Orange County GOP players named to Romney’s team

Several of the Orange County GOP’s movers and shakers have been named to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s Presidential campaign team for California.

Huntington Beach Assemblyman Jim Silva and Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh, who lives in Huntington, are among the 13 co-chairs, the campaign announced Wednesday.

“In evaluating the candidates, I feel that he has the potential of probably dealing with illegal immi- gration the best,” Silva said. “I’m talking about somebody that’s going to be able to raise the money, No. 1, and probably has the same values as the average citizen of the United States. I think that he really values the family.”

Some polls have shown former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the leader in the race to become the GOP’s 2008 presidential nominee, but Romney is considered one of the front- runners. Fund- raising data released earlier this month by candidates showed Romney at the head of the pack.

Other Romney supporters from Orange County include Newport Beach Congressman John Campbell and former state GOP Chairman Mike Schroeder of Corona del Mar.