entitle themselves and others by calling out - as is the
case with the Daily Pilot, 101 Most Influential People and
now Red County - our self entitled Republican Blog/Magazine
limits their wonderfulness to only the Top 40....Influential
Politicos! You can tell how far behind the times they are
by using the 1950's icon - The Top 40! We kept looking for
Snooky Lancen and the Juke Box All-Stars! In any event, you
will notice two very, very important "unincluded" on this list.
It sort of tells us.....something! Lord knows we love Curt
the Pringle man from Anaheim. He is a definite Republican
Team Player and loves to try new things.....but the rest.....
ugh!! Where is Shawn Steel and Chuck Devore? These guys are
not chopped liver you know! Oh well, we guess we will have to
offer up our own "Top 10" in an upcoming blogisphere chapter!
In the meantime, peruse the list and see who you think is missing
big time from their mega-politician list.
===========================================================
OC's Top 40 Influential Politicos
Scott W. Graves
Who are Orange County's most influential people? That's
a good question, and we decided to take a stab at answering
it. Since Red County's primary focus is politics, we confined
our tabulation to the realm of public affairs: broadly
speaking, that intersection between politics and government
where public policy is influenced, decided and altered.
We are calling our list the Red County Top 40. While it
includes Orange County's top forty politicos, it is not
offered as definitive. Since any such list is highly
subjective, we endeavored to compile one that represents
a solid crosssection of the various strata of individuals
and organizations who make things happen politically in
Orange County.
Also important to note, this list is not a ranking, but
rather a grouping. We felt it presumptuous to rank the
relative influence of individuals who represent very
different segments of the political community. How does
one rank the relative influences of a major donor, an
elected official, political writer, and a leader of a
powerful political action committee? We submit that you
don't. All are important and powerful components within
the political process.
Our initial list was a large one and was derived from
hundreds of submissions to our online survey. Whittling
it down to an admittedly arbitrary number of 40 wasn't
easy. And we fully expect readers to disagree with whom
we included and whom we omitted--but that just makes the
ensuing discussing more vigorous.
We sorted, reviewed, and debated the nominees. With a
master list in hand, we asked ourselves the following
questions to help guide us through our selection process.
1. Are they influential not only in their respective
communities, or the Board or Council on which they serve,
but are not so outside that limited universe?
2. Can their endorsement move voters?
3. Do they provide leadership beyond the strict scope of
their responsibility? Do they lead with the policies they
advocate and/or succeed in achieving them?
4. Does their influence extend beyond their agency or
company?
5. If this person called, would you get right back to them?
6. Do others look to these people for leadership, advice,
opinions on policy issues or political campaigns?
7. Do they help shape public discourse or set the terms
of public debate?
8. Are they leaders themselves?
Without further adieu, we present Red County's inaugural
OC Top 40.
Curt Pringle
Pringle is probably the single most influential elected
official in Orange County. He is Mayor of OC's most dynamic
large city, influential in county public policy as an Orange
County Transportation Authority director, owner of an
influential public affairs company--and head-and-shoulders
above the elected official crowd in terms of vision and
sheer political talent.
Scott Baugh
In 2004, Baugh had the daunting task of following Tom
Fuentes' successful 20-year reign of Chairman of the
Republican Party of Orange County. He's the only person
in the OC who could have pulled it off. He's liked and
respected by the various factions of OC Republicanism,
knows how to raise money and has overseen a voter
registration drive that has revived GOP fortunes in
central county. Wherever OC political influence is being
brokered, there shall you find Baugh.
Lucy Dunn
The Orange County Business Council was a listless shell
when Dunn returned to Orange County in 2006 to take over
as CEO of the organized expression of OC's corporate/
business community. Her dynamism and willingness to fight
have revived the OCBC as a formidable force in public
policy: for example, Dunn put OCBC front-and-center of the
astonishingly successful campaign to renew the half-cent
measure M transportation tax for 30 more years.
Paul Folino
Successful businessman, political activist, and philanthropist.
Folino is a founding member of the New Majority and was a
major financial backer of Governor Schwarzenegger. His
leadership within the big donor community for both political
and philanthropic endeavors is impressive.
Assemblyman Van Tran
In the era of term limits, state legislators rarely have the
time or inclination to build political organizations. Not so,
Van Tran. He has built a potent political operation of skilled
district staff and allied local elected officials into the
dominant force in the newly-awakened Vietnamese community--
and by extension in central Orange County politics. That
became startlingly evident in early 2007 when Tran's operation
came within 3 votes of electing an unknown school district
trustee to the County Board of Supervisors.
OC Register
Circulation is down, ad revenues shrinking and the daily
edition is getting thinner--but The Reg is still most Orange
Countians primary source of news and commentary. The paper's
political/government coverage has improved markedly during
the last couple of years, driven by competition from local
political blogs like OC Blog that have grown in readership
and influence. Political-ish Columnist Frank Mickadeit has
carved out an influential niche and is a must-read for OC's
opinion leader class.
Supervisor Bill Campbell
The former Assembly GOP leader is the current center of
gravity on the Board of Supervisors. Although his support
is no guarantee a policy initiative will garner the magic
three votes, the judicious businessman/politician's ability
to pull other supervisors along with him make it critical.
Wayne Quint
OC may be a red county, but it's home to several powerful
government employee unions--the most aggressive of which
is the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, headed
by Wayne Quint. The AOCDS'seemingly bottomless well of
campaign funds is a big, heavy club and Quint is not afraid
to swing it hard--whether unsuccessfully against conservative
Sup. John Moorlach election or successfully against the county
firefighters union over how to divvy up public safety funds.
The Makarechians
Father-son duo Hadi and Paul Makarchian have amassed enormous
wealth developing homes and luxury hotels like the marquis
St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach. Both are active in OC GOP
politics: Hadi as a member of The New Majority, the uber-
wealthy donor organization that has spread like kudzu from
OC across California. Scion Paul Makarechian is a moving
force behind GenNeXt, a group of wealthy thirty-something GOP
business leaders.
The Irvine Company
It's not the malevolent, omnipresent force fixating the
imaginations of the tin-foil crowd...but The Irvine Company
radiates influence--whether emanating directly from reclusive
owner Donald Bren or channeled through prominent wielders of
influence such as Dan Young, Dan Miller or Paul Hernandez.
Peter Herzog
The long-time Lake Forest Councilman is emblematic of the
breed of local elected officials who wield considerable
influence beyond their jurisdictional borders in manner
reminiscent of old Southern congressional barons: longevity
in office. Herzog was first elected in 1994 and comfortably
navigates the obscure but very influential web of regional
government entities like the Transportation Corridor Agencies,
SCAG, League of Cities, Local Agency Formation Commission,
where so much public policy incubates.
Kristine Thalman
CEO of Building Industry Association of Orange County, the
sharp end of building industry influence in political affairs.
Vigorous and unafraid to lead the BIA into political battle.
Supervisor Chris Norby
The most libertarian county supervisor forms a conservative
pivot bloc on the Board of Supes with colleague Moorlach.
He's the board's most consistent vote for smaller government
and carries great weight with conservative activists.
Denis Bilodeau
Elected to Orange County Water District in 2000 and re-elected
in 2004. Elected to Orange City Council in 2006. Former OCTA
Director. Willing to mix it up and able to shift levers of
influence beyond his formal portfolio.
Nick Berardino
Long-time head of the Orange County Employees Association. A
force in OC Democratic politics and a gentlemanly partisan
who applies his union's political muscle judiciously.
Steve Sheldon
Seasoned political operative turned owner of successful
lobbying firm, Sheldon was elected to the Orange County Water
District Board in 2006. A prolific donor to local campaigns
and veteran of hidden-hand lever pulling.
OC Firefighters Association
Led by President Joe Kerr and Political Director Tony Bedolla,
the OCFA represents OC Fire Authority employees. As such,
their influence extends from the 5th Floor to the various city
halls where fire protection is handled by the Fire Authority.
Tom McKernan
The soft-spoken head of the Automobile Club of Southern
California was a key backer of the successful 2006 campaign
to renew the measure M transportation tax for 30 years. He's
also chairman of The New Majority/Orange County, which has
bankrolled the OC GOP's successful central OC registration
drives.
Lincoln Club of Orange County
The Club is still the pre-eminent political organization in
Orange County, willing to throw down with all comers to
liberty and limited government.
Tom Mauk
The county CEO is responsible for the operation of county
government--the most powerful man in county government after
the elected supervisors.
Supervisor John Moorlach
A hero to OC conservatives and bête noire to the county
employee unions, Moorlach energetically launches policy
initiatives. Sometimes he brings along his board colleagues
--as with the anti-retroactive pension spike lawsuit--and
sometimes he doesn't--as with his ill conceived campaign
finance reform.
John Lewis
A member of OC's legislative delegation for two decades, the
former state Senator is arguably OC's top political consultant
and strategist. He and consulting partner Mattt Holder ran the
supervisor campaigns of Supervisors Bill Campbell and Chris
Norby, as well as the spectacularly successful No on Measure
D campaign in 2005.
Disneyland
The successful campaign to stop a SunCal residential development
on the outskirts of the Resort District zone proved once again
the Magic Kingdom is the 800-pound political gorilla of Anaheim.
The company's certain-to-be-approved SOAR initiative will give
it veto power over development near the theme park.
Art Leahy
CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority, which
oversees nearly a billion annually in transportation planning
and construction. Leahy rebounded from the death of the
albatross centerline light rail program to the renewal of
he multi-billion Measure M tax.
Gary Hunt
Former long-time executive vice president of The Irvine
Company, left to found Irvine-based California Strategies
public affairs consulting firm. Operates at the 30,000-feet
level of political influence: beyond the sight of mere
mortals but very real nonetheless.
Carolyn Cavecche
One of OC's leading local elected officials. Elected Mayor
of Orange in 2006 after several years on the council, she
served as Chairman of the Orange County Transportation
Authority and is widely considered a leading candidate
for the 3rd Supervisor District in 2012.
Dick Ackerman
Former Fullerton Councilman and state Assemblyman, state
Senator since 2000 and head of Senate GOP Caucus. One fifth
of the Big Five who negotiate the state budget. Genuine
kingmaker in OC GOP politics.
Larry Agran
The political boss of Irvine, whether the Mayor is him or
one of his council allies. Runs the city and the Great Park,
the huge expanse of land that was formerly the El Toro Marine
Corp Air Station. Exhibits a Rasputin-like ability to survive
regular political assassination attempts by county Republicans.
Loretta Sanchez
After spending most of her political celebrity congressional
career in the minority, Rep. Sanchez is feeling her majority
status oats. Exhibit 1: helping repeal a law that stopped
liberal state legislators from killing the 241 tollroad completion.
Larry Dodge
New Majority member and a major donor with close ties to
the Governor Schwarzenegger, Dodge recently suggested he may
withhold a $3 million check he intended to write to retire
the debt of the California Republican Party. Anyone willing
and able to retire the debt of the CA GOP has some influence
within the party.
Matthew Cunningham
OC's vibrant political blogosphere started with the launching
of the pioneering OC Blog in June 2004. Writing under the
nom-du-blog "Jubal", Cunningham filled a void in local political
coverage and established OC Blog as a very influential source
of insider news and commentary.
John Campbell
Campbell has been a rising star since first running for
Assembly in 2000. Since going to Congress in 2005, he's
established himself as a leader in trying to re-anchor
House Republicans in traditional principles of liberty,
limited government and a strong defense. Plus, local
Democrats get apoplectic about him; a sure sign he's
having an impact.
Ed Royce
Popular and well-respected U.S. congressman representing
the 40th Congressional District, Royce has been in public
office more than 25 years. As the ranking member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee's Terrorism,
Non-proliferation and Trade Subcommittee, Royce frequently
appears in the national media discussing some of the most
important issues of the day.
Todd Spitzer
The former supervisor and current Assemblyman has his eyes
on being District Attorney someday. While many political
insiders remain wary of Spitzer's ambitiousness, he has
built a cadre of loyal supporters and an electable reputation
with voters as a tough-oncrime/government watchdog.
Pat Bates
The former Assemblywoman and councilmember is a South County
veteran of the anti-airport wars. Elected Supervisor in 2006
by beating free-spending Cassie DeYoung in county's most
expensive race ever. Respected in her district, and emerging
on the Board of Supes as "The Vetter" whose due diligence
can mean life or death to other Supes proposals.
Richard Dixon
Like his Lake Forest Council colleague Peter Herzog, Dixon
is emblematic of the powerful influence entrenched incumbent
council members, untouched by term limits, can exert on public
policy by their active participation in the hidden government
of special districts, commission and local government
organizations like SCAG and the League of Cities.
Mike Schroeder
Like him or loathe him, Mike Schroeder is that rare political
influential who's in because he enjoys it, not to make money
or get a client's project approved. It also makes him virtually
impossible to leverage--an underpinning of his capacity to
influence OC politics.
Jon Fleischman
A leading conservative activist longer than most OC politicos
can remember, Fleischman operates the FlashReport.org, an
influential conservative website in California. Last year,
he launched his own public affairs consultancy, and is a par
excellence example of overt and hidden hand influence.
Lou Correa
The likeable Democrat State Senator from Santa Ana has built
a semi-justified reputation as a maverick and is a leading
contender to take Loretta Sanchez's Congressional seat when
she moves on.
Tony Rackauckas
District Attorney since 1998, and by all indications will be
so through 2014. His endorsement is everything in judicial races.
-------------------------------------*Guess who we think are the
Real Players?
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