Matthew Cunningham

Member For

1 year 18 weeks

Website:

Contact:

Red County Editor -
Orange County, CA
matt@redcounty.com

BIOGRAPHY

Matthew Cunningham has been active in California politics for nearly 20 years as a writer and public affairs consultant. He is a pioneer in the area of local political blogging: in 2004, he founded Orange County’s first persistent, successful political blog, OC Blog, which spawned the most influential regional blogosphere in California and evolved into a national network of more than 30 local blogs under the RedCounty.com banner. He’s also a regular contributor to the FlashReport Blog, California’s leading statewide conservative blog.

He is a regular panelist on new media issues, and even served as an expert witness on blogging in a trial involving a state employee who blogged about his agency and was being harassed by supervisors who wanted to know the employees sources. The blogger was vindicated.

Cunningham's consulting firm, Pacific Strategies, provides strategic counsel and new media consulting to private and public sector clients. His work has appeared in leading print and online media, including national outlets such as the Fox Forum, Politico.com and National Review Online, as well as virtually every major daily newspaper in California.

Over the years, Cunningham has forged relationships with elected officials, key staff and opinion leaders in state, regional and local government, and served in senior media relations positions with a number of statewide and local campaigns.

COMMENTARIES

AD72 Special Election Watch: Looking Grim For Ackerman

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/05/09

The latest campaign disclosures in the AD72 special election came out today, covering the period October 4 through October 3. During that time, Linda Ackerman raised $166,070, for a total-to-date of $199,467 (interestingly, there are quite a few Fullerton addresses among the list of contributors, more than on Norby's). She has spent $196,568 thus far, and at the end of October had a cash-on-hand balance of $35,756. Sup. Chris Norby... read more »

8 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

SD34 Watch: More On Sue Perez

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/05/09

I asked veteran consultant Dave Gilliard, who is running Sue Perez's run against Democratic Sen. Lou Correa, for more information on his client: "Sue Perez has 12 years of broadcast experience as host of a highly popular syndicated talk show, “Our Town”, watched by millions of viewers on the TBN network. She holds a Doctorate of Ministry Degree, as well as an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice. She brings to the... read more »

4 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

OC Register Schizophrenia

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/05/09

Color me confused. For the last couple of years, the standard narrative out of the OC Register's editorial section -- as articulated by Steve Greenhut -- was the GOP is a quasi-statist party dominated by establishment sell-outs who only pay lip-service to liberty and limited government. In two sequential OCR editorials this week about the NY23 congressional election, however, Republicans are chided for supporting a conservative... read more »

3 Comments | Related Topics »CALIFORNIA |

OC Blog News Roundup - November 5, 2009

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/05/09

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain: It's The Health Insurance, Stupid! (OCR) Teri Sforza looks at benefits available to various local elected officials. 'Collegiate' K-8 Charter School proposed For Mission Viejo (OCR) Shuttered O'Neill Elementary could reopen as Oxford Preparatory Academy. Student Who Sued Teacher Ordered To Pay More Money (OCR) Defense team for James Corbett awarded $12,631 so far. Mayors Raise Stink... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

SD34 Watch: A GOP Candidate Emerges To Challenge Lou Correa

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/05/09

For months, the Senate GOP leadership has been trying to recruit a Republican candidate to challenge Democratic Sen. Lou Correa for re-election. Correa famously broke his 2006 "no new taxes" pledge by providing the passing vote this spring to impose the largest tax increase in California history. The prime target of those recruitment efforts was Sup. Janet Nguyen, who would have a "free ride" to take Correa. Polling... read more »

1 Comment | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

Sheriff Hutchens Endorses Scott Steiner For Judge

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/03/09

This came over the transom this mroning from the Scott Steiner for Judge campaign: Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Endorses Deputy District Attornney Scott Steiner Santa Ana----Deputy District Attorney Scott Steiner announced today that he has been endorsed by Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens for Superior Court Judge. “As a Deputy District Attorney, Scott has worked closely with my office for more than 10 years and most... read more »

6 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

Capo High School History Teacher Twists History

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/03/09

There was a letter to the editor in yesterday's OC Register from a Jim Corbett of San Clemente, accusing columnist Gary Galles of "pervert[ing] history" by "selectively quot[ing] as harboring anti in the service of a modern political view." In an October 30 column, Galles celebrated the birthday of John Adams by furnishing a selection of the great man's quotes on our fundamental natural rights and their relation... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

OC Blog News Roundup - November 3, 2009

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/03/09

Today's top stories from behind the Orange Curtain: Toll Roads Agree To $42 Million Settlement For Penalties (OCR and LAT) Plaintiffs in class-action suit had alleged that penalties for unpaid tolls were excessive. Consultant's Bill For Harmonious Labor Negotiations: $300,000 And Rising (OCR) Met hired consultant Agreement Dynamics in February 2008 to help with labor negotiations. US Attorney Won't Prosecute Duvall (OCR and... read more »

1 Comment | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

OC Environmentalists Suddenly Don Green Eye Shades

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/02/09

Today's LA Times features an article on the increased opposition from some OC environmentalists to the County of Orange accepting the gift of 20,000 acres of the Irvine Ranch. "Where's the budget, where's the money, and where's the negotiating room?" said Jean Watt, president of Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks, at an Orange County Board of Supervisors meeting this fall where the donation was discussed. That's an... read more »

0 Comments | Related Topics »Orange County (CA) |

AD72 Special Election Watch: Norby Outraising Ackerman Last Few Days

By Matthew Cunningham | 11/01/09

For a campaign entering its home stretch, the fundraising doesn't stop -- even for Halloween. Let's take a look at where the money has been flowing the last couple of days. On October 30, Sup. Chris Norby had a banner day, hauling in $11,600. This included $3,900 from Howard Ahmanson. Will this provoke a finger-wagging from Norby supporter Steve Greenhut, for whom religious conservatives have become a favorite whipping boy? There's also this... read more »