In addition to being a member of the DPOC Central Committee, I belong to the Democrats of Greater Irvine. Sunday afternoon, the Club will hold a straw poll for AD68 between Irvine Council member Melissa Fox and challenger Eugene Fields. And a second vote for SD37 between Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley and former Congressional candidate Dave Min will also be taken.
Last week, phone calls were made to DGI members from someone saying they were with the club urging votes for a particular candidate. DGI leadership had to issue a note that no one from the club made these calls….and it strikes me as the unethical Republicans play. If I find out, we’ll let you know the content of the calls.
On the club’s Facebook page, I’ve let member know I am casting a ballot for Fields. I find Eugene to be a person of honesty and integrity who brings a lot of energy to the room. Club members should be reminded that Fox should be held to account for her vote that delayed the start of the Veteran’s Cemetery by opting a vote for a landswap. Fox then fought to pass Measure B when Irvine voters rejected it by a more than 60-40 split. Fox has never mentioned nor apologized for her husband Michael’s refusal to surrender the administrative rights to the DGI Facebook page in which he blocked a number of club members from commenting, changed the named to “Irvine Democrats” and prominently used the page to promote his wife’s political career. The page was finally returned under threat of litigation (disclosure: I paid for DGI’s legal fees).
Fields is running against Fox who has a number of endorsements and is swimming in money.
And by swimming in money, we have learned Fox will hold an upcoming fundraiser at the home of the CEO of the proposed Wild Rivers Water Park at the Great Park — Mike Riedel. One issue: Wild Rivers is something not yet formally approved by the city council.
Will Fox need to recuse herself when it comes time to actually vote on this matter? Isn’t this an ethical conflict? Is it something we’d hold a Republican accountable for?
A publication called The Irvine Report has published articles stating Wild Rivers was “set to return to Irvine in 2020.” Our understanding is the entity is still seeking funding for the project and no plans have been submitted to the City Council. Council candidate Lauren Johnson Norris posted a story from the publication on her Facebook page and comments emerged questioning the source. All comments were deleted and now, the webpage for The Irvine Report is blank, likely due to a story about them in Irvine Watchdog.
Imagine Christina Shea or Mike Carroll being feted at a fundraiser from a business interest they are voting on?
So if you are a DGI member casting a vote today, take this into account.