Some Republicans are trying to make a case that the entrance of Democrat Robert “Bob” Rush into the race for the 74th Assembly District is somehow going to translate into a loss for Newport Beach Council Member Leslie Daigle, who is running against her fellow Republican Allan Mansoor. I am not buying that. Rush doesn’t even have a campaign site! The guy is a City Council gadfly. I can’t see how anyone would take him seriously.
Mansoor is trying to make a case that he is the incumbent, but he isn’t. He currently represents the 68th Assembly District. Because of redistricting, he is now running for a different district, the 74th. How in the world does that make him an incumbent?
Moreover, Daigle is the only woman, in an open primary, versus two male candidates. That works in her favor. And if you compare her campaign website to Mansoor’s the difference is startling. Mansoor’s website looks like it was put together by a rank amateur, while Daigle’s looks professional. That means something to the well-off, educated voters in the 74th A.D.
And community leaders are lining up behind Daigle too. Several former Newport Beach Mayors announced their endorsement of Leslie Daigle for State Assembly today, according to a campaign press release.
Here are a few more excerpts from that press release:
“Leslie Daigle is a problem solver who thinks for herself,” stated former Newport Mayor Evelyn Hart. “Sacramento is full of legislators who take their orders from party leaders and the results have been disastrous. Leslie isn’t afraid to stand up to party leaders and special interests to get things done. She will be a breath of fresh air in the Assembly.”
Hart highlights a common sentiment among voters who regularly give current legislators approval ratings even lower than the Congress. Local leaders fare far better in similar polls and today’s endorsements will swing the momentum in Daigle’s favor.
Hart is joined by former Newport Mayors Clarence “Bus” Turner, Dennis O’Neil, Jan DeBay, Mike Henn, Steve Rosansky, John Cox, Milan Dostal, Tod Ridgeway, John Heffernan, John Noyes and Centenniel Mayor Don Webb. The City of Newport Beach is 106 years old.
But wait, there’s more! Daigle is also picking up a slew of endorsements from public officials involved with education, according to another campaign press release. Here are a few excerpts:
Education leaders in the Newport Mesa Unified School District, which over sees educaiton in both Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, have come out in overwhelming support of Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle’s candidacy for the 74th Assembly District.
Daigle’s endorsements include Newport Mesa School Board Trustees Martha Fluor, Judy Franco, Karen Yelsey, Dana Black and Walk Davenport. Former Trustee and long-time school principal Serene Stokes has endorsed Daigle as well as former trustee and current Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Wendy Leece.
Daigle’s support extends into Irvine where education is paramount. Carolyn McInerny and Gavin Findlay-Hunter of the Irvine Unified School District are backing Daigle as is former Irvine school board member and current Councilman Dr. Steven Choi, PhD.
Mansoor has yet to pick up any of these endorsements. He appears in fact to be running a horrible campaign. This is an open primary in a district that is not as hard core red as his last campaign. It is a Republican district, but there are a lot more moderates in the 74th, as compared to the 68th.
Ultimately voters will have to face facts. Mansoor has accomplished nothing. He is an under-educated Mexican basher, with only a two year community college degree. And before he was elected to the State Assembly, he was a government worker – a lowly O.C. prison guard. What a joke!
A Daigle victory will be a real black eye to the OC GOP machine – and a well-deserved one at that.
Anyone with a half a brain is a better choice than a bigot trapped in the closet.