But the Newport Beach City Council LOVES the Unions!

Well...I was at Monday's Republican Party of Orange County's Central Committee meeting.

And I got to hear Chairman Scott Baugh's call to action.

His Mandate.

His "Throwing down the Gauntlet."

His Calling for a Revolution.

I liked it, but as Chip Hanlon points out in his Red County blog post, "A Few Folks who Might Not Have Loved Baugh's Speech" rings true...especially in Newport Beach.

Now first off, Chip writes that there are generally three types of reactions.

1. Those who wholeheartedly supported it
   
2. Those who remain skeptical that anything will really change
   
3. Those electeds who have taken union money and won't like this sunlight

I would probably call myself a mix between #1 & #2 because I support it and Scott completely, but I'm not too sure how one part of his speech will work...especially in Newport Beach.

Chairman Baugh states that if a candidate wants the endorsement from the Republican Party of Orange County, he or she CANNOT receive contributions from Public Employee Unions.

Now, anyone left here who has read my dribble over the years has known for my contempt of of Newport Beach's VERY VERY VERY active Police and Fire Unions (they like to be called Associations) and the Newport Beach City Council's lack of...guts (I had another word typed, then deleted it) against them.

For a refresher (here, here, here, here).

The OC Register Editorial board wrote about the Newport Beach City Council's fear of the Unions here.

The Daily Pilot here.

David Bahnsen here.

So I spent some time away from my Playstation 3 this morning to do some research.

Ready?

In the 2004 Newport Beach City Council Election:

• Former Mayor Steve Rosansky received a $1076.00 Independent Expenditure from the Police Union.

In the 2006 Newport Beach City Council Election:

• The Police and Fire Unions spent a total of $31807.65 in support of their Endorsed Candidates.
• Former Mayor Don Webb - $500 cash ($500 Contribution limits in NB), $4128.03 in IE money.
• Former Mayor Ed Selich - $1000 cash, $4128.03 in IE
• Mayor Keith Curry - $1000 cash, $4128.03 in IE
• Former Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Daigle - $500 cash, $3381.03 in IE
• Mayor Pro Tem Mike Henn - $1000 cash, $4128.03 in IE

They also contributed to Council Candidate Barbara Venezia (who left the race early) and to Former Green Party, and current DTS Nancy Gardner.

In the 2008 Newport Beach City Council race:

• Mayor Keith Curry - $500 cash, $6015.07 IE
• Former Mayor Steve Rosansky - $500 cash, $6015.07 IE
• Former Mayor Ed Selich - $6015.08 IE.

In the past three Newport Beach City Council elections, the Police and Fire Unions ENDORSED and SPENT $51,928.87 to help shape a Union Friendly City Council.

The past two elections? $50,852.87

So what do we do now?

Almost all of those folks listed above requested, and received, the Republican Party of Orange County endorsement in those elections.

Does Scott Baugh's decree now mean that they won't receive the Endorsement anymore?

Does it mean that they can say the standard:

“While I commend Scott for reminding Republicans of the negative impact unions have had on the state budget, I appreciate the role public safety plays in our community,” she (State Senator Mimi Walters), said. “Their support of me has never influenced my decisions.”

I don't know.

The main problem here in Newport Beach is that the City Council election candidates, and winners, usually RABIDLY seek the Police and Fire Unions (which along with the Daily Pilot make up the Three Endorsements Jewels in Newport Beach.)

And the interesting part then?

Endorsements from the Republican Party of Orange County typically come at the beginning of summer, Newport Beach Union Endorsements come late Summer.

Does the OCGOP then wait?

Let me give you an example from 2008.

• Mayor Keith Curry and former Mayor Steve Rosansky were endorsed by the Republican Party of Orange County in early Summer.
• They were endorsed by the Unions later that Summer.
• The Unions contributed to their campaigns in August (Keith) and September (Steve).
• The Unions then spent about $18 GRAND in the end of September.
• The report for these dollars weren't due until October.
• Which was when the Republican Party of Orange County spent $16,965.72 to support Steve Rosansky
• The Republican Party of Orange County spent $17,070.91 in support of Keith Curry and $16,622.28 against Keith's opponent (who wasn't endorsed by the Union and who was one the Newport Harbor Republican Women leaders).

Would the Republican Party of Orange County have endorsed or spent $50,658.91 in support of Union Backed City Council candidates had they known?

That is why I'm skeptical.

However, while skeptical, I'm still hopeful.

Hopeful that this means that the Republican Newport Beach City Council candidates will covet the Republican Party of Orange County endorsement more then the Unions, especially in a predominately Republican City.

Hopeful that while the Newport Beach City Council says they are republican (small r) they will start acting like Republicans.

And hopeful that our most Republican member of the City Council will try not to put the City of Newport Beach into Hundreds of Millions of Debt for a new White Elephant (sorry, had to change topics real quick.)