He’s Baaaaack! Matthew J. Cunningham Scores Some OCTA Gravy
With a little digging I have discovered that our old small government pal Matthew J. Cunningham, who raked in hundreds of thousands of bucks doing $200 an hour make-work for Rob Reiner’s tax-and-redistribute Children and Families Commission has found a new gig. Or, as is more likely the case, has had a gig given to him by his repuglican overlords.
A year ago FFFF exposed the hypocrisy of this guy making a small fortune off of the nanny statists and social engineers at the Children & Family scam. After that sweet run was terminated due to uncomfortable exposure, Cunningham landed a contract with the social engineers at the Orange County Transportation Authority to do…well, I’m not real sure.
It might be instructive to remember that two targets of Cunningham’s tiresome tongue treacle, Bill Campbell and Kurt Pringle, were OCTA Board members when he got this new arrangement last November. I wonder if this contract was result of an honest RFP or if was just laddled out to Mr. C. behind closed doors.
Here’s the agreement, noting Mrs. Cunningham as the “Principal” of the operation and the Mr. as “Project Manager.”
Hmmm. $30K a year with a scope of work that seems ridiculously inconsequential. Basically it entails reading city agendas for transportation issues and telling the OCTA who’s on city councils and going to some meetings. Tellingly, there is no listed OCTA project manager named to ride heard on the egregious wordsmith suggesting that OCTA contract quality control may well be no better than that exercised by the C & F Commissariat.
Well, I guess this means we’ll be doing a public records request for work product and billing records.
P.S. Please note that Pacific Strategies is still using the phony “Suite C” address – hilarious given that the Cunninghams operate their business, whatever it does, out of their house.
Anyone can do it, just shine the light and watch’em scurry.
This one doesn’t pass the smell test, either.
Whatever an RFP is, I bet there wasn’t one.
“two targets of Cunningham’s tiresome tongue treacle”
Wow, that’s some serious wordsmithing, Grover.
What a friggin waste of taxpayers and riders money!
Did this guy EVER ride the OCTA Bus?
Now, need to watch the every agenda of every agency and local government in Orange County.
Need to raise hell on this one…Those on the damn gravy train needs to get off and get a REAL private sector job like the rest off and stay off of the taxpayers dime!
Whatever, I was going to write is eclipsed by poster # 4:
Did this guy EVER ride the OCTA Bus?
That is the real shame here. Matt has ZERO connection that need this valuable Government service (there are some good government services). Jubal and his buddies have found another way to HIJACK the system for thier own benefit.
“two targets of Cunningham’s tiresome tongue treacle”
Appaarently Tony and his gang finally made it to the letter T in the dictionary. Now he can look up and see what THC means.
Good Job to all of you.
GED.
Uh, might you mean to say that the 4F got to the letter T un the THESAURUS and not the dictionary???
Random words beggining with the letter T do not have the same impact as those words which begin with the letter T and also have some nexus.
Hmmmm. THC = Tetrahydrocannabinol? I believe that’s the right spelling. No dictionary needed but some chemistry background helps if you need a more in depth understanding of the molecular structure.
Maybe if Matt Cunningham, Dick Ackerman, Junior, Ed Royce and the rest of the BLUEHAIR wannabee repuglicans, took a bong hit things would be different.
Certainly the “GREED WEED” they be smoking isn’t helping anyone but themselves.
Things are not looking good.
I’m sure this contract was bid out. LOL.
I couldn’t help but notice that the scope of work requires the “CONSULTANT” to attend a “MAXIMUM” of twelve meetings (tasks 4&6) does that mean if attends NONE he is paid.
What kind of cush contract is this?
But don’t expect the OC WATCHDOG to report on this, Wiskols buttplug will be licked clean by joseph and co. before the go against county government.
“attend a “MAXIMUM” of twelve meetings (tasks 4&6) does that mean if attends NONE he is paid.”
Good catch! Zero meetings, still gets paid! Now that’s one Hell of a deal!
Isnt it against the law to get a contract without an RFP? can anyone clarify that? And if so how does one prosecute it?
You can get a sole source under certain conditions. If the $ amount is low enough staff can hand out freebies – but they won’t do it unless somebody like Pringle tells ’em to do it.
Speaking of which, how do you think that Kris Murray woman got her cushy job at OCTA?
Keep up with current events. Murray no longer works at OCTA.
Of course. Now she’s Pringle’s puppet on the Anaheim City Council. And he got her another do-nothing job At Willdan. Nothing wrong with my knowledge of current events.
P.S. She never “worked” at all. She went around glad-handing for Pringle’s High Speed boondoggle and was pulling down the better part of 200Gs.
Another one of 4SDs “winners.”
The success envy of others is still in large supply on these boards.
Please tell us how you know what Kris did during her tenure with OCTA or now with Wildan.
The remark “I heard” will be code for “I have no idea what I’m talking about.”
So please cite facts and not your own opinion or rumor.
I noticed that the OCTA can cancel the contract at any time. Hmm…..
Check out the OCTA Board of Directors:
http://www.octa.net/board_of_directors.aspx
Bankhead is on there.
One public member and all damn politicians. Need voice of the people on the Board!
Geesh! 17 members and Fullerton is represented by Bankhead. The only thing worse would be if it was Old Doc Hee Haw!
Cunningham deserves the contract simply because he found a public tit to suck which taxpayers don’t seem to care about. Only when the tit dries up completely will they give a rat’s ass.
I never said “I heard.” That was your brainless addition. I know.
I know Murray went from her glad-handing job with Lucy Dunn’s useless self-promotional OCBC to the OCTA where she suddenly found herself making over a hundred thousand a year more, courtesy of Curt Pringle, who was only too happy to exploit the leadership void. And with no competition.
And that’s the way your government teat-sucking pals operate.
Jesus, 4SD Observer gets owned by yet another FFFF newcomer.
Your dreams will never hurt you.
Even scarier is that you believe I was “owned.”
4SD, does the tune dude looks like a lady have any special meaning to you? Just curious.
I never said you stated “I heard.” My point was in case you did say that.
The rest of your comment is the usual success envy that I expect from the inhabitants of loserville.
You put forth zero facts about her positions at either OCBC or OCTA. Only opinion on what you believed her jobs at both places entailed.
Once again. What FACTS do you have that allow you to make the statement that her job at OCBC was nothing more than “glad handing?” Did you work with her? Did she contact you in an official capacity? For what purpose?
As far as her compensation. Why is that your concern? Is that not between her and her employer? Should she have turned it down and demanded a lower salary? What do you base that upon? Your minimum wage level that you’ve struggled to achieve? Why is it her fault that you’re an underachiever?
“I never said you stated ‘I heard.’ My point was in case you did say that.”
Wow, what a sad comeback. That’s exactly what you wrote. This person obviously knows exactly what’s going on – unlike you who relies on the lies told by people like Tom Daly and Pam Keller. Why should this individual tell you anything about their job. Why is that any of your concern.
Article 9 of the agreement clearly spells out the insurance requirements the CONSULTANT must hold (and have turned in w/ in 10 days).
I am preety certain that normal Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover this kind of liability insurance, and something tells me PS is not exactly bonded or isured against mal-practice or advisement errors.
It would be interesting to see if Matt and Laura or in compliance. If not, Matt has a friend in yorba Linda who is in the insrance business, I think he used to be in the state legislature. I’m sure Duvall could come up with some kind of policy for Pacific Strategies.
Tony, knowing FFFF like I do I’m pretty sure they’re already looking into this.
Matt Cunningham should call Tom Daly if he needs a job. Tom loves to give taxpayers money away and Matt Cunningham is a republic and he supports Tom Daly a democrat.
Also. You stated the OCBC is self promotional. I look at their membership roster and I see private entities. The government hating losers on this blog are always touting the efficiency of the private sector. Are all the companies that are members of OCBC not as smart as you? The folks at places like UPS or Allergan are stupid and should quit because you believe OCBC is useless? Given some of the heavyweights on their list I would say it is you who is useless and can only find self worth in the denigration of others.
Once again. Put up some facts about Murray other than your opinion. You don’t like her, I get that. Success envy is a hard emotion to shake. Has it occurred to you that Murray is successful at what she does because she works at it? Maybe she spends more time developing herself and her career than whining about the success of others on a blog.
Successful? You call being a Pringle puppet successful? Well, maybe in your warped world it is.
OCBC is nothing but a self-promotional vehicle for Lucy Dunn, as is well-known by everyone connected to County politics (not you). OCBC is joined at the hip to the big government loving RINOs like Bill Campbell. It’s all about business getting cozy with government decision-makers to milk what it can from government, as is well-known by everyone connected to County politics (not you). Pringle was on the OCBC payroll too, promoting the allegedly “pro-business” group for his own agenda – check his 700s.
Murray was a low-level Dunn’s flunky until Pringle took advantage of OCTA after Art Leahy went to LA to get his gal hired as OCTAs “government affairs” personality – a no competition process that suddnely got her almost $200K a year.
She succeeded so well that she lasted a couple years pimping Pringle’s ARTIC and HSR boondoggles. After Pringle clients and OCTA contractors raised her a boatload of money she got on the Anaheim City Council and was forced to give up her OCTA gravy. Not to worry! Pringle got her a job with Willdan, an engineering company. Of course Murray’s got zero experience in engineering or business, but don’t let that interfere with your myth of success, she needs the income, apparently.
“Developing her career?” Hahahahahahahahaha!
Just goes to show: it’s not what you know, but who you know. Success? In your bent, government-can-do-no- wrong reality that seems to be the case.
CC, don’t waste any more time with that idiot. He pretends to believe that all government f-ups are the fault of Wall Street executives and corporate-America evil-doers.
Good job kicking him around though.
Rudy is right. This dingbat got a coveted Fringie Award for bizarre behavior last year.
Yep. He went off his trolley when FFFF uncovered all of Pam Keller’s misbehaving.
An award I am proud to own given who gave it to me.
The fringiest group of losers one could watch in real time.
County Clerk, you are obviously well-informed and a good writer.
How would you like to do some blogging for the Best Blog in OC 2010?
And one jealous m****rf****r.
Wow, Hon, such anger issues. Have you had your testosterone checked lately? You may need to get in touch with your inner female.
Your success envy continues to display itself in realtime.
So all those companies at OCBC are nothing more than leaches off the system. I mentioned UPS and Allergan. Are they looking to milk the government? For what? Overnight delivery and Botox contracts? How about Kimberly Clark? Are they looking for a fat contract to supply toilet paper? How about Oakley? Looking for a fat sunglass contract for government employees? Your generalization would be pathetic were it not so sad about your state of mind.
You go on to attack Murray for taking advantages of opportunities that have either been offered to her or one’s she has pursued. Is that not the American way? It seems you and the rest of loserville have a playbook of what constitutes proper behavior and what does not. She was offered a $200K/yr job. Do you know that’s how much it paid? If so, so what? Isn’t that between her and her employer? When was the last you were offered a job and told your employer that you would be willing to take less money? Or was the best you’ve been able to do is minimum wage and that employer wasn’t allowed to hire you for less?
As far as her experience in business and engineering, apparently the folks at Wildan believe she possesses the skillset they need. They’re a private sector company. I thought you government haters believed the private sector is an efficient entity given that it functions in the “free” (only to a fool) market? Yet here you are criticizing them for one of their employee decisions. Do you believe you know what they need more than them? Based on what? What is your experience in either field or with that company to make that decision?
As far as her needing the income. What does that mean exactly? Is she independently wealthy? Or is she supposed to work for free? If not, then this statement is as ridiculous as the rest of your post in that it is nothing but invective that is rooted in your envy of everyone not in your little club of losers.
As far as your comment about success being about “who you know.” Welcome to the real world. Name me one person you idolize who achieved any success (something greater than minimum wage employement) all on their own with zero help or interaction from others. Inheriting doesn’t count.
Wow, CC you really got under the skin of this sad troll.
All anybody on this site has to do is say “A’ and 4SD must say “not A.” It’s really pathetic. Almost pathetic as the hours this creature spends here in Loserville proving that in her case the name is perfectly apt.
4SD, really, it’s high time you got a life. Please, for your own sake get over the Pam Keller beatdown. I know it’s gnawing at you, but let it go.
Start your own blog where you can share the virtues of, well whatever scam the gov is trying to hide.
Shows how little you know. A little Googling and you think you know what’s going on. My advice is to find out what’s really going on from people like me who know the score before defending things you evidently know nothing about.
Lucy Dunn wangled some dues from those companies to pay her a salary – and that’s it. She spends all her time bustling about preaching her own self-importance. Find me a single, real accomplishment of the OCBC. There aren’t any – except hobnobbing with the RINOs at the HOA. Dunn’s mantra is the go along, get along ethos of the unprincipled. She and her clownish organization have supported every big government idea that has come along. She endorsed the pathetic, illegal supervisorial campaign of Harry Sidhu.
The folks at Willdan work for government agencies. Without government work they’ve got nothing. Hence their need to to employ Murray: they were encouraged to do so by Murray’s political handlers who doll out the contracts to the Willdans of Orange County; and they were given an offer they couldn’t refuse.
As to what Murray made at OCTA, it’s public record. Even you could verify it if you wanted to get off your big fat ass. What she made as Pringle’s glad-hander is not “between her and her employer.” Her employer was a public agency, and hence the taxpayers. I know that’s an almost impossible concept for you to grasp. Some of us object to blatant cronyism in government. Whether it happens in the “real world” (by which I assume you mean to include the private sector) is immaterial: it’s wrong for the taxpayers to subsidize it. Another principle beyond your ken, apparently. I’m glad you are willing to acknowledge Murray’s position is due to who she knows.
Envy? You know nothing about me or my station in life yet you presume to assume my motivation is jealousy. I assume your motivation is fear and loathing that the government scammers are going to be revealed and finally taken to task for manipulating the strings of government for their own ends.
She also was handed a seat on the MWD. More cronyism.
Since 4SD has decided to hijack the thread, I’ll try to tie it back to the post. Last fall I read a sappy treacle tonguing of Murray by Matthew J. Cunningham, extolling her virtures as a businesswoman (!) and a conservative (!!); ha ha!
County Clerk, would you be interested in writing blog post for FFFF? We’d love to have you on board!
One can almost see the bile oozing from your jealous pores over Dunn and Murray.
I have no idea what the OCBC does in its capacity. I leave that to the members who pay the dues to support them. Since they are private companies that is their prerogative. Don’t you agree? Or do you have the prescience to know they are wasting their money.
I really enjoyed this comment the most:
she needs the income, apparently.
Is this uncommon amongst working people you know? Everyone I know working for a living needs the income.
Lastly you criticize her for taking advantage of the opportunities that have been presented her. The success envy is palpable amongst the inhabitants of loserville.
This blog should be renamed Htrae. Because it inhabitants are definitely from BizzaroWorld.
4SD has gone to the Matt Cunningham school of changing the subject!
Ain’t gonna work around here!
Already has.
No one is talking about Matt Cunningham.
I bet you and the rest are easily distracted by shiny objects.
It’s easy to take you off topic.
BTW, it was one of you who mentioned Keller in this thread.
Funny stuff. Especially that CC guy. Every part of his post(s) had some numbnuts conclusion.
Wildan is getting all of the OCTA work now that Kris is there.
Well that puts to rest the myth that she knows nothing about business if she is the reason they are getting contracts.
Don’t tell that to County Clerk. He’ll be crushed.
You lack of logic is really stunning.
BTW, what makes you think I’m a man?
If anybody is jealous around here I submit that it is you. Jealous of people who are free to think for themselves.
You have never made a single affirmative statement. Bizzarro World? That’s your territory.
Really Fred? In what way have I exhibited the envy of so called “free” thinkers such as yourself.
This entire blog is Bizarro world. Nothing but losers who do nothing by criticize the actions of others.
I’ve made numerous affirmative statements. They’re just beyond your ability to grasp.
Which is not my problem.
After thinking about this comment some more. I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s not like contrary opinions are gladly accepted without ridicule or personal attacks.
You cracked a funny and didn’t even know it.
Hey, 4SD, check out another one of your success stories:
http://voiceofoc.org/countywide/county_government/article_7962ca66-84f5-11e0-9dcc-001cc4c03286.html
Please note the incestuous relationship between OCBC and OCTA.
Please tell us all your latest conspiracy theory.
You’re fitting right in here with the inhabitants of loserville.
I’ll let you have the last word.
I’ve had my fun on this thread. Your remarks were priceless.
4SDO’s too dumb to realize she got his head handed to her again on a silver plate, haha…..
Sad, lonely 4SD Observer gets owned, again!
This one is too good to walk away and leave with no response.
By who? I used facts, I was confronted by conspiracy theory and opinion.
If you believe that is owning someone, you’re really not very smart.
Though I already knew that.
Bizzaro is a perfect description of 4SD.
Matt Cunningham outed sex-abuse victims.
Solicitation Number 0-1715
Solicitation Title Local Government Outreach Services
Date Posted 9/9/2010
Contract Administrator: Maria Cruz Thompson
Bid Closing Date: 10/18/2010
Date of Award: 11/24/2010
1. Vendor
Company Name: PACIFIC STRATEGIES
City/State: ORANGE, CA
Total Price Awarded: $60,000.00
Award Notes: Initial term $30,000. Option term: $30,000
Fred, for some real entertainment visit our old Pam Keller posts. This idiot made dozens of comments trying to tap dance around the hard fact of Keller’s serial scams, conflicts of intetest, lies to the voters, waste of money, etc., and tried to justify all of it.
There is no activity of government, no matter how crooked, incompetent, or cronied that this clown won’t defend. In fact 4SD is something of a caricature of the fat-headed liberal who insists on wearing his ass as a hat.
Classic Sipowicz, “There is no activity of government, no matter how crooked, incompetent, or cronied that this clown won’t defend. In fact 4SD is something of a caricature of the fat-headed liberal who insists on wearing his ass as a hat”. LOL…..
Yeah. Part of my fat-headed liberal life was spent serving my country in uniform.
What have you done for someone other than yourself besides write snide comments on an obscure blog?
I’ll answer for you: NOTHING!!!
LOL, 4SDO is now a self proclaimed “fat-headed liberal” mind reader.
What uniform was that? Supply clerk?
All I asked was for you to show facts of her wrongdoing that is illegal.
You never could because there are none.
You’re dislike of her was visceral. But not based in any fact based issue. It was strictly an ideological opposition.
I find it hysterical that you continue to discuss her long after she’s left office.
Her actions were stupid, incompetent, lying; her conflicts of interests votes for St, Jude were illegal.
But you set the bar so low for your dream girl that a spastic chimp with dementia could get over it. Come to think of it it would be hard to tell the difference, except that the chimp would not have said so many idiotic things as the brainless Keller did.
Long after office? She’s been out five months and popped up shooting off her big yapper for the $90G+ teachers who only work eight months a year. YOU GO GIRL!
You believe I’m a glutton for punishment because I’m called names by losers?
Darn funny.
Hey Lucy Dunn also spends her time singing at Tom Daly political fundraising events. Im sure that leads to more b.s. contracts from tommy boy to the OCBS i mean OCBC
Y’all check this out. Looks like Matty boy been making rounds for work:
http://fullertonsentinel.blogspot.com/2011/05/gravy-train-continues-for-consultant_21.html
I wonder if it ever occurred to this clown to get work in the private sector.
Oh, that’s right. He couldn’t. Without political patronage he’d be flippin’ bird in Sidhu’s Rubidoux El Pollo Loco.
If those were his only two choices he’d be a real fool to turn down the better paying alternative.
Though I guess he would be held in higher esteem by folks like you.
Which isn’t saying much.
It goes without saying, BUT I’LL SAY IT ANYWAY, that the OCWD is another scam. loaded with the likes of Brett Barbarie and Linda Ackerman as advisors, officials or whatever.
How many secret contracts has this guy been awarded?
Hang on a minute. I attended the ISDOC meeting that Fullerton Sentinel is referring to. Nothing sinister there. Matt gave an excellent presentation on using social media in government relations, and how to use electronic outreach to communicate with constituents. While Matt and I rarely agree these days, there is no question that Matt Cunningham greatly influenced Orange County’s political environment as a pioneer in social media. His work, like it or not, was groundbreaking in terms of getting politicians and political insiders to see blogging as a legitimate communication tool, and as such he is uniquely qualified to do the circuit as a speaker on this subject. Look elsewhere for your scandal.
That’s all nice and rosie CW, but the fact remains absent government backup, Matt would find it extremely difficult to make a living in the real world.
“Matt Cunningham greatly influenced Orange County’s political environment as a pioneer in social media.” – I think we can end our converstation there Cynthia. Public Entities like water boards and transit agencies, need facebook profiles the way the New York Yankees need goalies.
It’s facebook for christs sake.
Admittedly, Cunningham was (one of the) first on the scene with OC Blog, but what has he done since Chip Hanlon took away the keys to Red County? Hopefully ISDOC didn’t pay any more for him than they would have for any other dime-a-dozen ‘online presence’ consultant.
[Also, the thought that Matt Cunningham has any influence in OC’s political environment, past or present, is enough to drive me to despair.]
He never had any influence except the amount Lewis let him pretend was his. That was enough for idiots like Norby.
Actually Chip bought the keys to Red County, he did not take them away, but I digress. Not defending some of the government contracts, only jumping in on the ISDOC issue. There is a genuine case to be made for government entities maintaining an electronic presence such as Facebook. The press is out there looking for stories, and since they are stretched to the breaking point in those newsrooms, they do not do a lot of investigation, they will just grab what they can off the internet and spin it. So it is to anyone’s advantage to give them something positive to work with. The more of the message one controls, the less likely inaccurate or unflattering info is to get out there in a blog post or news piece. Also, if the public is well informed regarding the activities of a government district or department, then when that hit piece comes out they are (hopefully) less likely to bite, and will at least perhaps contact the people in charge rather than just swallow that bait hook, line, and sinker. These days anyone is crazy to not have an online presence of some sort, even obscure departments or special districts.In fact, when government entities do NOT come across with adequate info it is bloggers such as those on this site who are the first to scream that they are hiding something! I say, drown the public in information, the more the better.
On the flip side, the high priced consultants are often a scam. I was recently involved in a process (organization left nameless here) with a consultant getting tens of thousands for PR work, with such ridiculous “deliverables” as setting up a Google alert so that the board would know when they were mentioned in the press! Sadly, because the previous board was not equipped to manage social media, etc. they thought they needed someone to do this for them. Enter a new member of the organization that understood this type of work and they were able to kill that contract and save the money. While I am defending the trend for government agencies to have an electronic presence, I also think that in many cases it does not require using our tax dollars to pay an overpriced PR hack to do it. What is particularly frustrating is that so few staffers, even with college educations, can put together a sentence, and therefore are dependent on “wordsmiths” at outside agencies. What is even more frustrating is seeing tax dollars used to pay professional wordsmiths who still cannot spell or put a sentence together! Some of the crap out there is just horrifying, I mean, if this is their public face, what are they doing in private with our money?
Yeah, Cunningham is a real expert at drawing media attention to his clients. Unfortunately, it’s usually negative these days.
Given your answers, it’s not difficult to figure out.
So making rounds at the Republican Latino of Los Angeles BBQ this past weekend was Laura Cunningham. “Promising” she and Matt had landed influential positions on Marco Rubio’s California VP Team. This broad is relentless at participating conversations that were intended to be private.
TO BE SURE SHE WAS LAUGHED OUT. CALLED A “WANNABE”
For those unaware: NO MATTER who is the GOP pick to lose to Obama (short an amazing meltdown) Marco Rubio, the newly Christened Senator from Florida is the likely choice as VP (thus delivering the Latino and CRUCIAL Florida vote).
So Laura who has a history of posting “pro-rubio” messages, is talking up Pacific-Strategies inside line and even called them the “communications team” for the Cuban’s California effort (if one even exists).
TALK ABOUT ELBOWING YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE BAR (with you’re meek husband a step behind smiling!)
Check out rnhala.org thats the group they are trying to infiltrate.