On June 2, 2010, the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriff’s PAC met at it’s regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the withdrawl of endorsements of Ret. Lt. Bill Hunt for Sheriff by the La Habra and Santa Ana Police Officer Associations. In short, they will make no changes until after the primary election on Tuesday.
“Due to the close proximity of Election Day coupled with our independent expenditure efforts it is legally unadvisable to interact or coordinate with the candidate at this time. AOCDS-PAC will conclude its review of all information as well as discuss any concerns with the candidate as soon as practicable following the June 8, 2010 election.”
Below is the letter to their members from the PAC on the matter.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
PAC Update
The AOCDS Political Action Committee (AOCDS-PAC) met today at the regularly scheduled PAC meeting and discussed the details surrounding the Santa Ana (SAPOA) and La Habra (LHPOA) Police Associations withdrawing their endorsement for Bill Hunt for Orange County Sheriff.
The AOCDS-PAC has withheld taking any action as it continues to monitor the recent events and information coming to light regarding our membership endorsed candidate, Lt. Bill Hunt. As a PAC, and in fairness to the candidate and our voting membership, we have an obligation to thoroughly vet all political candidates and review all of the information that presents itself during the heat of the campaign. Due to the close proximity of Election Day coupled with our independent expenditure efforts it is legally unadvisable to interact or coordinate with the candidate at this time. AOCDS-PAC will conclude its review of all information as well as discuss any concerns with the candidate as soon as practicable following the June 8, 2010 election. At this time we have tentatively scheduled an AOCDS-PAC meeting for Wednesday, Ju ne 23, 2010.
The original SAPOA and LHPOA endorsements were the result of action taken by their respective PAC and/or Board of Directors. The AOCDS-PAC endorsement was a result of an AOCDS membership vote. Therefore, any modifications or changes to this specific endorsement can only be made by a vote of the AOCDS membership. Please note, our independent expenditure efforts in support of Lt. Bill Hunt for Orange County Sheriff for the June, 8 2010 primary election ended on May 20, 2010, as scheduled.
We appreciate and thank you for your continued support.
Inv. Thomas Dominguez
AOCDS-PAC Chairman
I happen to know that AOCDS raised their members dues (without their permission) several years ago to fund their PAC. If they’ve got the balls to do that, then they should have the balls to do the right thing, admit their $400K mistake and pull their support of an obviously flawed candidate. But no, they will take the cowards way out and hope Hutchens wins outright. If she doesn’t then maybe they’ll grow a pair and yank their endorsement.