So now we come to the infamous race for the 34th Senate District in 2006, when the Republicans tried tooth and nail to try and take back Central Orange County. Of course when one rival party is trying to retake the area, one common tactic in any attempt to “retake the hill” is to divide and conquer the enemy, which would be us Democrats. It is basic politics, and that is precisely what they did when they recruited Lorri Galloway to lead the Democrats for Daucher.
![VilliansDaly[1]](https://theliberaloc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/VilliansDaly16-209x300.jpg)
I have said it before and I will say it again, the reason I am bringing this all up because of the attitude displayed by Lorri Galloway and a lot of her supporters. Some of those supporters were guilty in wanting to nail John Hanna to the wall for doing the same thing Lorri did, endorse a Republican in a partisan race, the difference being in this race, it was us Democrats who were playing defense trying to hold on to the 34th SD after Joe Dunn was termed out. The attitude they now display is one where they are pointing fingers and deciding who are good Democrats and who are bad Democrats. This is one of their main talking points when they attack Tom Daly, that he has not been a good Democrat and cite his endorsements of some right wing Republicans who have run for non-partisan office, particularly Bob Hernandez. I wish Daly had not endorsed Hernandez, although didn’t he end up joining Ms. Galloway in opposing Disney on the housing issue? To make it clear, I would not have mentioned Galloway’s “sin” in 2006 if not for the attitude they displayed trying to be the judge of who is worthy to be a good Democrat. If they are going to judge the man who helped mastermind the retaking of Jerry Patterson’s old Congressional District from Bob “Shut up F_g” Dornan as a bad Democrat we need to call out the fact that had Lorri succeeded in costing Correa the race, the Republicans would have had the momentum to go after Loretta and, god forbid Jose Solorio and the possibility could have been very real that we would have gone back to what happened in 1986 when the Democrats had NOTHING in all of Orange County.
To understand, you must go back to 1982 when Ed Royce narrowly defeated Frank Barbaro for the 32nd Senate District(which was the precursor to the 34th). The predecessor was a Democrat, and the Democrats had control of Central Orange County prior to this race. A snowball effect happened as Patterson went on to lose to Dornan and then Dan Griset failed to hold the 72nd(now the 69th) in 1986. We would begin to recover only four years later when Tom Umberg defeated Curt Pringle, but we never truly recovered until the elections of 1996 and 1998 with the elections of Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa and Joe Dunn. Tom Daly was instrumental in recruiting two of the three to run and although he did not go around bragging, he does deserve credit for the Democrats fighting back from Republican control.
![VilliansLouLynn[1]](https://theliberaloc.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/VilliansLouLynn1.jpg)
In 2006, the Republicans tried to make a comeback in Central OC when Joe Dunn was termed out. They resorted to some very unsavory methods to do so. Anyone remember the voter switching that went on. It went on for a year and half and only when it got out of control and the signature gatherers got caught did they stop this method of switching voters without their consent. Then in the general election, they Republicans ran a campaign of fear, having Van Tran and his cronies going on Vietnamese radio making claims that Correa winning the election would cause a “Mexican takeover.” They sent dozens of mailers that bashed the GLBT community, hitting him on the few gay rights votes he did make. But did this matter to Lorri Galloway, NOPE. Despite speaking so passionately for gay rights and supporting GLBT issues, she excused Lynn Daucher’s assault on that community. Despite expressing support for Latino immigrants rights, she excused Lynn Daucher’s assault and fear mongering on that community and endorsed her. Lorri claimed in an impassioned letter that her reasoning for endorsing Daucher was due to Correa’s refusal to help a girl named Samantha who was starved to death by her parents. It was an impassioned plea by Lorri, which turned into a political mailer attacking Correa.
Problem was some other people were getting a completely different story from Lorri Galloway. Some people were told that her endorsement of Daucher was due to Correa’s “squishiness” on the social issues of gay rights and women’s right to choose. Yes, it is true Correa had a history in the Assembly of abstaining from many gay rights votes and was publicly for Parental Notification, both of which irked many of us Democrats. Daucher and Correa had an equal rating by Planned Parenthood, but Daucher had an outright anti-gay rights voting record so how does it makes sense to go for her. That is like saying I am going to support the anti-semitic candidate because the other one isn’t pro-Israel enough.
So we will never know the true reason why she did this betrayal, but I will give people food for thought. Before Galloway stood up against Disney in 2007(which I commend her for), she was very close with Curt Pringle. He helped get her elected in 2004 and the two were a solid voting bloc. That’s right, she was close with Mr. Poll Guards himself. As much as he has tried to be a consensus builder in Anaheim, his loyalty is ultimately to the GOP. One has to wonder, was there a back door deal struck in 2004 for his endorsement? Did he call in the favor to be the Dem who would throw us under the bus? He did do a lot for Lorri in 2004. He cleared the field for her when a Latina Democrat considered running for Council. Someone was able to convince Schroeder and the GOP machine to not go after her in 2004, even though they were not too happy with having a second Democrat on the Anaheim City Council(Richard Chavez was the Dem). Pringle did enough where Galloway owed him BIG. Obviously this is just a theory, but one last detail. If her issues were with Lou Correa as a person, there was a viable Democrat to support in the primary, Tom Umberg. Why did she not endorse him if she had such a grudge match with Correa. Many questions remain.
In closing, I would like to bring up once again the potential consequences. Of the four “sinners”, (Foley, Patterson, Hanna & Galloway), who had the potential to do the most damage in the long term to Democrats, Galloway. Lets face it, she had an effect on the final result, probably helping Daucher gain at least one percentage point, which caused a real nailbiter. Imagine if it had put Daucher over the top. Imagine if it was Lorri that gave the GOP their staging ground to retake all Central OC. In fact, throughout election night, the GOP thought they had won and Daucher and Schroeder went onstage and loudly proclaimed “LORETTA YOUR NEXT!” LORETTA SANCHEZ IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN THEIR PRIMARY TARGET, the 34th was just to establish a beachhead for the assault. Galloway’s actions could have led to the destruction of all the gains Democrats had made in the last decade and even take her out of the equation of running for higher office in Central OC. That’s right Galloway fans, she nearly screwed herself in trying to get “revenge”on Correa.
Speaking with a couple of people who I personally see as Democratic Party Sages, they gave me an interesting aspect. A Daucher victory would have motivated the Republicans to take on Loretta, their number one most hated target. It also would have provided the Republicans financial resources to set up an organized Republican voter registration drive in central Orange County and an organized absentee ballot and GOTV effort in 2010 in Daucher’s district, which might have had a spill over impact on the Loretta/Tran race. It would have taken years for Democrats to recover.
So point is, lets get on with the race, lets talk about the issues facing the 4th Supervisorial District. But my message to the Galloway camp, cut the nonsence of trying to judge Daly and others as bad Democrats. Stop pointing the finger at folks acting like she and you are the deciders of who are bad and good Democrats in Orange County. Stop calling people a “cancer” on the Democratic party because they may be ragging on your candidate. Because for every finger Lorri points, three are pointing back at her. Yes the other three Dems are guilty of “sin”, as is Tom Daly, as are many elected Democrats in Orange County, yet somehow the Galloway camp thinks they somehow have the right to cast the first stone and then that camp gets mad when the receiving end picks up the stones the throws them back.
My advice, focus on the real issues. Stop judging who are good and bad Democrats. Lorri has “sinned”, as has Daly, as have many others. But the others aren’t going around pointing fingers. It is time to stop.  So now we are done, lets get back to the issues.
Lou Correa’s treatment of the baby Samantha issue is revealing…
I would take a conservative republican over someone who lacks principles and compassion any day.
When politics is your only value, I see your politics as a secondary issue.
Galloway’s endorsement as a threat to Loretta. That’s a long way to go for connection and I can’t see how her endorsement had that much impact.
Tell you what Claudio; let’s see a post on why Daly is the best candidate for the 4th. As far as I can see, there’s no single compelling reason. I don’t get the sense he’s a guy who will fight for the middle class. Lorri will. He may have support of Union leadership. Lorri has support from rank and file union members. Daly has no record of being a risk taker. Lorri certainly does.
Lost in this entire conversation is any discussion about Rose Espinoza’s campaign. Since Art has declared her to be his friend, crickets is what we hear from this camp.
Claudio, The pot calling the kettle black!
I know Correa personally and I find Lorri’s story very unbelievable. I think it is revealing that she and Daucher and the GOP would lie about this man’s character and exploit this poor girl’s death in order to take Central OC from the Democrats and defeat Loretta Sanchez, which was Daucher and the GOP’s ultimate goal. To me, their(OC GOP) obsession with Loretta is very unhealthy if they are willing to exploit a little girl who was starved to death. That is sick if you ask me.
To me, Lorri still owes Lou an apology for making up that story and impugning his character like that.
Oh man! Do you think the Bush administration planned 9/11? or was it Lorri Galloway?
Claudio makes some great points in this one.
I too have long believed that Lorri tried to play politics with the GOP and made this far fetched claim about a child when she started to feel the heat for her own actions.
Quite principled indeed, Daniel.
And Dan, if you don’t think Daucher’s election (with Lorri’s help) would have brought OC GOP resources and focus back to Loretta and Central OC, you have absolutely no grasp of elections. Return to writing checks from Irvine.
I won’t delve into my thoughts about the ethical nature of carpetbagging politicians here once again, as I’m confident I’ve made my opinion known in previous comments about this candidate.
Thanks Publius,
Central OC seems to attract many south county folks who think they have politics all figured out around here and in the end really have no clue the dynamics of Democratic Party issues here. They seem to underestimate the obsession they have with Loretta Sanchez ever since her victory in 1996.
SHe is their number one target, but with Joe Dunn’s victory, it provided her with cover, as they had to deal with a Democratic district that covered more area than her COngressional District. They needed the 34th SD to establish the beach head. The prize has always been Loretta.
Problem is, and it worries me, is many Democrats, who have good intentions, who are from South OC coming in and thinking they know everything about politics here. Really folks, we live here, we have fought the battles for years and know the dynamics of this area. And I will tell you, a Daucher victory would have spelled serious trouble for Loretta facing Van Tran. Not to mention the Reps would have smelled blood and gone after Lou Correa in 2008 for Supervisor.
We may not have the 1st Sup now, but its not the end of the world. We have a strong bench who hopefully will take up the mantle in 2012 and bring all of Central OC back where it belongs.
I think you’re overstating the endorsement of Daucher just a bit Pub…
Claudio, Van Tran is not a threat to Loretta due his actions the night Andy Quatch got drunk and crashed his car. Drunk drivers are a pitiful lot.
My dear Claudio and Publius, This may not be the format for this but the 2 of you are bastards if you think that Samantha was a “far fetched claim”! I hope you both rot in hell! God, who the hell do you think you are? Would like me to show you Samantha’s grave? IDIOTS!!! Both of you are too arrogant to understand anything. You are the 2 who keep bringing this crap up, not the Galloway camp. We are only responding to your idiocy. Nevermind hell is too good for the both of you! Rot you bastards, rot!!! Both of you should be posting OJB rather than insult this blog with your moronic ideas!
Overestimating, Dan?
I think you’re forgetting how close this race really was. Election night Daucher was leading in the vote count. Bit by bit, for weeks Correa gained a few votes each day until finally overtaking her as late absentees were counted.
It was a nailbiter. One of the closest races seen in recent years in all of California. So yes, Lorri’s hysterical amateur move did make a small, but crucial difference. I’m relieved her endorsement did not sway more voters.
As for beacon, I’ll clarify my earlier point. I believe that a person who would move to a district simply to further her own political aspirations might use the tragic death of a child as a cover for her own idiotic decision.
Unethical unprincipled behavior seems to reveal itself in a pattern (see the sad tale of Tom Umberg as one example).
Rot away, BRO!
OK, Mr. Gallegos and Publius. Let’s take the gloves off. Your assertion that the story about “a little girl named Samantha†is a “far fetched claim†driven by a politically motivated Lorri Galloway is absolutely infuriating. If by stating that this is somehow all being made up, you are attempting to piss someone off – well you have succeeded. I am truly angry.
As much as I would like to, I’m not going to attack anyone. I will say that there is a lot more to being a Democrat than having the letter D next to your name on the ballot, or a freakin endorsement. It’s all about getting things done for people – people that need help. If you want to be a Democrat just to play politics, I suggest that you change your party affiliation to Republican. There are plenty of fence sitters there tossing stones.
Honestly the reason I am responding to your comments is to give some respect to the child that you reference so loosely. Since you brought up her name, and she can’t speak for herself, I’ll tell you about Samantha Rose Gutierrez.
In April of 2002 I was working as Anaheim Firefighter assigned to a Paramedic Engine company in the downtown area of Anaheim, Anaheim Engine One. On a foggy morning in that month our crew found the lifeless, beaten and starved body of baby Samantha Rose Gutierrez. She was lying on the cold floor of a garage that had been converted into a two bedroom apartment. She, her brothers and parents shared the made-shift apartment with another family; a total of 10 people. Baby Samantha had completed her first year of life some three weeks earlier.
An investigation by the O.C. Coroners’ office (which took nearly a year to complete) determined that the baby had ultimately died of starvation. They also determined that the baby had a fractured skull, a fractured pallet, two previous fractures to an arm, internal injuries, and countless bruises. Baby Samantha had died a very painful death.
By the time the investigation was complete, I was sitting as an elected member of the Anaheim City Council. Lorri Galloway was at that time (and still is) the Executive Director of Eli Home, a shelter program for abused children, she was not an elected. I was doing volunteer work for Eli Home at the time of the baby’s death. Having contact with people in the community and specifically a neighbor, we had learned that OC Child Protective Services and Anaheim PD had responded to the home numerous times. We also learned that the baby had been seen by hospital and private medical doctors repeatedly. After the cause of death was released it was Galloway and I that pushed for the APD to arrest the mother (which had not occurred), we also met with the head of OC Social Services asking for an investigation into their actions, and for APD to do the same. There were no answers and no investigations. We then asked that the OC Grand Jury investigate the incident.
Eli Home ensured the baby had a proper funeral, I can recall that there were more Eli Home supporters at the funeral than there were family members. When the body was released to the morgue it was Lorri Galloway who took the baby new clothes for her to wear for her funeral, she also had to provide a drape for her arms to hide the bruises.
The OC Grand Jury determined that indeed the system for protecting children in Orange County had completely failed baby Samantha. Galloway and Eli Home staff had been meeting with State elected officials to bring pressure onto OC Social Services and improve the system for protecting children. Galloway was not an elected, and quite frankly in spite of my encouragement at the time for her to run, she had absolutely no political inclinations. It was at this time that she met with Dunn, Correa, Daucher, Cythia Coad, Anaheim Council members and other electeds. I can recall Lorri calling me from Sacramento telling me what great support she and her staff had received from the state officials and how disappointed they were with Lou on this issue.
Now years later should have Galloway endorsed Daucher over Correa? Hey that’s her call. I know the pain she still has in heart about that baby. I still carry a great deal of pain in my heart about that precious baby as well. The starvation death of baby Samantha Rose Gutierrez was Anaheim’s darkest day.
Galloway knows how to get things done, especially for those that are voiceless, and she is fearless. Sounds like a real Democrat to me.
Today you can see a sculpture of “Baby Samantha†in the foyer of the Anaheim Family Justice Center; a nationally recognized center for preventing and aggressively dealing with child abuse and other forms of family violence. Lorri and I pushed hard to create change in a system that was broken, Samantha gave her life for the same purpose.
Richard Chavez
I greatly admire Mr. Chavez’s passion and, as horrible as it is, I appreciate hearing Samantha Gutierrez’s sad tale. I think the story has gone a bit far afield, though. In Claudio’s first post he said “some of the people giving Lorri a free pass for her sin of 2006 were the very same people who pilloried three other Democrats, John Hanna, Jerry Patterson and Katrina Foley for also endorsing a Republican in a partisan race. The only difference being that the three endorsed in a race where the Democrat had no shot in heaven or hell of winning while Lorri endorsed a Republican in a race where us Democrats were trying to keep the seat in Democratic hands.”
That, in a nutshell, is it. It’s not really about whether Galloway/Daly/Espinoza are better Dems or candidates. It’s about three people being nailed to political crosses by an elite group of Dems for endorsement sins while one other person (Galloway) was given a pass by these people after having committed an arguably worse endorsement sin.
Sadly, I think the real sinners here are not the four electeds — it’s those hypocrites who decided it was ok to condemn only 3 of the 4.
Richard,
You know I have always respected you and your opinion. I thought you were a great councilmember and always admired how you stood up for the grocery workers in 2004.
But you need to go back and re-read what I wrote. I do not doubt little Samantha existed. I do not doubt the horrible death she was forced to go through and I do hope her parents are haunted everyday. I can imagine what went through your mind, we are both
What I do doubt is Lorri’s story when she went to Correa and he had that reaction. I know him personally and find that hard to believe he would be so insensitive. Sorry, I do not believe it, that does not fit with the man I know.
What disappoints me is that little Samantha was exploited by Daucher and the GOP for their political gain. Chavez and Beacon should be outraged at that, since it goes to show you they have no moral compass. I am also tired of Lorri and her camp hiding behind little Samantha when people call them out for getting on their high horse. I know your feelings are sincere Richard, but I do doubt Lorri’s feelings. Nothing against you, I just doubt her sincerity.
Claudio,
This is your post… you have picked the topic. Whether you like it or not, Baby Samantha is linked to Lorri’s endorsement of Daucher. Screaming you lie! will not make this go away.
I think there is better stuff to debate. Tom Daly has bigger problems then his lack of Dem cred. I would like to discuss the millions of tax-dollars he gave away to Disney that left Anaheim with terrible debt.
“Tom Daly has bigger problems then his lack of Dem cred.”
My God Daniel you are self-righteous. At least we will know where to find Lorri Galloway’s campaign office and where her supporters will be walking, just look for the Smug Cloud.
Oh shoot! **than** Sorry everyone.
Claudio,
Maybe you should respond to my factual allegations regarding the real policies of Tom Daly instead of limiting this debate to petty bickering…
Daniel: the yearly debt service on Anaheim’s ‘terrible’ resort-related debt is about $27.1 million for FY 2009/10. This debt service has its own dedicated funding sources — a percentage of resort-area TOT and sales tax — so it’s not paid for by Anaheim taxpayers (excepting any taxes that they pay as a direct consequence of purchases at resort-area businesses). Even if resort-area debt service didn’t have those dedicated funding sources, $27 million is a drop in the bucket (two percent) when considered in the light of Anaheim’s $1.31 *BILLION* yearly budget.
One of your mantras when bringing up Daly’s supposed spendthrift ways has always been “the jobs! Think of all of the government-worker jobs we could have saved!”, so I’ll point out that Anaheim’s FY 09/10 budget proposed laying off a total of *eight* workers (out of 2,163). The city ain’t exactly struggling here.
Daniel,
Why I support Tom Daly is now up. Everyone is free to discuss the issues there.
Daniel –
You expect me to believe that Lorri supported Daucher due to the Samantha issue simply because Lorri says so.
That still doesn’t excuse the fact that she allowed the Samantha tragedy to be exploited by the GOP for political purposes. Distasteful, don’t you think?
In addition, Lorri’s recent ACTIONS have proven her to be untrustworthy in my eyes. So I’m supposed to believe this explanation that was given after the fact, once she started getting heat from Democratic circles.
If Lorri said the sky was blue, I’d look outside to verify it for myself. I wouldn’t trust her words if her tongue camee notarized.
A. The reason was stated at the same time as the endorsement.
B. I love comments like these because they make Lorri’s opposition look so irrational!
Thank you Claudio for posting something that is more interesting and spirited than a press release or a radio address. This is the first time in months (with the exception of Chris’s Andy Quach posts.) I can remember LibOC to be more interesting than Orange Juice.
BTW- I agree Tom Daly is the one to win. I think his moderate image will help in a district that Republicans do well.