The Orange County Register’s Editorial Board endorsed three candidates for the Tustin City Council, for the upcoming November 6 election: Tracy Worley Hagen, Chuck Puckett and incumbent Councilman John Nielsen.
The Register noted that the Tustin City Council has been embroiled in several nasty lawsuits with the Tustin Unified School District, which seems rather ill-advised as we’re talking about taxpayer money being wasted by both sides.
Blogger Jeff Gallagher, of the “Our Town Tustin” blog agreed with the Register with the exception of Nielsen. They endorsed instead David Waldram, a lifelong Tustin resident. Waldram is apparently appalled by the behavior of the current Council,which is led by termed out Jerry Amante, a political hack I can’t stand either.
Worley and Waldam appear to be running as a slate. They have a combined website here. And a combined Facebook page here.
A Register reader accused Worley of supporting President Barack Obama, even though she is a Republican.
Waldram is apparently pro-life as he is endorsed by the O.C. Pro-Family Candidate List.
There is one more candidate, a doctor named Allen Bernstein. The Register liked him too but thought he needed a better grasp of the issues.
Craig Alexander, a local attorney and OC GOP Central Committee member, endorsed Nielsen and Bernstein.
The Democratic Party of Orange County did not endorse any of the Tustin candidates.
The Lincoln Club of Orange County’s Political Action Committee endorsed Bernstein, Puckett, and Nielsen.
I am inclined to support those three as well. Worley’s alleged support for Obama is disturbing on many levels and Waldram appears to be focused on social issues which are not relevant to Tustin’s local concerns.
Tustin’s voters are also going to be voting on Measure HH, which eliminates City Council compensation including benefits.
This measure appears to be widely popular. It is endorsed by the O.C. Register’s Editorial Board. The O.C. Taxpayers Association also endorsed it. And so did the Republican Party of Orange County.
Gallagher, the aforementioned Tustin blogger, is opposed to Measure HH.
I must disagree with Gallagher again. I like Measure HH and I wish other cities in Orange County would adapt similar measures. Or at least let the voters weigh in on Council compensation.