1st SD Mailbox: Central Labor Council I.E. for Umberg

Before I begin, two disclosures: First, I am NOT a member of the Orange County Employees Association or any other union. Second, I have endorsed Carlos Bustamante in the First District Supervisorial election. I will continue to post mail and other information regarding the election, and I will try to do so with as much objectivity as I can muster.

I came across two new mailers, both independent expenditures (I.E.'s) on behalf of Tom Umberg from the Orange County Central Labor Council. For the uninitiated, the CLC is a consortium of public- and private-sector unions that represents almost all of the unionized workers in Orange County. One of the most visible functions of this umbrella organization is political action on behalf of preferred candidates or causes. The mailer itself claims that the CLC represents 147,000 members in Orange County (hmmm... do they LIVE or WORK in OC?).

The first mailer (see below - I'll post the second shortly) is an 11x17 (folded once), glossy mailer obviously directed to union members who vote absentee. I do not know how many union members live in the First District, but it surely numbers in the thousands. The mailer tries to motivate the recipient by asserting that "...some members of the Board have long records opposing working family issues."

Apparently one of those "working family issues" is "opposing new taxes." This mailer claims Umberg has a "...perfect record opposing new taxes" (what about raising existing ones?) and that "(h)e will bring that same fiscal restraint to the Board..." POP QUIZ - Can a candidate be held to account for claims in an "independent expenditure"?

This is a very slick, well-produced piece that has a "Special Reminder" to vote and mail the ballot "right away" ... and, of course, to vote for Umberg.

Comments

[redperegrine]

Hey, that's a swell looking family shot. The question is - where is the living room it was taken in?

[Jubal]

My thought exactly, RP. I'll bet it wasn't taken at the two-bedroom apartment in Santa Ana.

Maybe Umberg is trying to give all those working stiffs a goal to shoot for -- a really big house in Villa Park with a swimming pool and tennis court.

[Bladerunner]

Hey, it's Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, right here in Red County.

[mary]

Don't you think he looks like a young Oliver North? He'll win the 1st on looks alone.

[Art Pedroza]

It looks like they left cardboard Tom out of the picture. God knows what he is up to...

[redperegrine]

Martin & Lewis? Aw, br, that's just cold.

[Burning Question]

Do they even HAVE fireplaces at MacArthur Village?

[Paul Lucas]

I know exactly where that picture was taken.

[Karen Finn]

Dear Red County Bloggers,
I think people need to remember something really important. Who has been in control of the seats of the Supes for the last ohh how many years now? Oh I know, the Republicans. Wow now there is a surprise. I was just wondering since all this talk on the OC Blog sounds like it is the Union held Democrats in those seats, when it has been the Republicans all these years. Not to mention when the Bankruptcy was going on I wonder who was seating on those seats then, oh I know one name for sure. It is TODD SPITZER!!!!!!!! I remember that very well I was a single mother at the time when all that was going on working in Santa Ana.
Not to mention here is another tid bit, I guess everyone dislikes Police officers now since they keep slamming the Unions.
I just spoke on one that one MURDERED last Tuesday at the supes Meeting. Does that do nothing for any of you here at the Red County? I see you speak great things about the Union when it is in your favor. I can go back and pull it up on this web site now if you want. So is it just that you are all being a hypocrite when you speak now? Think about what you say. It sure sounds like it to me.
Regards,
Karen A Finn
Law Enforcement Officers wife