We’re near the finish line for the Anaheim elections. On the council side of things, the real choice before Anaheim voters is between re-electing Mayor Pro Tem Kris Murray and Councilwoman Gail Eastman, or replacing them with two members of Anaheim City School District Board of Education: James Vanderbilt and Jose F. Moreno. Vanderbilt is a Republican and Moreno is a left-wing Democrat, and together they constitute the Tait Slate.

True, Mayor Tait hasn’t formally endorsed Moreno as he has Vanderbilt, but that is a mere pretense at this point. Tait has told Republican leaders he is supporting Moreno. It’s apparent from Tait campaign Facebook page posts feature Tait with Moreno and speak of “James Vanderbilt, Jose F. Moreno and myself” that no effort is really being made to keep support for the left-wing Moreno on the down-low anymore:

Tait me and jose FB post 11-2-14

Tait promoting Moreno on campaign FB

 

In a joint mailer from the jointly-run Tait and Vanderbilt campaigns, the mayor says to voters:

“Please DON’T vote for either of the two city council incumbents because their actions have put Anaheim at financial risk.”

Let’s leave aside for the moment Tait’s untrue attack against his council colleagues. Since Vanderbilt and Moreno are only two other candidates running real campaigns (Vanderbilt and Moreno), Tait is de facto asking voters to elect them instead.

Plus, the $1,000 contribution to Moreno from Tom Tait’s brother Rich on October 24 should dispel any doubts that the OC Republican Party’s Local Elected Official of the Year is all-in to try and elect the most left-wing councilmember in Orange County. File under “Selling Rope.”

Talk about surreal. Tait falsely claims his colleagues  – both conservative Republicans – have put city finances at risk. His solution? Replace one of them with a left-wing Democrat who wants to create a new city-funded entitlement program combined with a “bring ’em on” attitude to tax increases!

Nonetheless, manifestions of the Tait-Vanderbilt-Moreno Popular Front are around Anaheim:

The Tait-Vanderbilt-Moreno Popular Front

The Tait-Vanderbilt-Moreno Popular Front

 

I don’t see it in the cards.  While it’s true the Tait Machine has been hitting Murray and Eastman with hard, nasty (and dishonest) mail pieces, they did the same to non-incumbent Jordan Brandman two years ago, and he went on to be the top vote-getter. Furthermore, persuading Anaheim voters to dump two incumbents (a very rare occurrence) to replace them with two trustees of the city’s lowest performing school district is a tall mountain to climb.