Fun Nuggets From Orange County – Two GOP Incumbents Lose Primaries and DUI Debbie Finishes 7th in a Vote for 6!

 2020 Elections, AD72 Race, AD73 Race, AD74 Race, Bill Brough, OC GOP, Tyler Diep  2 Responses »
Mar 182020
 

Take a look at Tyler Diep how is now about 1,000 votes down. We wrote about him on Monday 3-16-2020. If I am DieDre Nguyen, I am not looking forward to what is in store for me. Janet Nguyen is one of the few Politicians that I respect for their willingness to kick some tail. (This is an EXCEEDINGLY RARE commodity on the R side of the aisle)

William Bill Brough is burnt toast. Let’s soon see that report on him from the assembly working committee about his maladies with women, Ok? Now that there is no political advantage to be gained for Anthony Rendon sitting on it, it is time for the Report which we know was finished in early February to come out.

IN AD74 – I proudly helped Diane Dixon, but the incumbent is sitting on 52% of the vote. Cottie Petrie-Norris-Norris is going to be a tough target.

Earlier, We detailed how William “Bill” Brough’s TOP 2 supporters – the crazed on-again and off-again Republican Art Sanchez and Sex Robot Shawn got less than 3% of the vote in their efforts for OCGOP Central Committee in AD73… we have NEW and exciting news to report:

DUI Debbie wrapped herself around a political telephone pole. She is down 199 votes with next to no ballots left in Orange County to tally. Remember, because of the dispersion of votes in a vote for 6 race, 199 Votes may as well be 1,000.

The OCGOP dodged a major bullet and barring some idiot elected appointing her as an alternate, SHE GONE. The members of the OCGOP will get some peace from her six-page emails and unhinged rants.

ICYMI: Orange County AD55, 68, 72, 74 and AD-73 Update: Very Important Capitol Rumor – Democrats Stalling Release of Brough Sexual Misconduct Report Until After March Primary?

 2020 Elections, AD-55 Race, AD72 Race, AD73 Race, AD74 Race, Tyler Diep  1 Response »
Dec 272019
 

With the sudden filing of Janet Nguyen vs Tyler Diep in AD-72 – the Democrats believe an already competitive race may be an easier pickup. Diep is vulnerable and his personal conduct before and since being elected is the subject of legend and may end up on the pages of Right on Daily (and maybe local media outlets). Don’t forget that this is overlaid by the CA-48 race (Michelle Park Steel) that will draw a likely $10 Million.

Tyler Diep

In AD-74, a democrat is holding an R-leaning seat and there is a massive schism in the OCGOP that deadlocked an endorsement. While Kelly Empty has limited resources, a handful of people still trying to wield influence are attempting to push the volatile Ernby over the line in to the March runoff. This increases the level of difficulty for the GOP significantly let alone for Diane Dixon who has at least triple the resources of Mrs. Ernby but will be forced to expend them all to deal with the stubborn challenge.

Kelly Ernby.

AD-68: Stephen Choi is considered extremely vulnerable and he hurt himself by attempting to defend his colleague William “Bill” Brough. Brough’s spiraling scandal is affecting the entire area. Choi’s troubles are compounded by the vulnerable John Moorlach SD-37 and the Congressional Race where Katie Porter could have $10Million come in on her behalf. Choi’s opponent was fundraising off of his AD-73 related gaffe.

AD-55: Phillip Chen is also considered vulnerable now. AD-55 is overlaid by the Ling-Ling-Ling Chang Senate Seat (SD-29) and millions coming to avenge the recall of Josh Newman. Ling-Ling-Ling is viewed as the next most likely to bolt the GOP as she is as liberal as Mayes or Maienschein are. The CA-39 Race (Young Kim) is also overlaid on this and will be drawing massive outside money as well.

Which brings us to AD-73. There is zero incentive for the legislative democrats to play this straight. With Bill Brough being on a rampage to prove himself innocent (and everyone else around him wrong), the democrats want him to make the fall runoff. If Brough makes the AD-73 runoff against a democrat the FPPC investigation and the sexual misconduct investigation are all but guaranteed to drop. If they were baseless, they would be coming out whenever and no one would be talking about them in the halls of the legislature.

William “Bill” Brough

The refuseniks on the OCGOP who refuse to endorse anyone for any reason and any time before filing can thank themselves for enabling Brough to feel comfortable filing for re-election. Other groups and other people took action before the primary – but the OCGOP whose voice was the loudest waited until the day after filing to finally stand against Brough. I had criticized Fred Whitaker until around mid September as it was clear then that he had arrived at the conclusion that Brough’s victims were legitimate and that Brough was a problem. Unfortunately, Whitaker is not a strong or persuasive person and had to wait until filing closed to get Brough dealt with.

The democrats did not miss this dynamic. While the Orange County Republican world is (finally) aligned against Brough – the democrats know the weakness and knew that Republican “leadership” as in Marie Waldron protecting a leadership vote, were running interference for Brough. (All while knowing at least 3 weeks in advance Mayes was going to bolt parties) The significance of Chad Mayes leaving the GOP is that he was a leadership vote for Waldron, so all this sandbagging to protect Brough was for naught.

Think it through – it took 6 months of relentless pounding by the Right on Daily Blog AND dozens of other state level media articles to finally get the movement that has only happened in the last three weeks! (Regarding AD-73) It is as if some were hoping against hope they’d never be forced to act!

From Ben Adler Capitol Public Radio and Stephen Frank:

The California Legislature spent nearly $2 million last year investigating sexual harassment accusations involving lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists, and received 15 new allegations — including four against state senators and two separate complaints against an Assembly member.

This newly released data, obtained by CapRadio as part of a Legislative Open Records Act request, is from 2018 and the first month of 2019. The response includes no names, which is consistent with the same data released in the past.

But CapRadio’s request for data on all allegations made since January has so far been denied.

That means these newly released details about sexual harassment at the state Capitol will be the last ones the public ever sees — unless the Legislature chooses to disclose information from its newly formed, joint Senate-Assembly Workplace Conduct Unit.

Read the article carefully and cross-reference it with what I have been told from several political insiders: The Bill Brough investigation will be completed sometime around mid December (now) and sent to the joint committee. What they do with the information and investigation is up to the leadership (as in the dem majority) of the Assembly. I’ve been told that Anthony Rendon and the other Democrat leaders fancying a complete wipe-out of Republicans in Orange County will be forestalling the release of the report.

The failure of GOP Groups to act decisively earlier and take out the trash could bite us yet again. We’ve seen Bill Brough’s issues spill over in to AD-68. With the air of scandal barely below the surface in AD-72, you have to wonder if your intrepid blogger has connected the dots correctly between the rumored delay of the Brough Report and the refusal of the legislature to release records to the Capitol Public Radio crew whose lawsuit victory allowed us to see the #MeToo stuff that we actually did see.

I am thrilled that the OCGOP endorsed an opponent, Laurie Davies against Bill Brough. I am also thrilled that the OC Lincoln Club did as well a couple days before filing closed. I am waiting on the OC New Majority to do the deed as well in public. I now hope this effort is enough to overcome name ID and incumbency – especially with Ed Sachs deciding to file in what looks like a Brough-level temper tantrum when the OC Lincoln Club picked Davies over him. Ed Sachs has increased the level of difficulty exponentially to get Brough out of the top two.

Bill Brough will affect every single race in Orange County: SD-29, SD-37, AD-55, AD-68, AD-72, AD-73 and AD-74. The 4 Congressional Races were being doubly impacted until Duncan Hunter Jr. pled guilty and bailed out. (The four are CA-38, CA-45, CA-48 and CA-49)

Remember one of your intrepid blogger’s old adages – NEVER EVER RELY ON A JUDGE OR AN INVESTIGATION TO DO WHAT YOU COULD NOT DO AT THE BALLOT BOX. This means to everyone reading this from Orange County – make sure you join your intrepid blogger and make sure Bill Brough gets buried. Please.

AD-73 Update: The Sad Shrinking World of Bill Brough – His Latest Fundraiser Tells Us All We Need to Know (Bonus AD-74 Update too)

 2020 Elections, AD73 Race, AD74 Race, Bill Brough  No Responses »
Nov 252019
 

Bill is now using Anne Dunsmore after Stacy Davis discontinued her services for him three months ago. Dunsmore is also involved in the flailing Kelly Empty effort in AD74 as well. It is my understanding that Dunsmore comes at a high price that we believe Bill Brough is going to be hard pressed to pay. Dunsmore is alleged to be charging a second tier congressional candidate an $8,000 a month retainer. What would she charge an incumbent with major league issues? At last 5K per month, you’d think. Then there is 15% of the take on top of that.

If Dunsmore is worth the freight, she should start calling the Lincoln Club on Bill’s behalf. That ought to be an experience for her no doubt. She will find out soon enough why Bill Brough lost the services of Stacy Davis – who is widely regarded and respected. (Hint: Bill Drinks, … a lot)

Note that the host committee is down to two people and there is no charge to go to the event. One of the two people, Enzo owns the now famous Brio Tuscanny Grille. I’ve never been there for food, but I have read their name 40+ times in the course of studying William “Bill” Brough’s reports. Note that there are no electeds, or stakeholders on the committee. It consists of just two local business-owners. I do salute those two men for honoring their friendship with Bill Brough. I’d suggest they should probably throw water and Gatorade down Bill’s face for two days and then talk to him about his drinking. But, that’s just my opinion as every time I am told about Bill these days, he’s drinking or scowling.

I will be curious to check end of year reports to see what Anne Dunsmore has done to or for both Ernby and William Bill Brough.

I am also of the opinion that Ernby is going to be forced to deal with reality. This is the reality that despite having a few backers, she is simply unable to close the deal much of anywhere. It is also so common with also ran candidates, as she reacted poorly to people attempting to give her a second chance to run for Judge, etc.

It is really going to suck to be Bill Brough over the next month or so. I mean, he filed for re-election to show us all whose boss. Now Bill is going to meet his daddy, his drill instructor and his rehab therapist (or wish to God he had of). Bill Brough may well be the uniter of the OCGOP in a way he never imagined.

Kelly Ernby? She pretty much cooked herself with her hubris. Yikes. Hopefully she stays in a Holiday Inn Express somewhere so she has an excuse for her behavior.

AD-74 Update: Kelly Ernby Melts Down in an Email to OCGOP. #KELLYEMPTY #ANGRYERNBY

 2020 Elections, AD74 Race, Kelly Ernby  No Responses »
Nov 112019
 

I am not sure who is advising Kelly Ernby, but I feel for them. It appears that Kelly Ernby’s ego is gigantic and uncontrollable.

The AD74 race has kind of taken a back seat to AD73 as AD73 will likely be decided in the primary unless the extremely damaged and contemptible William “Bill” Brough makes it through to the runoff. In AD74 the issue is having a strong challenger to Cottie-Petrie-Petrie-Norris. The dem leadership have recently set up Mizz Petrie Dish with a couple of feel-good bills so she could mug for the Camera. (I noted Bill Brough in some of the photos looking hung over as well)

What I was told by several insiders in Orange County was that some stakeholders in Orange County arranged a meeting with Kelly Ernby. Mrs. Ernby has missed the memo that she is polling around the same region as a sugar pill would poll. Mrs. Ernby by all accounts has raised less than $100k and her rate of bleed with Anne Dunsmore and Duane Dichara on the payroll means she will run out of money shortly. It is the combination of these factors that motivated said stakeholders to call on Mrs. Ernby.

The meeting did not go well as Mrs. Ernby demonstrated a lack of maturity and hubiris that no one seemed to have detected. (They should have asked your intrepid blogger, I’d have told them)

Kelly decided to respond by detonating herself in an email to the Orange County Republican Party. Mrs. Ernby knows that Diane Dixon is very close to the 2/3 threshold and she likely thought that unloading a tirade may provide that little something extra… to motivate undecided or the refusnik (never endorse for any reason anytime) members of the OCGOP in to the Dixon Column. I just could not see Duane Dichara or Anne Dunsmore signing off on the email I am about to post.

From: Kelly Ernby <DELETED>
Date: Fri, Nov 8, 2019, 5:43 PM
Subject: Can we stop the dirty politics and let the voters decide?

Dear Members and Alternates,

In our last central committee meeting in October, Diane Dixon and I both agreed to withdraw our names for endorsement for the 74th Assembly District seat.  In the words of Diane Dixon herself, it was “for the sake of the party.”  Since that time, I would like to bring to your attention to two significant events.

First, Diane Dixon has apparently changed her mind and is now seeking the endorsement at the next central committee meeting.  I was told this was calendared by Chairman Whitaker without any notice or consultation with me.  At a minimum, I would ask you to reject this item purely on the way it was presented, particularly after a deal had been struck.  It would be manifestly wrong for Diane Dixon to slip in this endorsement request without an invitation being extended to me to do the same, especially in light of our previous agreement.

The second item is more disturbing.  And I bring it to your attention because it directly affects whether this party should be endorsing in this partisan contested primary in the first place.  Some members of our Party have asked me to leave the race to reduce the costs of the primary.  They tell me I should have started my political career by running for a different office.  There is nothing wrong with these comments.  However, lately, this same “advice” has come from Diane Dixon’s campaign with a much different tone.  Specifically, earlier this week, Teresa Hernandez, who many of you know, suggested I leave the race for Assembly and run for a different office—either Huntington Beach City Council or Superior Court Judge. Mrs. Hernandez identified herself as one of the people who recruited Mrs. Dixon to run and she is now one of Dixon’s strongest advisors and advocate.  She told me that if I did not drop out of the race, Mrs. Dixon was prepared to spend $400,000 in the primary campaign for Assembly to “bloody me up” and smear my good name.  As a result of the negative campaign I should expect from Mrs. Dixon, I was told, my reputation would be so tarnished that I would never be able to run for public office again.  Further, if I refused to drop out, Mrs. Hernandez advised that Lincoln Club and Party members would be told of my lack of compliance with her demand, implying that my lack of cooperation would be seen in a negative light.  Similar calls, with similar language of threats to me have been made specifically by Mrs. Dixon’s campaign staff to others connected to my campaign.

Mrs. Hernandez offered me an alternative to the grim picture she painted were I to remain in the race.  Should I accept her invitation to drop out of the Assembly race, she offered considerable help in my suggested campaign for judge or city council.  She told me that Diane Dixon only planned to remain in the state assembly seat we are both seeking—District 74—for 2 to 4 years, and that Diane would offer the Assembly seat to me when she steps down.  Mrs. Hernandez offered me endorsements and help fundraising for these alternative public offices if I complied with her demands.  I did not.

I have written this letter to get all of this into the open. Our mutual goal is to defeat Cottie Norris in November, and I believe transparency among Republicans is essential towards that end.

I am committed to staying in this race and no amount of money or promise of money or endorsements will make me change my position.  I would also like to add that I have sought counsel with my supporters, in Huntington Beach and throughout the district, about this situation, and received feedback ranging from disbelief in these tactics to strong re-confirmation of support for my campaign.

In closing, I reiterate my support for the Republican nominee whomever it shall be – in accordance with the agreement made at the last central committee meeting.  Further, I respectfully request that you reject the invitation to revisit the early endorsement decision in this race.  Rather, in the great tradition of this Party, let the primary voters decide who the 74th Assembly District Republican nominee should be.

May the best candidate win.

On to victory for the GOP,

Kelly Ernby
—

Kelly Ernby |

Candidate for CA Assembly District 74

The truth about what happened is somewhere in between what Kelly Ernby’s tirade indicates and what I was told in confidence. But, let me state the obvious:

#1 As a candidate, attacking a stakeholder and donor by name is not a wise strategy. Should Mrs. Ernby somehow get beyond 4% she will need these people she attacked. That ain’t happening.

#2 Should Ernby lose, she is toast for at least 10 years, maybe more due to the way she has conducted herself. People do not forget fits of narcissistic rage.

#3 Ernby is advocating “No Endorsement”, this is an admission that her support among Republican stakeholders is weak. A smart candidate regardless of strength or weakness would ask the Party to endorse her.

#4 Ernby attacked the largest (or second largest depending on who you ask) donor group in Orange County by name. This is felony stupid.

#5 It is my understanding there was never a deal related to the AD74 Endorsement at the Central Committee Level. It is my understanding that the dynamic at the meeting was such that Diane Dixon chose to postpone her request as she was not sure she had 2/3 or may have been short a vote or two. Ernby is re-writing history or at worst is telling an outright lie.

It is likely that Mrs. Hernandez was sent to speak to Ernby on behalf of several people and asked Ernby to consider running for Judge with a promise of significant financial support in the form of her and her friends in the Lincoln Club. Hernandez likely pointed out that staying in the Assembly Race meant that Ernby would experience more pain than just the Right On Daily Blog (ahem- beyond what a bottle of wine can soothe).

Kelly Enrby, incensed that Hernandez would dare not kiss her ring conflated an attempt to negotiate as some sort of attempt at a felony (bribery) and a threat.

Once done with the meeting it is likely that Ernby thought about how she could use said meeting to teach everyone who is boss, thus the above email (embellishments and all).

What we now know is that Kelly Ernby has the pre-requisite hubris required to be a partisan officeholder. Almost coincidentally, Ernby’s entire grassroots army descended on my facebook page, (all 3 of them) leaving comments about what an evyl person Diane Dixon is. One of Ernby’s trolls lost a Costa Mesa city council race by the same 30+ points Ernby is down in this one. (That could explain the affinity)

Ernby and Brough likely have the same therapist in my opinion.

AD-74 Update: Kelly Ernby, Business Destroyer, Defender of “Whistleblowers”, paper thin resume… what else is missing? #4%KELLY #KELLYEMPTY

 2020 Elections, AD74 Race, Kelly Ernby  No Responses »
Oct 292019
 

Extensive experience handling all stages and aspects of various complex civil business litigation matters in numerous state and federal courts, including intellectual property litigation, securities class actions, derivative actions, labor and employment class actions, toxic tort environmental litigation, CEQA disputes, complex breach of contract actions, investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, internal whistleblower investigations, and providing litigation-related corporate advice.

This is from her Linked In Profile where she also proudly touts her service to a Clinton appointed social justice warrior Judge Napoleon Jones.

Kelly Ernby has made a ton of money suing people. Look at the list enviro lawsuits, class action lawsuits, the whole gamut.

Over 16 years of experience in complex litigation, beginning in the Orange County Office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP. Accomplished writer and advocate on issues of first impression in the California Courts of Appeals and the California Supreme Court. Currently practicing as an Environmental and Consumer Protection prosecutor for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, handling high profile civil and criminal prosecutions involving unlawful business practices, false advertising, unlicensed practices, workplace safety violations, labor violations, public nuisance, unlawful prescribing and narcotic pill dealing, predatory towing, environmental pollution and compliance. Also skilled in Nonprofit Management, Legislative Policy and Public Administration.

Research indicates that less than 10% of her action is prosecution. (It is just enough for her to make the misleading claim that she is some sort of criminal prosecutor)

Kelly Ernby sues businesses for a living, period. She wants to bring her 16 years as a trail lawyer in to the assembly. I have a problem with that and you should too. I support Tort reform and it appears that she has had a field day lighting people up for all kinds of stuff.

If you’re frustrated over the “Whistleblowers” targeting the President – realize that Kelly Ernby used to be a go-to attorney for so-called whistleblowers. This is not a good look for the GOP at all.

It has been my experience over the years that 90+% of whistleblower complaints have been politically or personally motivated and are suspect at best. It has also been my experience that a ton of Government lawsuits targeting businesses get shredded or tossed.

Diane Dixon? Not only does she have #EMPTYERNBY buried in fundraising, endorsements and name ID – she is (drumroll) a seasoned business executive. Kelly Ernby would only recognize a business as a target.

Diane has been an active member on several philanthropic community-based boards of directors for nearly four decades, including United Way Orange County, YMCA, public television, USC Board of Councilors and Alumni Association, educational institutions, child service agencies, and health-related organizations.

During her 40-year business career, she spent 30 years as a senior executive at a Fortune 300 public company, where she was responsible for the company’s global communications, marketing communications, and corporate philanthropy. She managed the intersection of business and government, forging connections among business, government, communities and nonprofit organizations.

While Ernby has made a career as a trial lawyer suing businesses, she has never held office.

Diane Dixon is in her second term as mayor of Huntington Beach.

Diane Dixon – qualified. Kelly Ernby – Empty…

To Be Continued…

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