Lucas Pulls Papers for First District? Please David, RUN UPDATED

UPDATE: 3/7/08 11:45 AM Got word this morning; Benavides will NOT be running for Supervisor in the First District. It would have been much more interesting if he were to have jumped in.

Update#2: Word on the street is that Paul will not be turning in his papers to run for Supervisor. If this is in fact true… Congrats Paul on making the wise decision to focus on your City Council campaign in Garden Grove.

I just saw on the OC Registrar of Voters that Paul Lucas, the 2006 Democratic candidate for 68th Assemby has pulled papers to challenge current OC First District Supervisor Janet Nguyen.  I have been supportive of Paul in the past.  I support his bid for Garden Grove City Council.  But is this the best we Dems can come up with? 

At this point I’m going to step out on a limb here and ask, I mean plead, with Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides to pull papers to challenge Janet Nguyen for Supervisor.  I also have a separate plea for my friend Paul, please rethink this.  You’ll just embarrass yourself. Who talked you into this? Van Tran? Dina Nguyen? 

34 Comments

  1. David Benavides, Hoa Van Tran and Paul Lucas? Sounds like the Bad News Bears…

    However, with Lucas in the race, David would stand a good chance of making it into a run-off with Janet. Hopefully David won’t file…

  2. Paul,

    This is a race you don’t want to get into!

    When you ran against Van Tran it was a great way to raise real issues and generate valuable dialouge, this race is not like that .

    This race will be a smear campaign filled with nasty allegations made up by some real nuts. While the GG Council race is a tough one, it will allow you to focus on issues your really care about.

    Bankrupcy, illegitimate children, photoshop skills, political/personal bedfmates, court rulings, stolen elections, voter manipulation and claims of puppet candidates. This election will damage anybody associated with it. If you have any real intent on serving the public as an elected official, stay away from this tragic soap opera.

  3. Run Paul run. We’re a day away from the filing deadline and just what has the DPOC done to put up a candidate to go after a weak sister candidate like Janet? This is the one area of the county where Democrats have an advantage and it was sqaundered waiting for Joe Dunn. I have to guess no one has ever heard of Plan B?

  4. Maybe this is the chance for someone to let Paul know that running for office is not an excuse to browbeat acquaintances for support until they finally give in. And all those crude inappropriate comments are no longer funny. They’re offensive.
    If you want to be elected to anything, Paul, you need to start behaving like an adult.

  5. I sent Paul a MySpace message last nite essentially asking him if he needs his head CAT scanned. He didn’t respond. I guess he was only interested in flirting with me in the past, not having a meaningful debate.

    What’s the deal Paul? I offer you some good advice (privately no less) and I have to get the response through a (very public) third party? Thank you Liberal OC for clearing up our personal issue!

    I miss hanging with you Paul, but from now on I guess I’ll keep my nearly two decades of political experience to myself! lol

    SMS

  6. I just talked to Paul. I guess he didn’t get my MySpace message before I posted here. He should really check his account more often but that’s neither here nor there.

    I just want to make it clear that I’ve always considered Paul a friend, and in our conversation I let him know that my comments about his potential run against Janet Nugyen were political, not personal.

    I think we can all agree that Paul is a nice guy who genuinely wants to help our cause, and as others have already mentioned, he’s a fun guy to hang out with, but in speaking to him I was allowed to better articulate the point of my post and I will share that here.

    I do not retract statements of opinion, only facts when I am wrong. People who know me tend to find me very fair, even if they don’t like the results of that fairness. The truth about Paul politically is that… well, he’s a nice guy who’s fun to hang out with. We discussed this and I advised him that he needs a more professional image if he wants to win an elected office, but he’s made it clear that he doesn’t want to change who he is. That’s commendable. I mean, who does? But while I don’t think it helps his cause to be seen as fringe, I really can’t argue with the idea that people need to be themselves.

    I think Paul is trying really hard to keep from being labeled a sell-out. He just wants to be himself and he doesn’t want to be seen as a ‘button-up asshole’ as he put it. I don’t blame him. Nobody wants to be a tool, but the political reality is that people can change their image without changing their inner selves. Whether he can or will do that is another story.

    I think analysis that says that Paul should have stayed out of the race is dead on, but it was also received and in fact Paul is not going to run against Janet. Smart move. He’s better suited for the GG council and the specific advice that I originally gave him highlighted his campaigning talents and suggested he concentrate his energy where it can be put to better use such as his own race and those in the 47th or perhaps the 42nd CD (of course I’m currently working for Ed Chau so this suggestion was admittedly based on an ulterior motive).

    He considered the run because he felt SOMEONE in the party needed to do it and I applaud that, but I think we’re all now in agreement that he’s not that someone at the current time and we collectively need to leave that messy race alone.

    Paul came to his senses and he’s not running, so I think we should all refrain from personal negativity towards him from here on in. I don’t think he’s a Trannie. The name didn’t come up once in our conversation. Make no mistake though, as a potential elected official, politically-based comments and criticisms are still very much fair game and I made that clear to him when I spoke to him.

    I’m extremely honest, occasionally to the point of brutality, but in election seasons when there is so much at stake, those I know personally, even people I like, cannot be shielded from the truth. Truth is above all else. Period.

    As far as my comment about his flirting, he doesn’t seem to remember the incidents. Being a lesbian, I always make it a point to remember when these things happen, but I guess I can’t expect him to remember because that’s just who he is and I know he doesn’t keep a mental catalog of his activities in this area, and thats actually OK. In bringing it up, I was making an observation, not a complaint.

    But it does go back to my original point. He needs to work on his image. Likability can go a long way to help you gain volunteer help, but here in OC, it’s not going to win you any elections on its own, and in fact in his case it very clearly works against him.

    If he decides to ask for my help with his image and message I will gladly provide it. In the end he made the right call on the Supe race and so if he requires assistance with his race for the GG Council I think we should all support him.

    You have to admit. His heart’s in the right place even if he doesn’t always think things through… but this time he did so lets be grateful and move on to some Democratic victories!

    SMS

  7. Yes, whenever I have personal, private advice for people, I like to give it in a public forum too (no, seriously, I do!). So I totally understand.
    But Sarah, so you know: you can go into your sent folder on MySpace and see if people have opened their messages yet.

    Frankly, I don’t understand what all the Paul hate is here–yes, yes, you all LIKE him, except for the smack you then immediately talk. I thought it would have been a huge mistake for Paul to run in the 1st–for PAUL’S sake, because he wouldn’t have had the money or the support. But everyone seems to take umbrage somehow that he even thought of it. Am I missing some other Dem we should be supporting instead?

  8. Rebecca –

    Yes. I forgot to check the message status, but I posted this Thursday nite and I’m pretty sure Friday was the deadline. Time was of the essence and if I couldn’t reach him on MySpace I had to find another avenue. Clearly I found it because Paul called me… and I never said the advice was personal OR private. I simply stated that I tried to contact him in private BEFORE I went public. Your assessment of what you think happened is simply unfair. But I’ll be gracious and just chalk it up to no harm, no foul.

    That being said, POLITICAL criticism is completely fair game as I stated before and I don’t think there should be any argument about that. I made no personal put-down of Paul, I merely challenged him to cut down on the flirting and use his time to instead talk shop once in a while if he wants to get into office, especially considering my exposure to him has always been through the OCYD (whom I actually have very little to do with these days) and DL. It’s not like I met him at Dave and Busters playing Time Crisis.

    As far as the lack of Dems to support, I’ll use an analogy you far lefties will appreciate. If your re-usable mesh shopping bags rip when you go to the supermarket, especially if you’re in a hurry, you may have to use paper or plastic bags provided by the store to get the food to your car. If you refuse, you have to try to find a way to carry all of those groceries without them. So what do you do? Do you take the bags knowing they’re no good for the environment, do you move your items one at a time from the counter to the car and then into your home, or do you wait until later when you can get the bags you need? For a hardcore lefty as you claim to be, only one of these options is prudent and that is to go back to the store later. This merely means (and I stated this already) that Paul needed to put his resources to better use and at a better time.

    Besides, nobody challenged Gary Miller in the 42nd in 2006. Maybe resource allocation was a main reason why, but this year we have two candidates and one has never held an elected office. You’re a media person and I’m sure you know South Park, so tell me, if Ed Chau, the only Democratic candidate with political experience were not in the race, would you vote for a figurative ‘dirty douche’ or a ‘turd sandwich?’

    It’s nice to have a Democratic candidate on the ballot next to every Republican, but with limited resources, tokens runs are a complete waste. Why bring a knife to a gun fight? Sometimes it’s better to save your resources in the short time to make things easier in the long term, is it not? Live to fight another day? Prepare for the long haul?

    SMS

  9. A sad turn of events for the DPOC. They are now stuck with a lame candidate, Hoa Van Tran, who is in fact a Trannie (an acolyte of Assemblyman Van Tran). He works in the same law office as Dina Nguyen and he NEVER slams Assemblyman Tran and his cronies.

    The blame for this can be spread all over. Correa never should have ditched his seat for the State Senate. Joe Dunn should not have delayed and misled so much. Frank Barbaro is lame when it comes to developing good candidates in central OC. And Miguel Pulido has corrupted his entire Council, such that none of them are viable for anything.

    My advice, for what it is worth, stop backing Pulido and his hacks. Support any Democrat who runs against them. Focus on the Santa Ana School Board and get rid of the bad Democrats on that board, such as Noji and Hernandez.

    It is time for the DPOC to start over in Central OC.

  10. I’m surprised at the people who are blaming Joe for waiting so long to say he wasn’t running. I was at the labor breakfast many, many months ago where he stated unequivocally he was not running. I guess I’m naive, because I seem to be the only person who took him at his word.

  11. Rebecca-

    You and I both know people in this area see Joe as sort of a demi-god. You’re right, but it’s no surprise that people would hold out hope anyway, especially considering he had the best chance to win. *sigh* Hope is a complicated thing. lol

    SMS

  12. Sarah,I just recently started reading this blog today after following some links so pardon me for being a newby with an opinion. But I think you have crossed a line. Your comments were ill timed, way off the mark, very crude, and quite hurtful. This Paul Lucas guy stepped up and tried to represent the Democrats here. And you guys all berate him for it. I find that quite odd.

    I recently registered as a Democrat after being a DTS after being a Republican for many years. From what I see you guys doing to this person with all the vinegar I am thinking I may have made a mistake.

  13. Rebecca: notwithstanding what Joe said at that very public labor breakfast, he was communicating a different message to others, including labor leaders. This isn’t surprising considering his employment, which he didn’t want to jeopardize. Even publicly he declined to completely close the door to a run. That being said, he had every right not to run and had his reasons for staying out of the race. People shouldn’t complain about his decision.

    The Democrats shouldn’t have gotten into a position in which Joe was their only serious option.

  14. Thanx for the anonymous (and incorrect) rhetoric. Really. I should probably ignore your comment its entirety since you refuse to identify yourself, but I will say this:

    There is no such thing as political commentary that crosses a line as long as it’s justified, unless of course you’re Ann Coulter and I’m not even close to being that malicious. It’s called OPINION and you’re entitled to yours just as much as I am mine, which raises the question of why everyone is attacking me in an attempt at subversive censorship. You don’t have to agree with me, but how are my comments ‘ill timed, way off the mark, very crude, and quite hurtful?’ And how is a political editorial hurtful unless you’re either the subject of the article or someone affiliated with him. I didn’t start the thread, I merely agreed with it. It was *never* personal.

    I think this post is a bait, and it’s total bs. I’ve seen people swear at each other here, call each other names, belittle each other’s opinions, but somehow I’m a lightning rod for criticism after just a few days of starting to post here. I don’t have this probably on other boards… just here. Hmm… I didn’t realize I was that important, so please, keep making me famous. Maybe if I were further to the left I wouldn’t have this problem? Are people really so scared of a moderate voice on The Liberal OC who believes that the good of the party is more important than any individual? Sorry, I’m not a socialist. Maybe I’ll come back as one in my next life… just for you.

    But seriously John/Jane Doe, if you’re really a noob then how would you even know where the line that I supposedly crossed is drawn? It’s probably because you’re not a really a noob or maybe because you didn’t bother to realize that I have said that I *do* support Paul for the GG council. Thanks for leaving that part out.

    And the party switching comment is priceless. Acting like I’m so quickly and easily turning you off to the ENTIRE Democratic party merely because I, one person, thinks one other person almost made a bad decision is a great tactic to make it look like somehow my writings are turning people off to our causes and shouldn’t be respected at all simply because a few people disagree, including some who don’t even have the courage to tell us who they are. Oh yeah, I smell a setup alright! I’ve been in the political realm far too long to be run off by petty games. Nice try, though.

    SMS

    PS: Mmm… vinegar. Yummy. 😛

  15. This Paul Lucas guy stepped up and tried to represent the Democrats here. And you guys all berate him for it. I find that quite odd.

    A couple of people called me today wondering why everyone was attacking Paul. I’ve been out of town and not able to keep up with every post and comment, but as I told my callers I think the situation is this: a lot of us like Paul, have donated to his campaigns, and are interested in helping him get elected to office (he has been planning to run for Garden Grove city council). A run for supervisor seemed to be a hopeless cause.

    Not everyone is interested in public office, but Paul is. He’s a bright guy with a background in governmental issues, and I think he’d be an asset in one of our local elected offices. I believe that other OC Dems who view Paul as I do didn’t want him to put time and money into this hopeless race when he can and should be running for an office to which he does have a chance of being elected.

    I certainly can’t speak for everyone, but I think a lot of Paul’s friends and supporters were very frustrated with his actions this week. I guess that frustration came out as “berating” and “vinegar.”

  16. Wow… what happened to all of those special election candidates?

    Can someone(anyone) tell me why these candidates and other candidates took a pass on this election?

    The way I see it, it is terrible that their aren’t more candidates with some history or real ties to the 1st Supervisor community. Granted, these candidates will tell everyone that they are representing the whole community, they all were planning to outdue each other as the “real Vietnamese candidate”

    Moreover, I’m surprised why some of the local central county elected officials did not take a more aggressive role in finding a candidate. Wouldn’t it be more advantageous for Lou and Loretta to have a Supervisor who can’t build any momentum were this elected official from the opposing party cannot be a formidible challenger down the road.

    I’m very interested to understand if the belief that the Vietnamese AVB machine is too great to withstand a challenge from the dems, a white canidate or a Latino candidate?

    I thought that with three Vietnamese running, it woul improve the chances of other non-Vietnamese candidates. Is this not correct?

  17. Paul is as good a candidate as anyone. Pulling papers and then changing his mind has been a costly (financial) mistake and I suggest, if you can, cut him a check to help him defray costs as he concentrates on GG city council.

    Art — hate to break it to you, but two people can work in the same office and have completely independent political thought.

  18. Paul—-Hate to break it to you but Paul Cahnces of winning in Garden Grove are as ggod as Nativo Lopex winning in Newport Beach.

    Can you guess who the top two vote getters were the last two elections, a Vietnamese candidate. Even when facing a well liked city council incumbent, the Vietnamese candidate beat the socks off the appointed official.

    Paul showed have stayed with his first instinct and followed through with the First District.

  19. Sarah— Tell me something I haven’t read about.

    Yes, Paul had a fundraiser in Garden GRove about two weeks ago. He made a choice to start raising funds for a Garden Grove council but he didn’t drop $1400 in a filing fee.

    But Paul didn’t file for anything in GG, I think he started a commitee to raise funds for the council seat… he filed for the Sups seat and all I would like to know is what do you like so much about the sole democrat candidate that you ripped Paul because he had the nerve and guts to file for the seat.

    Paul you blew it, should have not listened to all those naysayers.

  20. ‘Ripped’ is a strong word. There are MANY people in the party who were reportedly *furious* that he filed for the Supe seat but I’m not one of them; I merely agreed with their logic and maybe poked fun at him a liltle (and Gods know if I had some money I’d give it to him for his trouble and the $1400 wasted – he was even sick that day, poor guy).

    I always respected his frustration that there was no Democratic opposition in the 1st, but the consensus from many of us here seems to be that he’s not right for the job and shouldn’t have gotten involved in what surely would have been a nasty ordeal anyway. Since I just resigned from a campaign I’ll probably donate some of my time instead of money I don’t have.

    If he wins the council seat, then we all did him a favor. If he loses, then he more than likely would have been wasting his time running against Janet too, so it’s a win-win for your so-called nay-sayers, and if Paul *does* get the seat, it’s a win-win-win! 🙂

    SMS

  21. Hey everyone!

    There’s a great post about Paul over on OJ. If you didn’t see the link on the home page here, you should go read it.

    Paul did give up potential name recognition and $1400 on this deal. We need to be solidly behind him for GG council. I know I am.

    Paul – call me if you need anything! Apparently, you have my number now. 😛

    SMS

  22. SMS-

    I see Paul pulling papers and wasting 1400 dollars as a reason NOT to be a steward of millions of dollars of city funds in Garden Grove.

  23. It’s his money. He can do what he likes with it. In the end he made the right decision and that’s what counts. Not to mention he did do it for the right reasons, he just did the wrong thing. This argument is as bad as the one I read the other day that Paul isn’t fit for office because he’s currently unemployed. Accordingly, it clear that he cares more about helping people than he does about his own pocket, and so I would certainly trust him with my, and the city of Garden Grove’s money.

    And if you’re still concerned just remember that many people are involved in the budget process, not just one. I, for one, think he deserves a shot.

    SMS

  24. I said nothing about his employement, or lack thereof. His 1400 is his, true. But, it is also true that Paul possibly got talked into the race by opponents of Janet, and he ultimatley did not run, wasting 1400 that HE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE FOR GG CITY COUNCIL!

    If you want to give him a shot I suggest volunteering on his campaign. It will be interesting to hear what you have say after a couple of weeks of the rigors of the “Paul Lucas for City Council” campaign.

  25. Sorry, Dan. Paul’s little stunt last week demonstrated exactly the sort of temperament I’m NOT looking for in an elected official, at any level.

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