Grass is plenty Green

Béa Tiritilli is pleased with her fourth-place finish in Tuesday’s election; jockeying begins in race to replace Campbell; Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva honored for his innovative work with the county’s 1994 bankruptcy. Though she came in fourth out of five candidates in Tuesday’s special Congressional election and only received 1,409 votes or 1.4% of ballots cast, Green party candidate Béa Tiritilli still counted her campaign for the 48th District House seat a success.

“I gave voters an opportunity to choose an alternative voice to represent their views, we registered many new Green voters, and I did receive more votes than I expected in this extremely conservative district,” Tiritilli said in a statement Wednesday.

She campaigned mainly on ending the Iraq war, but she also opposed policies that “scapegoat immigrants for all of society’s ailments.”

AS ONE RACE ENDS, ANOTHER BEGINS

Now that former state Sen. John Campbell is a congressman, political attention in Orange County will likely turn to the empty 35th District Senate seat, to which Campbell was elected in 2004. Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey continued her announcement of endorsements, the latest of which are Orange County Supervisor Tom Wilson and a list of 11 local officials including Laguna Beach Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider, Mission Viejo Councilmen John Paul Ledesma and Frank Ury, and San Juan Capistrano Mayor Wyatt Hart.

That means three of the five supervisors have endorsed Harkey -- Supervisors Bill Campbell and Jim Silva have already backed her.

Such support could make it a tough race for Huntington Beach Assemblyman Tom Harman, who was the first to declare his interest in the seat.

As soon as Campbell resigns, the governor has 14 days to set a special election, which will be in roughly four months, with an open primary in about two months.

INNOVATION REWARDED

While the rest of Orange County was watching the special congressional election, Supervisor Silva was in New York accepting an award for the county’s innovative public financing in the wake of the 1994 bankruptcy.

Bond Buyer newspaper gave the county an honorable mention for ending the bankruptcy 10 years earlier than anticipated, partly due to Silva’s efforts.

WORKSHOP TO STEM IDENTITY THEFT

Costa Mesa Assemblyman Van Tran will hold a workshop today to help seniors avoid being ripped off by identity theft, insurance scams and other fraud. A panel of speakers may include California Department of Consumer Affairs Director Charlene Zettel, Costa Mesa police and the Contractors State License Board.

The workshop will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Senior Center, 695 W. 19th St. For information call (714) 668-2100.

HOLIDAY HELP FOR THE TROOPS

If you’re looking for a way to brighten someone’s holiday, Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore suggests Operation Christmas for Our Troops II. DeVore is part of a bipartisan group of state legislators and political officials helping with a drive to collect toys for children of military families and CDs and DVDs for the troops.

Yellow Ribbon America, the group holding the drive, hopes to collect more than 100,000 toys by Dec. 21. Toys and gifts can be dropped off at any state legislator’s capitol or district office. DeVore’s local office is at 3 Park Plaza, suite 275, in Irvine. For information, call (916) 319-2070.20051208iqt1ceknDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)After a candidate’s debate at the Merage Jewish Community Center in Irvine, Green Party candidate Béa Tiritilli shakes the hand of an audience member. Tiritilli finished with 1.4% of the votes in Tuesday’s special election for the 48th Congressional District seat.