's smart. But remember, by "trade" he is a lawyer and they all talk too much anyway. At least he makes sense, isn't on his cell phone or leaving the room constantly. He studies his council packages and knows what he's doing. Most of the council members do not even read the whole staff report much less the supporting documents. I think that Nolta guy reads it more than they do.
Lady Fingers, you listed the dates people took out their papers. Is this the full list of candidates who will run? Thanks,
The incumbents will win re-election. They are the real deal in Westminster and the voters won't respond to an ex-bureaucrat and a from out-of-town aide to Assm Van Tran. End of story.
Truong Diep doesn't even live in Westminster. He's going to the RNC in Minneapolis as a delegate from the 47th congressional district. Anyone can look up that the 47th has no Westminster precincts!
Well, Truong Diep lists an address in Westminster.
Dear July 30, 2008 7:55 PM This is just the current list of those who have taken papers out. The deadline for taking out papers is Friday, August 8, 2008 for the November 2008 election.
If Diep doesn't live in Westminster, do you know where he does live? because that would disqualify him for running for a council seat, and depending on where he really lives it might also disqualify him for being on Sanitary District Board?????
And if he does live in Westminster, then how can he go to the convention from the 47th district?
LOL
Looks like Truong Diep's got them scared.
Keep it up man.
Is this posting(Westminster election) all about Truong Diep?
Truong must have been doing a good job of earning respect and support from his community.
To CRA (Z) Republican - aren't you the same person that came up with all the crazy polls that said that Dina Nguyen was going to beat Janet Nguyen and we would all be crying in our soup? Aren't you the same person who, before Dina came along told us all that Trung Nguyen was going to win the election? That he was going to win his lawsuits?
I'd say your credibility is lacking in any comments you make here.
Hey lonely writer/owner from the BK'd the orange juice, can't read these good postings supporting Truong Diep?
CRA Republican: we only read YOUR post supporting him and other posts NOT supporting him.
He is a non threat to either candidate Fry or Marsh. You are just trying to spin again. I'm surprised you are not dizzy by now.
Have you ever attended one meeting on any board he serves on? Have you seen him answering his cell phone repeatedly and leaving the room during the meetings time after time? Did you know his platform that he ran on for the San Dist was that he would "reduce taxes" and he has not done that. He is inexperienced, ambitious and contentious. Even his friends are abandoning him now. Why do you so promote Dina Nguyen, Trung Nguyen and now Truong Diep? It is clear you are in the Van Tran Camp, which is fine but your spin grows old.
This topic was not written to discuss him.
Anon. from the far east, I thought Andrew Do was a good candidate for Supe. office one day.........only to find out he has just moved (rented a room?) to Garden Grove address from Santa Ana THIS MONTH in JULY, 2008 just to list his name on the GG City Council candidate's list!
Compare to opportunist Democrat turned Republican Andrew Do (on 2005, Do re-registered as Republican to work for Janet who was only 29years old then) ,
sincere Truong is 100x better candidate to serve on the Westminster Council!
I am not sure what Do is doing with his law degree......who knows?he might be washing dishes for one of those pho restaurants on Bolsa street ....stay tuned.
Anon @ 9:22 AM,
Before applying your double standard to Truong Diep, talk to Margie Rice, who holds BOTH a city council seat and a Sani Dist seat for years now.
As for Truong Diep being a delegate to the RNC, more power to him and good job with landing a coveted slot at the Convention. Westminster is split into two Congressional (maybe even 3?) Districts. So Truong Diep may be living in Westminster, run for any seats he wants, and serves as a delegate for John McCain. Give those jealous turkeys a run for your money, Truong!
Too bad Truong is not respected enough in his own district to get that "coveted spot". I see no where that anyone tried to hold Diep to a double standard, there you go spinning again. People were just trying to figure out where he really lives and if he is ethically eligible to serve on the Sanitary District if he does not live in Westminster; and if he doesn't then he wouldn't be able to be on the council either. That was the question, "where" he lives, not if he could serve on both boards. Try to read these posts a little more closely before you respond with spin.
Anon Above,
Go talk to Margie Rice, the double office holder and ask her where Truong Diep lives and whether he can serve two offices at the same time. I am sure she knows. Duh!
Yes, even I know that you can serve in THESE two offices. In 1973 Ken Cory, and assemblyman(I believe) at the time wrote a special law into effect in the state for his then friend that was on the council so he could also serve on the Sand District.
That however wasn't the question. Someone alleged that Truong didn't live in Westminster (and it was "alluded to me" outside this blog) that he uses his parents address as a home address. I never mentioned, referred to it or questioned his residency until two posters on this site said he didn't live in Westminster.
What's your gripe with Rice anyway?
No gripe with Rice. Couldn't care less about her. You should try to be consistent instead of insinuating against someone else. A lot of people knows that Truong Diep's family is from San Diego. I don't see him commuting to work from SD every day.
IN reference to troung Diep living in Westminster and being a delegate from the 47th CD;
A person can very easily be a delegate to a national and or state convention for the Democratic, and I am assuming the Republican Party. The residency requirements for being a Delegate to a convention are not even remotely as stringent as they are for serving or running for an elected seat on the City Council or the san District.
You may also run for the US House of Representatives in any CD in the Country and live anywhere else in the country. For example you may live in Samoa and run against John Campbell if you wanted to.
Anon,
Yeah, right. Try applying to be a delegate to the RNC and see how far you'd get. Obviously, you don't know what you are talking about. Amateur!
Whatever the outcome of the Westminster Council election; it will have little effect on the world in general. The future voters who reside in Westminster, however might want to decide which way their town/city is going. Like the State of Florida, you have various populations that hold voting power (unlike Florida I haven't heard anything about hanging chads however). Florida has the large Senior population (as does Westminster) and they have a large Cuban population (like Westminster has the Vietnamese). The Presidential Candidates have been out courting Florida's voting groups. So have the Westminster Candidates - they've been at it for years, courting the Vietnamese and the Senior votes, and the Hispanic vote. But the Westminster politicians should not forget that the largest registered voting population in the city is not from any of these three groups. So they should remember the "silent majority" that votes. And, day by day, that majority gets a little more iritated with the courting of the other factions.
I'd kind of like to see some signs posted next to the freeway near offramps in Westminster on the 405 and the 22 freeways that say "American District" instead of "Korean District" or "Little Saigon". But good luck on that Westminster Voters!
And the slightly racist comment of the day goes to... Anonymous 6:23 AM
Congratulations.
Racist? I guess Fox news is racist too, and possibly all the people who keep statistics on how many of what race we have in our population, and possibly anyone who in any way recognizes that there are various races in our nation. I guess that would be racist. You should quit trying to "race bait" a simple statement and "spin" it to what you want someone to believe.
Haven't you kept up on the news? I guess Florida addresses their various populations too, the Cubans, the Elderly, the Hispanics, the Jewish. The Presidential candidates are out there addressing people by group, so that's apparently racist. I guess the non-cuban, non-hispanic, non-Jewish, non-Vietnamese should just assume that all comments specifically directed towards these groups should also apply to them.
Get over it.
I think Vivian Kirkpatrick-Pilger should just run for office already!!! She did a great job on the Midway City Sanitary District and was appointed to the Rose Center board.
It's an insult to the Republicans of the 47th Congressional District to have one of their delegate positions hijacked by an outsider.
Troung Diep doesn't live in 47th and he has no intention to move into the 47th. Though from San Diego, Truong Diep's status on the Midway City Sanitary District would suggest he lives in Dana Rohrabacher's district.
Thanks for the plug, Mark, but while I had planned to run for the Westminster City Council, I have decided to scale back my political activities until I wrap up a few other things. That would accelerate my political activities and after all, the incumbents win year after year in Westminster anyway. I ran when there was an open seat, but was not elected.
Right now I'm working on trying to fill in funding gaps for the Rose Center, which is no easy task. Margie Rice has tapped all of her sources for funding and we still need to get this funding shortfall under control. I've proposed Bingo night once a week. The local church makes about $150K a year with one night of Bingo a week. If we could make near that the Rose Center could continue to be operated by the Rose Center Foundation, of which the soul purpose is to fill in the gap of what it cost to operate the theater vs. what the income is. If we don't do that, then the City will take over the operation of it and then it will be a burden on the taxpayers. From the day the center was proposed I have been opposed to that (actually was opposed to the center being built because most community theaters cannot sustain their income to meet their expenses) so at least I am out there working for a solution to keep the taxpayers from having to pay for it out of the General Fund.
The "Dream" of the Rose Center is a nice one, but when times are hard you get less donation to operate it, so we need to get some solutions working.
This doesn't mean, however that I won't run for something else. LOL