Democrats in Newport Beach? Where?

Last year, when the Newport Beach Independent was starting up, I was told that I wouldn’t be in every week’s issue. 

After all, this wonderful paper didn’t want its Forum page to be filled with the Crazy Right-Wing Ultra Conservative rantings of this lunatic on a regular and consistent basis.  This new paper didn’t need that kind of reputation right? 

No problem.

So after six months of searching, our fearless leader/Editor Roger Bloom, during our most recent Newport Indy columnist/reporter meeting, gave up and passed the task of finding a good Democratic-registered writer to me.  After all, who better to know good Democrats than a good Republican, right?  Friends close, enemies closer right?  Sheshhhh…should be easy.

Well, turns out I only know Democrats (with extensive opinionated writing experience who are willing to identify themselves as Orange County Democrats) in the People’s Republic of Irvine.  There are some in Costa Mesa, too, but somewhere in Newport Beach there has to be some, right?

The most obvious choice for me is one who has run for Congress three or four times (who can remember?) and most recently short-lived Newport Beach City Council candidate Steve Young.  But he’s only been a resident of Newport Beach for a just over a year and needs more seasoning in the Newport Beach broth, especially for a paper “For Locals, by Locals.” 

OK, next.

The second obvious choice (at least for me) was Barry Allen.  For those not familiar with Barry, he’s an attorney who’s sat on numerous Boards and Committees for Newport Beach.  I knew him from his years on the Environmental Quality Affairs Citizens Advisory Committee where he would go through and meticulously scour through the agendas and paperwork to make sure every T was crossed and I was dotted. 

But his bigger claim to fame is his marriage to his wonderful bride Debra Allen.  You see, Debra has been a fixture, and an icon, in city for decades, but moreso, she’s a staunch Republican while Barry is a staunch Democrat. 

But it turns out Barry is a successful and very busy attorney too.  And I’m sure his every day political conservation with Debra gives him enough agita, regurgitating it again for this paper might be too much for him…

After Barry and Steve, things started getting more difficult.

So I started working the phones and called a few former Mayors, some current Councilmembers, some tree huggers, and some other Newport Beach prominents.  And guess what?  Finding a willing Democrat in Newport Beach is much more difficult than you’d think.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that are plenty of good Democrats in the City who would be very willing to write and counterbalance my lunacy.  But I’m not too sure there are too willing to actually publicly identify themselves as a good Democrat in Newport Beach. 

Plus, since all my political friends (except one) in Newport Beach are Republican nut-jobs like me, they probably have as many Democratic friends in the City as I do ... the same two as I mention above, Barry Allen and Steve Young.

So now what? 

Well fortunately after leaving a message on the Hart line, I received a call back from former Mayor (and one of the three ladies in Newport Beach who I truly respect and am frightened of at the same time) Evelyn Hart.  Stumping Evelyn is no easy task, and at first thought that I had. 

But given enough time, Evelyn ALWAYS delivers and she came through with a couple of names to start with. 

I passed the names and info onto our fearless leader and will sit back and eagerly await the wise musings of the Democrat (hee hee…gotta remember my New Years resolution…). 

So there.  Democrats in Newport Beach DO exist.

Comments

[Eric Longabardi]

Wasn't Bill Lobdell available? ;)

I would suggest Amy Senk of CDM Today, she is a Dem for sure!

You could always get Loretta Sanchez to do a guest column - just a thought.

:)