Candidate for
Member, Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of Orange; State Assembly District 67

• COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEES.

CA Election Code Section 7236 provides that The Department of General Services shall permit any committee to hold meetings in a state building within the county. At least one committee meeting each month shall be free of charge.

Members of County Central Committees do not themselves have direct power for CHANGE. Those seeking election to the OCDCC should have background and qualification for application to their obligation to represent their constituencies in due diligence of performance to ensure their empowerment for viable political action is delivered.

Candidate recruitment, grooming and support is basic to ensure that caliber of candidates with capacity to present as viable political alternatives responsive to the concerns of our constituencies.

Instead, the OCDCC has long been DYSFUNCTIONAL, disproportionately dominated by organized labor together with a clique of benefactors joined in this alliance long entrenched, assembling in their union halls under that "label", defeating purpose of a structure designed by CA Election Code to be responsive to consitutents not even involved.

This faction has been successful in deflecting continuouos efforts of many of those concerned to overturn this counter-productive effort in order to enable support instead of candidates willing and able to join the effort to represent Vested Interests of 475,000 Registered Democrats in Orange County.

Moreover, the OCDCC conveys instead symbolic representation catering to a limited and exclusive agenda of a segment of only 15% of 7 Million registered Democrats statewide in ranks of organized labor, one too frequently adverse to the public welfare, health and safety, as opposed to the mutual interests of diversities of constituencies. As one example, The OC Sheriff, Deputies, Jail?.

Questions to be asked and answered.

1) It has been disclosed that deputies of The OC Sheriff are earning in excess of $100,000 a year, much of it in overtime, and that department has not been monitoring this expense?

2) Sheriff deputies work three (3) twelve (12) hour days in a "workweek." Disclosures emanating from the inexcusable and horrific death of an inmate at the hands of inmates, reportedly goaded by a deputy's false allegation, indicated that inmates were in charge while deputies were occupied with video games, television shows and movies?

3) Deputies drawing obscene schedules of compensation and benefits for their "leisure activity" then were paid overtime to perform accordingly on their "days off?"

4) Liability for the death of that inmate is the burden of taxpayers; inmates allegedly responsible are being prosecuted; deputies not charged, fully employed at taxpayer expense?

5) The Republican OC Board of Supervisors aghast? Unaware? Those behind the philosophy that social programs are frivolity, and in this case, funds available offset by costs of deputies and liability? 50% of organized labor is in their ranks!

But where is the Democratic outrage? This is what many of us feel should be the spoken words of our candidates.

In many neighborhoods, the exodus of vehicles of commuting residents to their workplaces begins at 6 AM and it is after 6 PM when they return, twelve (12) hrs. Many of these families have two wage-earners with "extended hours" to attend to demands of young children. Would it be that they had "work schedules" limited to twelve (12)hours EVERYDAY? Yet it is the public employees, the clerics, administrators, managers, and management on these flex work schedules that are demanding to "retire" at 55 with the bill to "working stiffs" who have to "keep going?"

Unions have come up with "living wage" demands so they can live "close in," (2% union dues). The irony is that the payroll costs billed [whether public employees or higher costs of union contracts] in property taxes that are components of qualification for mortgages is pricing those taxpayers out of affordable housing convenient to their work places with additional costs of their commute. Something wrong with this picture; especially when some of these public contracts are transient?

Fed up with those phone bills? CA State Senators are "in the other corner;" whose? "Union jobs." Verus seniors on fixed incomes and the rest of us paying dues? Sit right down and write a letter to: ??????

"Fee for unlisted phone number unlikely to end" A bill that would have halted the charge fails to gain enough votes in the state Senate. http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-unlisted29-2008may29,0,3211460.story

"How state senators voted on bill to end unlisted number fee" http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-unlistedvote29-2008may29,0,344030.story

And the answer is? ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL; all politicians have a local base! But in actuality, county central committees function in obscurity for lack of any media focus, and this is what explains the performance at a level of veritable dysfunction too frequently here in Orange County. Unions dominate by supporting installation of THEIR representtion and subsidzing costs of participation that are not remibursed for the rest of us.

By comparison and contrast The Republican Central Committee of Orange County has taken precinct organization to the exponentional. Republicans assemble in a hotel with "no host" food and beverages, their "worker bees," party officers and their elected officials, and in so doing vastly enhances introduction and exposure of those that can be identified and groomed as potential candidates for their constituencies, generating the supporting revenues in the process of building their notorious comaraderie.

"Powers that be within The OCDCC," instead organized what was to be an inaurgural celebration to honor those newly elected for the 2007-2009 term and with introductions to those re-elected members of The OCDCC that was instead conducted within a union sanctioned hotel, in a room the size of a shoebox, no introductions, right hands raised on signal to be sworn in, parking validated.

At the meeting of April 28, those of us aware of the intent and so concerned were unable to defeat a majority effort to revise Bylaws to allow veritably "anybody" appointed an alternate may be elected an officer of The OCDCC; the requirement that officers be ELECTED MEMBERS (directly responsible to their constituencies) was deleted by the prevailing clique to better advance their agenda.

The current chair is an alternate of an EX OFFICIO Member, who was unsuccessful as a candidate, not an ELECTED MEMBER; Republican counterparts have been ELECTED MEMBERS of their County Committee. The head of a major county employee association known fond of signing off his communications with "In Solidarity" is an alternate for a Member of The OCDCC; other labor people are ELECTED and APPOINTED MEMBERS all with entitlement to appoint alternates.

Neither members of The Armed Forces of the United States nor Federal Employees may be politically involved. Clubs of the Orange County Democratic Party may elect a representative to the OCDCC; they may attend but do not have voting privileges. Bylaw revisions crafted by the same "interested parties" removed "office of Chair" as "ultimate authority," without designation of same.

CA Election Code Section 7208 specifically restricts authority of alternates to act without approval of whomever appointed them in their absence, which does not even excuse that absence of the ELECTED MEMBER.

Moreover, CA Election Code Section 7213 specifically states grounds for removal as three (3) consecutive absences (of ELECTED MEMBERS) from regularly scheduled meetings

Assembly District Committees have been shut down. Upon analysis, it is a predictable path to organizational fracture. ADCs were permanent and direct links to The Democratic State Central Committee of The California Democratic Party, all residents of respective ADs were automatically eligible for membership and participation, election as officers and delegates of ADCs to the DSCC.

ADCs were dismantled within "Executive Sessions" of the DSCC over a few months, "done deals," replaced by biennial "caucuses," many not publicized, typically assembled by "insiders" who elect "their own" as "delegates" to The DSCC to attend and vote at annual Conventions of The CDP, disbanding upon adjournment until the next convention, hardly suggestive of those representing AD constituencies, the GRASS ROOTS the ADCs were structured to recruit and mobilize; ADCs should have been strengthened by enforcement of Bylaws of The CDP, and this restructuring should be a priority.

Bylaws of The OCDCC were revised over a six hour "work session" of a "dedicated" few and "rammed through" on a consent calendar format; objections readily voted down. These crticial structural corrections of Bylaws of The OCDCC should be the first order of business for the 2009-2011 term.

If a reconfiguration of process and procedures codified in Bylaws to involve constituencies is to be accomplished, it is imperative that their representation be expressly supported in this election on June 3 of this year to ensure bona fide representatives of Democratic constituencies and NOT SPECIAL INTERESTS, together with lobbyists, overwhelming the public interests.

Moreover, Members of The Democratic State Central Committee of The California Democratic Party are elected by those members of respective county central committees statewide, inclusive of those of The OCDCC. This organizational structure of The CDP reflects the same disproportionate representation and domination. It is a matter of restoring process to enable empowerment of our constituencies.

• POLITICAL REFORM.

Regardless of issues of "Choice," the concerns for appointment to The US Supreme Court, Bushliters were elected. Regulation was extinguished, monopolies created havoc across all industries; innovation became superfluous; witness identical products in hardware, pet supplies, furniture, linens, and even yard furniture; consumer choices have been curtailed and $$$s flow to the few. Could history repeat?

• POLITICS IS LOCAL STRENGTH OF NUMBERS.

None of these "union deals" are intimidated by elected representatives nor are there prosecutions because of a systemic breach long pattern and practice that is no longer affordable as all critical systems and crucial social services are without available funding. Law enforcement, sheriffs, district attorneys the feds all have a UNION and that is the "blue line" not perceived as politically correct discussion, which suggests that "due diligence" is not employed against "associates." Of late, it is "politically correct" to suggest purge of systems of education but not 200,000 state employees, or staff of correctional institutions that don't even have standards of academic qualifications.

There is an unfunded $48 Billion liability for compensation and benefits of "public servants?" This ordinary commerce of reciprocity for campaign support results in "cooking of books" not unlike those of Enron where corporate moguls went to federal prisons for the same conduct.

The same "politicians" so complicent with demands of UNION AGENDAS are not so intimidated by the most vulnerable amongst us denied the critical support programs essential to their quality of lives, nor those without access to health care, or youths handicapped by educational systems reduced to frivolity for all but the elite?

It is imperative to derail these political opportunitists before complete deterioration of our social fabric. Testimony to the disproportionate representation of organized labor is that the Mayor of LA, Speaker of the Assembly and President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as well as the Chair of The CDP came from "the union bench;" and the Republican Governor "doesn't offend," given 50% of union members are in GOP ranks.

Clearly there would not be crises throughout all systems if we were recruiting, supporting and electing the quality of candidates to be effective representatives of the public interests, and were dysfunctional and non-performing employees terminated, with appropriate prosecution for related unlawful and criminal conduct. Republicans are unlikely to embrace these concerns for the public welfare, health and safety.

• PACKAGING and LABELING.

• LOCKSTEP?

Clamor for CHANGE is long overdue amid calls for summary judgement of the Democratic candidates vying for the nomination as OUR Presidential candidate in time for what by whose "timepiece?" Those with a focus on their "ponies," not the public welfare, health and safety.

• BALANCE.

By contrast, those in the public sector are secured from consequences of performance or accountability and with obscene schedules of benefits/retirements hardly justified by lack of "stress" for the typical employee not police/firemen. Once hired secured and through retirement. The cumulative benefits provided "public employees," for the most part, are far superior to those of the private sector. What were claims of set-offs of lower salaries by benefits no longer holds.

88% of the work force has rejected an obsolete union agenda disregarding intrinsic motivations of those striving for achievement and its own recognition in promotion, compensation, retention. In CA, the population is 2.2 Million, 50% in Republican ranks, and the 1.1 Million in those Democratic represent but 15% of 7 Million Registered Democrats.

The disproportionate domination of this special interest has marginalized 85% of our Democratic constituencies, inclusive of minorities and those among professional men and women, many of whom are striving for upward mobility and sharing Democratic values while contributing to the general economy within corporate America. Funds otherwise available for critical social program crucial to quality of lives of the most vulnerable amongst us are consumed by demands of organized labor to support their agenda.

• CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT.

Policies of Exclusion vs. Inclusion An apt description might be of power brokers convening in bayous to develop their agendas and bundled funding; a closed circuit wherein isolation maintained provides the turf for preservation of this closure by those oblivious to the 475,000 Registered Democrats in this county, which may be a microcosm of endenmic national political crises, demographical depictions of level of education, sophistication, and affluence rendered meaningless and powerless.

Reversing every tenet of organizational development cannot be a "coincidential" happenstance in overt manifestation of failure of effort to energize and mobilize OUR PEOPLE by regular assemblies and camaraderie that would itself provide the natural evolution of those presenting with those qualities to be viable political alternatives for our constituents.

Midnight Round-ups. For candidates saddled with baggage as "unknowns," and a history of same, potential for success is known to approach zero when "the media" won't "spare a line of print." This is also a major deterrent for many individuals with qualification and potential to be excellent candidates who have not been groomed and introduced, nor have the inclination or financial wherewithal for that risk of a "parachute" drop. And in this background pundits proclaim that Democratic candidates cannot be elected? Is "the fix" in? Is this "incumbent protection?"

Endorsements. Only recently there was embarassment of a demand to withdraw endorsement of a candidate following published news accounts hardly isolating issues that were basically unsubstantiated allegations, various and sundry, arbitrary conclusions of some individuals.

The OCDCC could not have acted in good conscience to so respond after extensive airing of points of view and conflicting accounts, some of which are headed for a courtroom. Additionally, many of us had familiarity as to stated allegations to vet the veracity of claims brought forward. Issues as to candidate qualification had been resolved according to procedures and votes rendered for endorsement.

Process and Procedure. An "endorsement conference" was convened at 5 PM on a Thursday night, inclusive of a race extending from Palos Verdes to South County. Mail in ballots sufficed, few bothered to attend in person; this particularly disturbing where there were contested races.

Candidates were given two (2) minutes to introduce themselves, no questions were allowed.

Instead of reflecting respect for this critical process in arranging this conference under authority of the Regional Director, many candidates were attempting to introduce themselves to a few remaining people, and as one of them, there were few.

Many of us voted "no endorements" given lack of information or concerns for the little available. Manifesting the consistency of anemic assemblies, the setting was some kind of work/store room behind a union hall. No amenities. Not a plant!

A position can be argued that a complete reconfiguration of organizational process and procedure throughout the CDP is critical and that constituent awareness and that demand is crucial.

The vacuum instead extends to inadequate fundraising to support political action of an ongoing concern resulting in union benefactors as "last resort" for aspiring candidates then held to that reciprocity! 475,000 registered Democrats in Orange County working together instead could "build a party" forged to unite behind MUTUAL OBJECTIVES of the diversities of our constituencies.

It is a responsibility of the OCDCC to forge and sustain required management of effective operating strategies to support that effort essential to viable political action to enable strong and powerful leadership.

• ENGAGE DEMOCRATIC STAKEHOLDERS.

475,000 registered Democrats of this county have been made to feel they are impotent and powerless by "leadership" that has prevailed.

Statistical reference in the aftermath of the KERRY/EDWARDS campaign indicated that only 13% of newly registered voters bothered to do so! The Democratic Party has to function as a "work in progress," not just during election cycles.