Years of coaching kid sports, for both boys and girls, is something I’ll always cherish. I love winning as much as any coach does, but I’ve always found there are life lessons to be taught that hopefully carry over into young adulthood (and some of kids who played ball for me have graduated college already and still call me Coach, which I find very humbling). An example, always play your best and give every game your best effort. Win gracefully and lose with dignity. If you played your best, hold your head up. So you scored a goal in soccer, hit a three pointer in basketball, or just hit one out of the park…act like you’ve done it before and credit your teammates who put you in a position to do what you just did.
It’s a lesson some politicians get and others sadly don’t.
Bao Nguyen is the new mayor of Garden Grove. He issued this statement last night:
“I am grateful to the residents of our city for the confidence they have placed in me and I look forward to working with my new colleagues on the City Council to move Garden Grove forward. I also want to thank Mayor Bruce Broadwater for his many years of service to our city.”
Complete class from head to toe.
Valerie Amezcua emerged as a winner of an open seat on the Santa Ana Unified School Board. Often the subject of brutal personal attacks on other political blogs, Valerie refused to engage and campaigned with honor. She issued this statement:
“I’m humbled by the support our campaign received from families throughout the Santa Ana Unified School District,” said Amezcua. “I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all of the candidates that volunteered their time and talents to advocate for improving our schools. I look forward to working with Boardmember John Palacio and the rest of my new colleagues in helping to move our district forward.”
The big winner in Costa Mesa was Katrina Foley, who issued this statement on Facebook:
“It won’t be easy… But I pledge to do my best to work with our city council members for the benefit of Costa Mesa. I’ll need your help. It starts with reducing the personal attack rancor on social media. Will you join me?”
As much as I loathe to write anything nice about Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer, he issued a classy statement on Facebook over the weekend.
“Friends & Supporters, there were no ballots counted today for Costa Mesa. The counting is over. We are ahead 47 votes and do not expect anything to change. Local press is reporting that the Registrar might certify as early as Monday, but not later than Tuesday. I need to thank all our friends and supporters. With only 47 votes between winning and losing everyone can take credit for making the difference in the race.Thank you and may God Bless you.
Sincerely,
Jim.”
Since both Righeimer and Gary Monahan squeaked their way into office and Measure O went down to a resounding defeat, let’s hope the tone in Costa Mesa changes. Anyone want to take that bet?
Those were gracious winners. For bad winners, go no further than Irvine, where “Landslide Jeff Lalloway” was the perfect definition of a “bad winner.”
From his Facebook page:
“I must be having delivery troubles with the Irvine community news and views. I’m still waiting for my post election round up edition which discusses how they did in their endorsements. Has anyone received the paper?”
I left a comment that the last issue of the paper could be found in the same place his Irvine Police Association endorsement was, but Mr. Lalloway deleted it. The dig at the “fake newspaper” was classless in light of all the lies published in IEs that benefitted the Irvine Republican slate — Larry Agran is racist (he’s not); Melissa Fox had tax liens (she doesn’t), Sharon Wallin and Sukhee Kang both supported the Republican ticket (they didn’t). And it’s unfortunate for Lalloway to be so childish in social media after issuing a somewhat classy statement the day after the election: “After an incredibly close election, it looks like I have retained my seat on Irvine City Council. Thank you to all of my friends for all the hard work we did in Irvine over the last 4 years. It’s been quite a ride.”
We’ll note that commenters in Landslide Lalloway’s post on the Community News & Views who think Lalloway is a comic genius are noted “Democrats” Mark Petracca, a political science professor at UCI, and Carl Berman, who lends his name to mailers warning Democrats about “bad Democrats” while having worked for Irvine Mayor Steven Choi. With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans?
The difference between a Democratic majority in Irvine and a Republican one is 1,163 votes. Lalloway is on the council by 210 votes. This after massive spending by IEs supported by developers. Choi was re-elected without a majority of voters for the second time. So congratulations Gentlemen, you won. Barely. Time to act like you’ve scored before.
I don’t speak for Jeff Lalloway, but nowhere in that flyer did I see the words “endorsed or supported by the Irvine Police Association.” I see the words, “Irvine Police Officers Support Councilman Lalloway.” Big difference between the union and some individual Officers and yes, there were many who supported the conservatives. Yep, it is a play on words, but not something Larry Agran has not done numerous times in his years of campaigning.
Actually, if the truth be known, the Irvine Police Association had their heads firmly in that proverbial spot and endorsed Larry Agran again. The clueless Association Board listened tomore bad advice of a hack political consultant they are wasting their members money on. After the lightbulb came on in someone’s head, they withdrew the endorsement at the last minute. Don’t know if Larry used the endorsement or not before it was pulled? To compound their ignorance, the Association then got pissed at Steven Choi when he had the audicity to tell them to stay out of politics and he did not want their endorsement. It was good advice and they should have listened.
As it turned out the three conservative candidates all won, without IPA endorsement and the Cops dug themselves further into the black hole with the new Council Super-majority. The rank and file Officers can thank their Association Board and the Consultant, Pete Mitchell for that when contract negotiation time rolls around.
Dan – what is the status of the lawsuit from Kang and the Police officer’s Association? I am looking forward to seeing a ruling that you cannot “imply” something in campaign material. “Imply” that is the word Kang used in his letter to the editor complaining about mailer correct? That material implied that he endorsed the Republican slate – correct? Just curious as to when the suit will be filed and under what grounds, damages etc.
No word from Kang. I am unaware of any plans by IPA to sue the IE that ran the flyer. I do have a message in to the union to ask for comment.
Congrats to Bao Nguyen.