Opinion: Village Matters

Endorsement tales and shenanigans

It all looks so official when candidates cite their endorsements from supposedly impressive organizations. Behind the scenes, though, there are plenty of shenanigans and not all candidates were fairly considered by all groups.

I asked all the Laguna Beach City Council candidates for their endorsements and which organizations had contacted them to be considered for an endorsement.

It turns out that few organizations have an organized process to consider all candidates and decide who to endorse. But if a candidate understands the system and knows the organizations that might endorse, they can accumulate quite an endorsement list. In contrast, the other candidates weren’t considered because they didn’t know the contact or didn’t know they were supposed to ask or apply.

Alex Rounaghi gets the prize in the “know the system” department, gaining endorsements from Planned Parenthood and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense as well as Laguna Beach Police and Fire Associations, the Democratic Club and the League of Conservation Voters.

Louis Weil also scored the League of Conservation Voters’ nod, but none of the other candidates acknowledged they knew of the opportunity.

The Laguna Beach Democratic Club held a zoom meeting Aug. 25, billed as a “special meeting to vote to endorse City Council candidates Mayor Sue Kempf and Alex Rounaghi.” 

There was no consideration of other candidates. Unbeknownst to them, they were supposed to have filed for endorsement with the Orange County Democratic Party first. Did the club let the other candidates know that? Apparently not. The response is, “we only endorse Democrats.” Candidate Jerome Pudwill is a registered Democrat and was never notified. 

In past elections, the club would have a meeting for all members where all eligible candidates were invited to speak. There would be motions from the floor, and the membership would vote. No more. Now they notice the meeting with the candidates chosen in advance. Democracy?

Democratic support for Peter Blake is alleged in a flyer from the Lincoln Club of Orange County, a network of conservative donors supporting Republican candidates statewide. 

Mohammad Honarkar, developer of Hotel Laguna and other Laguna Beach properties, donated $5,000 to that organization on Oct. 19. That’s about what it costs for one citywide mailer. Read the fine “paid for by” print.

The Laguna Beach Republicans declined to endorse any candidates since there are no Republicans running. The Greater Laguna Beach GOP recommends a bullet vote for Blake, even though he’s registered as “No Party Preference.”

The Laguna Beach Firefighters Association endorsed Blake, Kempf and Rounaghi and only considered candidates “who reached out to them,” according to association president Tom Padden. Who knew? Did some of the other candidates question the impropriety of city employees’ associations involving themselves in the elections of the people deciding their raises and contract benefits? It seems that would have been a valid reason not to seek employee association endorsements.

Sue Kempf said she declined to seek the Police Employees Association endorsement because of ongoing contract negotiations between the Association and the City. This week’s mailer by a new PAC (Advocates for Laguna Residents) involving the Police Association exposes serious problems the Association sees with the incumbent candidates Blake and Kempf, their support of the City Manager, and the morale and condition of the Police Department. 

They endorsed challengers Mark Orgill, Jerome Pudwill and Alex Rounaghi.

But do the Fire and Police Chiefs endorse Peter Blake as implied by the photo Blake is publishing of himself flanked by both chiefs in uniform? According to the City Manager’s memo, prohibitions on employee political activities apply while “on city premises, on duty, and/or in uniform.” Using this photo in a political ad would appear to be a violation. Additionally, using someone’s photo for a promotional purpose is not allowed without written permission. Did Blake get releases from them or the City to use their images in promotion?  

What happened to Liberate Laguna, the Political Action Committee (PAC) that supported the election of Blake and Kempf in 2018? This year a PAC called Laguna 2022, composed of many of the same donors (Sam Goldstein, Michael Ray, Cindy Shopoff), is dedicated to supporting Peter Blake and opposing Ruben Flores. This group published the unflattering photoshopped pictures of Flores in their citywide mailer.

Laguna Residents First endorsed the two candidates who recommend a “Yes” vote on Measure Q, Jerome Pudwill and Ruben Flores.

Village Laguna offered the first candidates’ forum Aug. 29, and there was a follow-up membership meeting to consider endorsements. Motions were made, there was discussion, votes were taken. All candidates were considered. Mark Orgill and Jerome Pudwill were endorsed. Alex Rounaghi declined Village Laguna support due to his alliance with Sue Kempf.

Endorsements, signs, mailers – does all this help you decide who to vote for? Let’s hope knowing some of this detail helps to put the endorsements in perspective. Best of all—you still have ten days to meet our candidates in person. Vote by Nov. 8!

Ann is a landscape architect and former Laguna Beach mayor. She’s also a long-time board member of Village Laguna, Inc.