FLASHREPORT

(Obligatory confession: Jack is a friend of mine.)

Last night I attended a fundraiser for Jack's campaign for Newport Beach City Council.  Newport Beach - for those unaware - has a potentially earthshattering election coming up in November, one that will see six out of its seven city council seats on the ballot.  Four of the current councilmembers were appointed to their positions by colleagues or former colleagues.  Loads of money are expected to be spent on the campaigns.  And Newport's elections are odd, requiring the prospective councilmember to live in the geographic district for the seat they're seeking while the voting is at-large (meaning any one of the roughly sixty thousand registered voters within the boundaries of the City of Newport Beach can vote for any candidate, regardless of the district).

Jack is a terrific image of California's next generation of political leaders.  He surfs with his local congressman (Rohrabacher), takes an interest in his community (I know he wouldn't want me to use this as a selling point but he's a Big Brother), has volunteered his time with the Republican Party for a number of years, possesses the business smarts to compete in today's global economy (he's an accountant by trade), has a young and multi-ethnic family, wears his hair long(er), has loads of energy and a thirst for achievement and affability, and makes me believe.  He gives me so much optimism.  And I can't say that about many people these days.  He's exactly the kind of guy I want in office, leading.


(Photo taken at Jack Wu's campaign kickoff, not last night's event)

To give you a sense of what others think of him, let me run down a short list of attendees.  Please forgive me if I forget to include you.  The California Republican Party Immediate Past Chairman Shawn Steel and his lovely wife and presumptive member of the Board of Equalization Michelle Steel, former Assembly candidate and Cypress Councilman Mike McGill, the Orange County Republican Party's Volunteer of the Year Mary Young, Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow Mike McClellan (who gave a prayer), local business and conservative PAC representatives and many more highlighted the guest list.  Orange County Republican Party Chairman Emeritus Tom Fuentes, Jack's unofficial Kitchen Cabinet Campaign Chair, mastered the ceremonies hosted at former California Republican Party Chairman Mike Schroeder and his entertainingly fearsome wife Susan's home upon a hill.  Assemblyman Van Tran was the keynote speaker, while Assemblyman Chuck DeVore serves as Jack's Honorary Campaign Chair.  Lincoln Clubber Buck Johns's son, Bill Johns, is the Finance Chair.  This is collection of power one rarely sees for a young candidate in a small city.  

Newport Beach has some tough issues to consider in the near future.  They have a long-standing interest in the construction of a new city hall and civic center.  They have a sizeable anti-development crowd.  And they have a deep-pocketed citizenry.  I have no doubt Jack's skill of surfing the ocean will be mirrored in the always-percolating waters of local politics.

Now, I've told Jack he needs to get a website up, pronto.  He has assured me he will.  When he does, I will update this post.