March 2010

Chief Hunter after hearts and minds, not union dues.

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-16-2010 | 09:00 PM

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - With Sheriff Sandra Hutchens leading the fund racing derby in the 2010 Orange County Sheriff race, albeit trailing in the Poldex©, and Lt, Hunt recently picking up the endorsement of former OC Supervisor, now Assemblyman Chris Norby we wondered what Chief Craig Hunter had under his sleeve to make this a three-person race. “We are taking this campaign very seriously and we will not under-estimate either opponent…as the newest candidate, we are clearly on the upswing and our campaign is roughly 2 months old, compared to the 18 month campaigns of Hunt and the appointed sheriff.”


Chief Craig Hunter	Wyane Quint - OC Sheriff's Union president	Scott R. Baugh Chairman - Republican Party of Orange Coun

We were extremely unhappy with Sheriff Hutchens’ 120-Day plan, so naturally we wondered to about differences between Sheriff Hutchens’ 120-Day plan and Sheriff Hunter’s plan. Chief Hunters position is that: “It is naive to think that a culture could be changed in 120 days as was reported to the BOS. So far what we have seen is more of the same. The most visible culture change has been their effort to bring LA politics, policing strategies and leadership style into Orange County. We have budget issues to immediately address. That will take real effort at tackling waste and fixing inefficiencies. That’s where I intend to spend my first 100 days.”

Chief Hunter’s message is not only succinct, but is accompanied by compelling visuals: tested leadership. According to Chief Hunter,
”Tough times require tested and experienced leadership. Orange County deserves no less. Where would you rather take your family?
- Irvine Park or Macarthur Park
- The Honda Center or Staples Center
- Disneyland or the Coliseum
- Why do you live in Orange County?
- Which policing strategies and philosophies do think work best; OC or LA?”

So, what about skeptics, who argue they need more specificity? While lawmakers seems to shun town hall meetings, Chief Hunter seems to be encouraging town hall meeting attendance:

“ Come and hear me speak, or give me a call. It is difficult to answer every detail in an article. However, my background speaks for itself.

I oversee all daily police operations of California’s tenth largest city, including the department’s nearly 800 full time and volunteer members and a $120 million budget.

Under my watch, Anaheim has earned national acclaim for homeland security and community policing, and the city is recognized as the safest among California’s ten largest cities. During my tenure I have implemented numerous cost saving procedures that have streamlined spending, eliminated waste, and created more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”

Arguably the Baugh Initiative and the recent Lincoln Group’s Emancipation Proclamation is indeed having a galvanizing effect. So much so that of 300 Orange County council members we have approached, only two have had the intestinal fortitude to stand up and be counted.

The Baugh Initiative is OC GOP Chairman Scott Baugh’s mandate to have candidates choose between a GOP endorsement or union funding. What we refer to as the Lincoln Group’s Emancipation Proclamation emulates the Baugh Initiative.

So, what is Chief Hunter's position on the Baugh Initiative:?

” I took a pledge that I believe is in the best interest of Orange County citizens, not a vote against the unions. I’ve been a successful law enforcement leader for more than twenty years, and during that time I have been a member of my law enforcement Association. I am certain that I am the only candidate who is still paying dues, because I support many of their charitable efforts. As a manager and leader, I have enjoyed strong Police Officer Association support and I have never needed to ask for their money in exchange for their support.

I believe Sheriff Association members should decide if they want their money to go to political activities. In my agency and the two Associations who represent the employees of the Sheriff’s department, the employees have that choice. I support that policy.

I am running in this campaign based on my extensive police experience and leadership, which includes a participative and inclusive leadership style that does not leave the rank and file feeling disenfranchised. As the next Sheriff, I prefer to win their hearts and minds, and earn their confidence and support, not their dues.

Most of Orange County City Hall does the mumbaugh - Dubbed the mumbaugh (rhymes with Mambo), like the Irish Riverdance, it consists of rapid leg movement, but in this case, at times covering ears, mouth and or eyes, most popular with the politicians throughout Orange County, triggered by the Baugh Initiative.

We asked (phone, fax, e-mai) all council members of the 12 cities in Orange County outsourcing its public safety to the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), what their priorities were, what they thought of the Baugh Initiative and what they were doing to make sure that the money paid by their respective cities to the county for OCSD services were in fact being delivered and consistent with what the taxpayers wanted.

Name	City	MumBaugh?	Comments
Neil Blais	RSM	Yes	Incumbent
James M. Thor	RSM	Yes	Incumbent
Gary Thompson	RSM	Yes	Incumbent
Jesse Petrilla	RSM	No


Frank Ury	Mission Viejo	No	Frank sent us references to published material - we have not studied yet
Lance MacLean	Mission Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Cathy Schlicht	Mission Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
John Paul Ledesma	Mission Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Patricia Kelley	Mission Viejo	Yes	Incumbent

Peter Herzog	Lake Forest	Yes	Incumbent
Richard T. Dixon	Lake Forest	Yes	Incumbent
Kathryn Mc Cullough	Lake Forest	Yes	Incumbent
Marcia Rudolph	Lake Forest	Yes	Incumbent
Mark Tettemer	Lake Forest	Yes	Incumbent

Dr. Londres Uso	San Juan Capistrano	Yes	Incumbent
Laura Freese	San Juan Capistrano	Yes	Incumbent
Sam Allevato	San Juan Capistrano	Yes	Incumbent
Thomas Hribar	San Juan Capistrano	Yes	Incumbent
Mark Nielsen	San Juan Capistrano	Yes	Incumbent

Lori Donchak	San Clemente	Yes	Incumbent
Joe Anderson	San Clemente	Yes	Incumbent
Jim Dahl	San Clemente	Yes	Incumbent
G. Wayne Eggleston	San Clemente	Yes	Incumbent
Bob Baker	San Clemente	Yes	Incumbent


Phillip B. Tsunoda	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Carmen Cave	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Greg Ficke	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent

Randal Bressette	Laguna Hills	Yes	Incumbent
R. Craig Scott	Laguna Hills	Yes	Incumbent
Melody Carruth	Laguna Hills	Yes	Incumbent
L. Allan Songstad, Jr.	Laguna Hills	Yes	Incumbent
Joel Lautenschleger	Laguna Hills	Yes	Incumbent

Robert Ming	Laguna Nigel	Yes	Incumbent
Paul Glaab	Laguna Nigel	Yes	Incumbent
Joe Brown	Laguna Nigel	Yes	Incumbent
Gary Capata	Laguna Nigel	Yes	Incumbent
Linda Lindholm	Laguna Nigel	Yes	Incumbent


Steven H. Weinberg	Dana Point	Yes	Incumbent
Scott Schoeffel	Dana Point	Yes	Incumbent
Lara Anderson	Dana Point	Yes	Incumbent
Lisa A. Bartlett	Dana Point	Yes	Incumbent
Joel Bishop	Dana Point	Yes	Incumbent

Phillip B. Tsunoda	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Carmen Cave	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Greg Ficke	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips	Aliso Viejo	Yes	Incumbent

Cynthia Conners	Laguna Woods	Yes	Incumbent
Bob Ring	Laguna Woods	Yes	Incumbent
Marty Rhodes	Laguna Woods	Yes	Incumbent
Bert Hack	Laguna Woods	Yes	Incumbent
Milton Milt Robbins	Laguna Woods	Yes	Incumbent

Alexander A. Ethans	Stanton	???	Incumbent
Carol Warren	Stanton	???	Incumbent
Edward D. Royce	Stanton	???	Incumbent
Brian Donahue	Stanton	???	Incumbent
David J. Shawver	Stanton	???	Incumbent


Bill Mac Aloney	Villa Park	???	Incumbent
W. Richard Ulmer	Villa Park	???	Incumbent
Deborah Pauly	Villa Park	NO	Does not do mumbaugh
Brad Reese	Villa Park	???	Incumbent
James Rheins	Villa Park	???	Incumbent