2008 Fullerton City Council Election Recap
Despite the efforts of Friends For Fullerton’s Future, 12 year incumbent Dick Jones was re-elected. Also winning re-election were Shawn Nelson and Sharon Quirk. Our campaign to inform the voters of Fullerton about Mr. Dick Jones, although ultimately unsuccessful, proved valuable in many ways. Apart from the demographic information we have gathered, our efforts arguably cost Jones several thousand votes from his 2004 election count when he gained over 20,000 votes and received the top number of votes; in 2008 he came in a distant third.
The campaign of Karen Haluza ended a few thousand votes behind Mr. Jones. One of the most interesting questions of this election is how Haluza failed when her main opponent was subjected to a strong, independent opposition. We believe the answer lies in the efforts of The Fullerton Observer to undermine Shawn Nelson’s campaign, an effort that included its endorsement of Mr. Jones. The endorsement of The Observer, whatever its intellectual merit, has been worth around 2500 votes in General Elections over the years – just about the difference in the vote total between Haluza and Jones. One can only speculate on the outcome of a Quirk/Haluza “bullet vote” strategy by the Observer and its kindred spirits. The Observer could have gotten its own favored liberals elected and rid Fullerton of a an incurably rude buffoon.
One thing is certain: FFFF will continue to monitor important issues – most importantly, land-use issues in the coming months and years and will continue to hold Fullerton’s politicians accountable for their words and actions, and those of their staff. We have begun the promotion of the idea of term limits in Fullerton, and are now contemplating a petition drive to begin the local referendum process. 12 YEARS IS ENOUGH!
2008 has been a great experience for FFFF. And the fun has only just begun.
Karen Haluza is responsible for her own loss. Instead of comparing herself to her most vulnerable opponent, the clown Jones, she decided to “play it safe” and let the Observer types go after Shawn Nelson – the only candidate who represents the interests of the people. It was actually fun to watch the Republican establishment (Royce, Ackerman) go after HER so it could keep its stooge Jones in place. Haluza deserved to lose and although Jones is a disaster in every way Haluza probably would have been just as bad. She tried to hide her involvement in Redevelopment abuse in Brea and now in Santa Ana behind her own brand of hollow slogans.
Good Luck Fullerton!
Joe, you are right. My personal experience is that the Obserker will get it’s favored 2,500 votes. However, I’m glad Jones got reelected!!!!!
Joe, you are indeed correct. Haluza didn’t have the courage to go after her real oppenent and dithered around with the Observer crowd willing to back anybody but Nelson. So the brass ring eludes her and we get stuck with the incoherent Jones until he retires mid-term (he really didn’t want to run, but Ed told him he had to stand tall against those evil women Democrats!).
LW, you’re glad Jones won? With five exclamation points? That’s just sad brother. Unless, of course, you’re a downtown apartment block developer, or an illegal dance club owner, or just a garden variety idiot.
Joe, I disagree with one point that you made. Haluza would have been a million times better than Jones. I just came from a GPAC meeting of which I’m a member of and Karen Haluza was present, all of her comments were intelligent, and right on the mark. However, you are right about her “playing it safe”, that was not in her best interest.
LW, are you glad that Jones won because Haluza didn’t or because you think Jones is good for Fullerton?
HJ, LW’s an idiot.
admin, who are you guys going after next?