Carol Rudat Takes Out Papers For Orange City Council
Posted by: Jubal | 08/01/2008 7:10 PM
Here we go again.Carol Rudat has taken out papers to run for Orange City Council. Readers will recall her ill-starred 2006 campaign in which she dropped more than $200,000, establishing a new record for Orange city politics. And there was the little matter that she didn't live in Orange (although the residency issue won't be the same drag as in 2006).
This isn't a huge surprise. Rudat was threatening to run in 2008 even before losing the 2006 election, and she's been popping up all over town.
There are two seats up, and the top two vote getters win. Councilmembers Tita Smith and Jon Dumitru are seeking re-election. Also taking out papers are Robert Douglas (sort of the Harold Stassen of Orange; he runs very cycle); Stuart Campbell; Michael Farrel; and Adolfo Perez.
It's extremely rare for an incumbent Orange councilman to lose. The last time was 1976. We're a big small town, we tend to elect people who have been active in the community for years. Tita Smith bleeds orange annd has a solid base in Old Towne. Jon Dumitru is another lifelong resident has worked very hard from the day he got elected, has been raising money and can point to some solid accomplishments.
Barring an act of God -- and assuming they continue to campaign with appropriate earnest -- both Dumitru and Smith should be safely re-elected..
Mayor Carolyn Cavecche has been an active, high-profile mayor and is thus far unopposed for re-election (we elected the mayor every two years). I'd be shocked if anyone mounted a suicide run against her.
Oh no, not again! It's like Nightmare on Elm Street, etc.
But why isn't residency a "drag"? Did she actually move to Orange? Or did people just stop caring?
This is going to be fun to watch her campaign fall apart. I have to say that she is probably one of the most vile people I have ever heard talk.
RP:
I think Jubal means it would now be a lot harder to prove she doesn't live in Orange. Rudat has practically doubled the size of the Orange bungalow she allegedly lives in and is all over the place in Orange.
I listened to Rudat speak to the OC Board of Supervisors during the selection process for former Sheriff Mike Carona's replacement. She didn't understand the laws that governed the process and contributed little to nothing to the discussion. I suspect she just wanted to get her name in the paper but all she really accomplished was to leave people shaking their heads.
I don't know if she's running out of spite after losing the last election or if she truly wants to do some good but that poor display of political grandstanding makes me wonder if she's up to the task.
I'll be a naysayer here. She is known in the city, she's attractive and she speaks well. I think that gives her a chance.
She seems to be angry when she talks. This will do her no favors especially with the reputation that she already has.
Rudat has zero chance of winning. She got hammered by Denis Bilodeau (a much weaker candidate than Dumitru or Smith) and it that was an OPEN SEAT!
Now she's up against two popular incumbents? She will be crushed, but she'll also probably spend about $200,000 like last time. So the real winner will be her consultant.
And to Red's question: No she doesn't live in Orange, but she bought the tiny house to establish residency two years ago, so she'll claim she's been there the whole time.
I'm sure once she files, she'll move into that house to promote the appearance of residency.
I'll say this about the lady... she knows how to hold a grudge!
Smith should easily be reelected.
She has been good for the community in general and has the City's population best interest at heart.
Carol Rudat, is a running again....SHe is going to takeon 2 very well liked and established incumbents. Both Smith and Dumitru, have done everything to ensure an easy reelection, they bot have a solid record and the City is in great shape.
She should wait till 2010 when there is an open seat and run then....she could walk into it with the cost of a ballot statement.
Oh, well....I will like to see all the IE's that come in now!!!