FLASHREPORT

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

Former Anaheim Councilman Tom Tait's campaign for Mayor is metastasizing into a freight train of momentum.

Current Mayor Curt Pringle, who is close friends with Tom (whose last two years on the council overlapped with Curt's first two as mayor) organized a kick-off Tait fundraiser at The White House in Anaheim that was monstrously successfully, raising $190,000 for Tom's campaign.

You heard that right: $190,000.

There are candidates who have been running for legislative offices for more than a year who haven't raised that much money. For a city council candidate to raise that much is practically unheard of. Curt Pringle raised more than $300,000 at a single event for his 2006 re-election drive.

In this case, the candidate has ben out of elected office for almost six years. The massive haul is testament not only to Curt Pringle fundraising prowess, but to Tom Tait's popularity, which cuts across party lines, and the esteem and affection in which he is held.

The only other person looking at this race is Anaheim Councilwoman Lucille Kring. Lucille faced a similar situation in 2002, at the end of her first term -- seek a virtually-guaranteed second term, or gamble on a run for mayor against well-funded opponents with strong bases of support. Back then, she rolled the dice and finished second to Curt Pringle. Time will tell what decision she'll make this time around.

The fundraiser itself was emceed by Curt Pringle and attended by almost 100 supporters, including former GOP gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon and Assemblyman Jeff Miller. Here are some photos of the event: