Jim Righeimer for Costa Mesa City Council
Posted by: Tomahawk | 08/11/2008 5:35 PM
I received an email this morning from my friend Jim Righeimer (pictured left) announcing his bid for a seat on the Costa Mesa City Council. This is a very exciting opportunity not only for Jim and his family but also for his many friends whom he generously helped in the past.
Aside from being a successful businessman, Jim is also a true Republican activist at heart. When he came up short in his Assembly bid in 2000 against Tom Harman, Jim didn't disappear from politics like most people. He founded the Family Action Pac with other folks like Mark Bucher and Larry Smith to groom pro-family values candidates.
After moving to Costa Mesa a few years ago, Jim was appointed to serve on the Planning Commission because of his pro-business approach to public policy. He was then asked by the Daily Pilot to be a weekly columnist. I'm not certain about it, but Jim Righeimer is also serving on the Orange County Housing Commission.
In whatever spare time he has left, Jim is also running his own blog Rigonomics.com.
Over the years, he has supported countless Republican causes and candidates. As one of the people who have benefited from his generosity, I am excited to see him make another run for public office.
There are three City Council seats up for grab this year in Costa Mesa. Are of them are occupied by incumbents running for re-election: Mayor Eric Bever, Katrina Foley and Linda Dixon. Foley and Dixon are the Democratic minority on the council.
Jim can either team up with Eric Beaver and run as a slate or he can do it separately. Either way, he is sure to have the support of the GOP establishment figures like Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Assemblyman Van Tran and Supervisor John Moorlach.
However, this race is far from a sure thing because there several former Council Members who are running with higher name ID than Jim. If you are interested in giving Jim a hand to make sure that we keep a pro-business/conservative majority on the Costa Mesa City Council, please contact his campaign manager Ethan Temianka at (949) 939-2447.
UPDATE 8:31 PM - I was just told that Linda Dixon did not return her paperwork, hence the deadline for City Council is extended until 5:00 pm this Wednesday.
Mr. Ayer registered as a Republican to be electable in an interim election with no incumbents. He did...
Thank you Tomahawk for your post on Jim Righeimer.
I have also known Jim for a few years and have always been impressed with his knowledge of good public policy, his advocacy limited government and ethical practices. And your correct Tomahawk Jim has been helpful and generous to many good Republicans to help them get elected to local offices in the OC. Jim is a true movement conservative who will be a great addition to the Costa Mesa City Council.
I predict there will be a wealth of people who will step up to help Jim.
Did Jim ever clear up all his financial problems and unpaid debts that cost him the election when he ran against Harman? If I remember, Harman and his labor union friends did some pretty effective hit pices on good old Jim.
Anon 9:18 PM -- I believe it was the open primary that affected the outcome of that election.
Weak Question
The only things that cost Riggy the election were an open primary (dems voting) and a huge union effort. If either were different, he is elected easily.
Righeimer is a great, solid coservative, my check will be in the mail to him soon.
This is going to be a very interesting election for Costa Mesans. In addition to Foley and Bever - both strong incumbents - Gary Monahan, former three term councilman and mayor, has said he's running again. He will "look like an incumbent" to many voters who might not even know he was termed out two years ago. Riggy is a strong player, even facing such an experienced field. There are also four others - three complete neophytes and Chris Bunyan, who ran and finished dead last in 2006. It's gonna be fun!
Your guys are right about the open primary and the huge labor union effort that sunk Jim in his Assembly race, but I think you miss the point. The labor union mailers were about Jim's financial transgressions - if his Council opponnets have the funds they can surely re-use the same hits. Also, like an open primary, all voters participate in City Council elections and the Presidential campaign will bring lots of Demos to the polls.
Everyone knows that Jim is only running for Council so he can set himself up for Assembly again in two years, but I think he may have picked the wrong race at the wrong time.
I am proud to support Jim.
Costa Mesa is fortunate to have someone so accomplished, and intelligent seeking public office.
Years ago he encountered adversity, was able to adapt and adjust, and succeed. This is a trate of a successful entrepreneur.
I did not support him when he last ran for office, and since that time I have come to appreciate how bright and qualified he is. He is a solid fiscal conservative, and that type of leadership is much needed.
Tom Tucker
I'm pleased to see another clearly qualified candidate in the race.
It is common knowledge in local GOP circles that Rig stiffed a well-connected local GOP printer for tens of thousands of dollars the last time he ran. Did he ever make good on that debt?
Go Riggy!
It was not too long along that a bankruptcy was something to be ashamed of. Now it seems to be just another financial planning tool! No wonder our state and federal governments are so messed up -- look who is running them! The GOP needs to do a better job of recruiting good candidates and future leaders.
Our Party needs more leaders of principle like Senator (soon to be Congressman)Tom McClintock and Congressman John Campbell. I am afraid that Mr. Righeimer does not appear to measure up.
Been Around - Jim never filed for bankruptcy. As you may know Jim is a real estate developer and back in the early 1990s real estate went into the tank. Jim told me a couple of years ago he had liens at that time but over time he paid back each and every debt he had. Further that he never filed for bankruptcy - ever.
Given that a lot people in real estate at that time used a bankruptcy filing to get rid of debt and start over, Jim's sticking to his guns and responsibilities by paying off all of his creditors instead of going the easy bankruptcy way is impressive. That is the kind of leadership we need in government - and I for one hope one day Jim is elected to an office in Sacramento or Washington, D.C.!
Last I heard, Righeimer never filed bankruptcy. He could have, but decided to pay off all his debts instead, like an honest man.
"Been Around" who the heck are you to imply so much when you know so little?
I just reviewed the bankruptcy files on Lexis. There is no record of any Righeimer ever filing bankruptcy.
Why in the world do we in Costa Mesa want someone who is only setting himself up for the next higher office? Is he really going to pay attention to our needs or is he going to posture for future support?
We have some tough issues on our plate like the 55 freeway and Banning Ranch that need serious work by someone who isn't afraid of being slapped around by the Newport Beach GOP money machine.
Righeimer ought to be an honest man if he is all you guys claim and tell the voters he is just interested in padding his political resume.
When CM Republican says "banning ranch" and the "55 freeway" what he is really saying is "we need to stop new developments and freeways in Costa Mesa."
Wow. What a Republican free market advocate. Maybe it's time to change the handle to CM Squish.
Plus, I'm not sure Riggy is looking to jump to higher office like everyone suspects. He has young kids and seems extremely focused on the Costa Mesa issues.
Raising money for a new football stadium isn't exactly going to set him up for an Assembly run. It looks like he is pretty dedicated to city issues.
Traslation Said:
"When CM Republican says "banning ranch" and the "55 freeway" what he is really saying is "we need to stop new developments and freeways in Costa Mesa.""
Your translation is flawed. What it means is overcoming the Newport Beach stranglehold on developing the 55 and relieving the traffic that Banning Ranch will create which will be shouldered ENTIRELY by Costa Mesa residents. It has nothing to do with free market economics at all. It has to do with appropriate LOCAL planning and advocacy.
If you all love Riggy so much, please, ask him to run for city council in YOUR city. How arrogant can a guy be to move into a city one day and the next tell the citizens of that city he is the most qualified candidate to run the city? Give me a break!