Debate undone by plane delay

Alicia Robinson

A forum for Republican candidates for the 70th Assembly District seat

that was to be held Monday night didn’t get off the ground because

one of three expected candidates was apparently still in the air.

The Newport Beach Republican Assembly planned the forum at Coco’s

Restaurant in Fashion Island and candidates Chuck DeVore and Don

Wagner were in attendance. But candidate Cristi Cristich did not make

a promised appearance because her flight from Maine was delayed,

Cristich’s campaign director Gina Zari said.

Another candidate, Marianne Zippi, was invited but declined to

attend, said Newport Beach Republican Assembly President Kurt

English. Group members would like to reschedule the forum if the

candidates can agree on a date, he said.

A chance to learn how safe you are in your homeland

Sixty-eighth District Assemblyman Ken Maddox will host a town hall

meeting Tuesday to discuss the state of homeland security since the

Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Officials from the FBI, the

California Office of Emergency Services, the National Guard and the

Orange County sheriff’s department and fire authority will attend the

meeting.

It is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at Vanguard University, Smith

Hall room 101, 55 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

Don Wagner: He’s everywhere you want to be

70th Assembly District candidate Don Wagner announced the launch

of his campaign Web site on Tuesday. The site features biographical

information, a list of Wagner’s endorsements, a statement of his

political platforms and a collection of his writings, including an

essay about a road trip he took with his son and book reviews.

Viewers of the site can also, of course, donate to Wagner’s

campaign online. In addition to Visa and Mastercard, Wagner accepts

American Express and Discover.

Cristich dials in 60 Gs from Anaheim fundraiser

The public relations machine for one of Wagner’s opponents, Cristi

Cristich, sent word on Tuesday that a recent fundraising event hosted

by Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle netted more than $60,000 for Cristich’s

campaign.

The event is apparently “the first in a long line of fundraisers”

to supply Cristich’s campaign budget of nearly $1 million, but

there’s no mention of whether she takes plastic.

A poll by any other name would sound as sweet

Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson, a candidate for the 73rd

Assembly District seat, issued a statement Wednesday announcing he is

endorsed by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, a

former Assemblyman.

The statement also notes that “early polling” shows Wilson has “an

almost insurmountable 26-point lead” in the Republican primary, in

which he faces Jim Gibson and Mimi Walters. It doesn’t say who

conducted the poll, though.