Rich Orange County Democrats, long overshadowed by Republicans here, are enjoying their day in the sun.
Local Democrats are helping to bankroll the party’s presidential hopefuls, who so far have out raised Republican candidates nationally by $100 million.
Fund-raising for Republicans still dominates in OC. But with widespread disapproval of President Bush and a handful of prominent candidates, things haven’t been this good here for Democrats since Bill Clinton prompted some local Republicans to break ranks and support him in 1992.
This year, fund-raising is at “a fever pitch,” said trial lawyer Wylie Aitken, one of the county’s most prominent Democratic supporters.
“We are seeing a whole fresh influx of new people,” he said. “Passions are running very high as well as pocketbooks because the urgency of removing this president is even greater now.”
In the past year, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and others have made about half a dozen visits to OC.
Wealthy local supporters have hosted the candidates in their homes for cocktail receptions or breakfasts. Several backers hosted Edwards at Irvine’s Caspian Restaurant.
Candidates “stop here because Orange County ranks as one of the best donor communities in the country,” said Aitken, a partner at Aitken & Cohn in Santa Ana. “We don’t match Hollywood and Beverly Hills, but we are probably second to Los Angeles in the West in terms of people who are willing to write checks.”
Republicans Still Dominate
Democrats still trail Republicans here, both in numbers and fund-raising.
Donald Bren, George Argyros, Paul Folino, Duane Roberts and others have raised tens of millions for Republicans through the years. And while the GOP has lost its local majority, the party still dominates with 48% of registered voters versus 30% for the Democrats.
But even a minority of Democrats,many of them rich,makes OC more important for candidates than a lot of other places.
“We have close to half a million democrats in Orange County,” said Frank Barbaro, a trial lawyer and chairman of the Democratic Party of OC. “That’s the second-largest concentration of registered democratic voters in the state.”
The Democrats here used to be “a dysfunctional non-entity,” said Matt Cunningham, founder of Pacific Strategies Consultants and a columnist for Republican Web site Red County.
“The Democratic Party here tended to depend on unions and local elected officials,” he said. “But in the past year they have hired a full-time staff. They have never had that level of staffing in the 16 years I have been involved in OC politics. They are making a concerted effort to turn it into a more viable permanent entity.”
Aitken heads up the Democratic Foundation, a group of about 200 donors who network and put on events to raise money for candidates and voter registration.
The group’s primary job is to “set up one-stop shopping for Democratic candidates so when individuals come to Orange County they have a place to access a number of significant people who support them,” he said.
The group has thrown its weight,and cash,behind national and state candidates for years. It’s just been quiet about it, according to Aitken.
In spring, the foundation hosted Edwards and wife Elizabeth, Obama, Bill Clinton and Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken, among others.
During the 2004 election, the group hosted fund-raisers for Edwards, Al Gore, John Kerry and Howard Dean.
The group also supports Sens. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, state Sen. Lou Correa and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.
The foundation plans to unite behind whichever presidential candidate is nominated, said Aitken, who supports fellow trial lawyer Edwards.
OC donors have raised “unprecedented amounts of money” this year, local party chairman Barbaro said.
In June, local Democrats were looking to raise $150,000 at a breakfast with Obama, about $250,000 at a luncheon with Bill Clinton and $75,000 at a lunch with Edwards.
A breakfast for Sen. Hillary Clinton was expected to bring in another $100,000, according to Melahat Rafiei, interim executive director of the Democratic Party of OC.
She didn’t say if the goals were met.
Who are the big spenders?
Aitken,himself a big giver,said he doesn’t like to drop names, though he urged OC Democrats to be more public about their giving.
“There are many prominent Orange County people engaged in Corporate America, the arts and giving who have been reluctant to be public about it,” he said. “Certainly, the Republicans here have been very public about who they support. They are not afraid to identify their passion and commitment.”
Rich Democrats here come from a variety of industries. No surprise, lawyers make up many of them. Others come from healthcare, investment banking and real estate.
Notable contributors include:
– Richard O’Neill, patriarch of land owner and developer Rancho Mission Viejo LLC, run by nephew and Republican Chief Executive Tony Moiso. O’Neill’s spent much of his life in politics, rising to the Democratic Party’s chairmanship of California in 1978. He’s given to Hillary Clinton, Sen. Feinstein, Rep. Sanchez and the local Democratic Party.
– Joan Irvine Smith, the great-granddaughter of James Irvine, original owner of the Irvine Ranch. Smith supports Democrats and causes, including environmental protection. She’s given to Hillary Clinton, Edwards, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sanchez and others.
– Susan Samueli, wife of Broadcom Corp. cofounder and Chairman Henry Samueli (a moderate Republican) and partner of their H & S; Ventures LLC. The couple’s foundation gives to a variety of causes, including traditionally liberal ones such as education, alternative medicine, social services and the arts. Samueli herself has given to Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin and Democratic group Emily’s List.
– Paul Goldenberg, owner of Paul’s TV & Video in La Habra. Goldenberg started a TV repair business more than 20 years ago with $1,000 he borrowed from his cousins. Now he’s famous for his commercials with the oft-quoted tagline, “I am the king.” Gold-enberg has given to Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Sen. Boxer, Sanchez and others.
– Robert McDon-ough, founder of Aliso Viejo-based temporary employment agency Remedy Temp Inc., which was bought by Santa Barbara-based Select Personnel Services last year. McDonough has given to Sanchez, the Democratic National Committee and Ted Kennedy.
– William Podlich, consulting managing director and a cofounder of bond fund manager Pacific Investment Management Co. in Newport Beach. He’s given to Feinstein, Sanchez and Sen. Joe Lieberman.
– Michael Ray, partner with brother James “Walkie” Ray in retail real estate developer Sanderson J. Ray Development Corp. in Irvine. He’s given to Hillary Clinton, Sanchez and others.
– Mark Robinson Jr., senior partner with law firm Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson LLP. He’s best known for winning big class action suits against tobacco and drug makers. He’s given to Edwards, Sanchez, Feinstein, Sen. Tom Daschle and others. He’s crossed the aisle, too, giving to Republican Congressman Ed Royce.
– Rosa and Steven Gromet, who hosted a $2,300-a-head breakfast for Hillary Clinton in their Laguna Beach home earlier this year. Steven Gromet is a real estate lawyer with a practice in Irvine. He’s given to Feinstein.
– Ellie and Alex Razmjoo, who hosted a cocktail party with Bill Clinton in their Newport Coast home in June. Entrance to a reception for a photo with Clinton went for $2,300. Alex Razmjoo was the chairman and chief executive of Irvine-based Procom Technologies Inc., a maker of data storage products. Razmjoo took the company private last year. He’s given to Hillary Clinton.
– Ari Babaknia, owner of Dr. Soy Nutrition, a company that makes soy protein bars and other health food products. He’s practiced as an obstetrician, gynecologist and reproductive endocrinologist. He’s given to Hillary Clinton and Sen. Harkin.
– H.K. Desai, chief executive of Aliso Viejo-based QLogic Corp. Desai hasn’t given to any candidates this year but plans to as the election draws near, he said.
A registered Dem-ocrat, Desai said his views have tempered with age. The New Majority, a group of moderate Republicans, has approached him, he said.
Desai paraphrased a famed Winston Chur-chill quote: “If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain.”
“I think my problem is that I’m fiscally conservative but socially liberal,” Desai said.
