Do Phu strikes back at former Hoa Van Tran staffers
The race for the First Supervisorial District has become a complete nightmare for the Democratic Party of Orange County. They endorsed the sole Democrat in the race, Hoa Van Tran, only to blanch when his campaign manager, Edgardo Reynoso, brought in a bunch of cholos to work for the campaign.
Two of those cholos then were arrested for attempted murder. And then things got worse. Two of Van Tran’s staffers quit the campaign. They both alleged harassment and one even got a temporary restraining order against Reynoso after alleging that he tried to force her off a freeway.
Last week the DPOC held an emergency meeting of their Central Committee, to consider pulling Van Tran’s endorsement, but the party crazies took over and defeated the attempt, accepting instead a watered down measure submitted by Steve Young, who was obviously carrying water for the DPOC Chairman, Frank Barbaro.
But that isn’t the end of this story. On May 30, Do Phu, the powerful and wealthy attorney who is Van Tran’s patron, filed a lawsuit on behalf of Reynoso, against the two former campaign staffers and ten “Does.” You can read the lawsuit paperwork here: reynoso-court-papers.
Phu is alleging that Reynoso was defamed and that he suffered damage to his reputation. Click on the graphic below to read some of the allegations.
Reynoso and Phu are essentially claiming that the former Van Tran staffers are complete and utter liars. Beats me if that is true or not. I saw one of them, Misha Houser, speak at last week’s DPOC meeting. She was very distraught. I doubt anyone could fake those kind of emotions. But a source in the Van Tran campaign says that the photos Houser gave to Matt “Jubal” Cunningham, that he subsequently published on his blog, Red County, were not all of the pictures that featured Houser. He says that there are additional pictures that show Houser having a good time in Van Tran’s campaign office.
As ugly as this entire situation is, it could get even worse. Imagine if Van Tran somehow gets into a runoff election with Supervisor Nguyen? While it is hard for me to believe that Van Tran will get more than ten percent of the vote tomorrow, stranger things have happened. If he makes the runoff, there are going to be some very tense moments in the DPOC.
To make matters even, dare I say, hinkier, my source tells me that the Van Tran camp feels that the Democrats who went after him and Reynoso are anti-minority. So imagine if Van Tran barely misses a runoff. Will this send a negative message to the same Vietnamese voters that almost took out Senator Lou Correa when he barely emerged victorious against Lynn Daucher?
There is a reason the DPOC cannot win. The DPOC had nothing to do with Correa’s political success, nor did they help Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. Each now has their own political machine, outside the DPOC. No matter which side you fall on, the fact is this entire episode serves to illustrate just how dysfunctional the DPOC is. I don’t think they will ever find success outside of central Orange County. And the one city that they utterly dominate, Santa Ana, is replete with perhaps the most corrupt and inept Mayor and City Clowncil we have ever seen in Orange County.
The sad thing is that the GOP is falling apart in this country. This fall they will likely recapture the White House and make huge gains in the U.S. Congress, but here in Orange County the Democrats can’t get out of their own way. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
One last thing - I sure as hell would not mess with Do Phu. He looks to be quite a handful.
UPDATE:
Misha doesn’t look too scared in the picture above, where she is holding Edgardo’s hand…
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June 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Blame the victims Nice One Fellas. Do you want to make the same case about the gang members? Is Edgardo a bully yes, is he hated by almost everyone in the county? yes. Did he throw a chair at a coworker at the DPOC? yes. Does anyone in Dem politics in the county want him to stay? No. Is Edgardo the source of his trouble? yes. Does his own family think he is a good guy? No. Does having all this negative publicity help his candidate? No. Does he care about women? No. Does he care about he own kids? No. Did he come to town in a rink a dink vehicle ? Yes. Will he leave in a rink a dink vehicle? Yes. Will he end up in Theo Lacy? Maybe. Do you know anyone who has anything good to say about him? no. What a scumbag. Is this the United States? Yes. Do we still have the 1st Ammendment Yes. Is Edgardo’s absusive public behavior made him more than a private person and in the public eye? Yes, so there goes the lawsuit. Bad lawyering Bad Campaigning. I hope you all have to pay Misha’s and Courtney’s legal bills for filing a frivilous lawsuit. You all have no shame and are not men but are bullies and cowards. So weak so sad.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Art -
I have been promised the photos of Misha tonight or tomorrow. I’m going to inspect them before deciding if I think they’re real or not. If I have any doubts, I’ll try to get them to an expert.
I don’t trust the Hoa Van Tran camp but I’m keeping an open mind. Not open enough to go to his event tomorrow and feel safe, but I’ll certainly look at the evidence they present.
SMS
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Art:
Misha Houser did not give me any photos. They came in the mail on a CD, from person(s)unknown.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
#1,
Well here is a bombshell for you. It turns out that many of the same cholos that are working for Hoa Van Tran’s campaign also worked for Lou Correa’s State Senate campaign. Say it ain’t so Lou! Clearly this story is not good for Lou. No matter what happens, he loses. And Reynoso is his brother in law! You know what they say, you can pick your friends, but not your family…
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Matt/Jubal,
Don’t be surprised if Do Phu subpoenas the CD…and you.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Well, I guess we’ll find out if he’s that stupid.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 pm
“They came in the mail on a CD, from person(s)unknown.”
How did you verify the authenticity of the photos? You simply ran with them without verifying the source?
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Criminy, you’re starting to give shills a bad name, Sean.
Now go back and ask Edgardo what to say next.
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Lovin’ it - Sean/Jubal cage match at the old OJ Corral! Smell my popcorn?
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Jubal,
You went with a story sold to you by folks that are going to be proven liars. It won’t be the first time you’ve shilled for liars though. Being a Republican you must have had a lot of practice.
First you published the names of victims of sexual abuse and now you post pictures of juveniles and make inflammatory claims about them based on lies told to you by soon to be proven liars.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Get a grip on yourself, Sean. You couldn’t even admit to the obvious omissions in Hoa’s campaign reports, and neither could you controller, Edgardo. Now, I’m supposed to take your word for it that Edgardo is now, finally, telling the truth?
And you’re trying to change the subject - a sure sign of a weak argument. Par for the course for you.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Matt,
Actually you tried changing the subject with you ad hominem attack on me.
So tell us, I think I asked how did you verify the authenticity of the photos? Did you realize that you were publishing photos of minors and falsely identifying them as gang members?
You based all your allegations on info given to you by soon to be proven liars. Quality journalism from a quality journalist.
Yet again exploiting young people to further a political agenda. You should be so proud.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Sean must still be on the phone with Edgardo and Phu.
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Matt,
Keep the personal attacks coming. Like I care what you think.
The fact that you continue to ignore the fact that you screwed up with the posting of minors photos and then misidentifying them, tells me you can’t justify your actions.
Call Pervatt and Misha and ask them for more info quick. You sure picked some winners to back your story up.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 am
Keep the personal attacks coming.
If you re-read this thread, you’ll remember who started the personal attacks. You’re like a teenager.
I don’t know any such thing as you’re alleging. Spin, bluster and change-the-subject. The Sean Mill way.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:06 am
Matt/Jubal,
Well it IS a bit curious that the CD was sent to you and not to Liberal OC, or even to us. The universe of people that would have had access to those pictures is pretty small. All Dems. Why would they send the pictures to the Republican blog in town?
And apparently they did not send you ALL the pictures. Did you see the one I posted tonight, showing a smiling Misha holding hands with Edgardo? Methinks there might be something to this lawsuit. If nothing else, the DPOC is going to be dragged through the mud during the court proceedings…
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:33 am
Well it IS a bit curious that the CD was sent to you and not to Liberal OC, or even to us.
To you maybe.
Why would they send the pictures to the Republican blog in town?
Maybe because we have far more readers than you or LiberalOC. Maybe because I’d already been writing about the hinkiness at the Hoa campaign.
And I saw the picture above. Which proves what, exactly?
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:16 am
Agreeing with Matt Cunningham on anything because he voted for and/or advocated for W., Corona, Rohrabacher and a whole slew of sketchy GOP folks. But in this case he is right. Sean put down the koolaid you have estranged yourself from so many Dems including your good friend Sal. Edgardo doesn’t care about Dems or you.
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:44 am
“I don’t know any such thing as you’re alleging.”
Of course you don’t Matt because you took Misha and Pervatt’s word on the whole deal. You bought what they were selling hook, line and sinker.
You posted pictures of minors and misidentified them all on the word of folks that will soon be proven to be liars. You should be proud.
As far as the personal attacks go they began with your post at #8. I don’t expect you to take responsibility. You never do. It is always somebody elses fault.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
listen to dislike it is as bright as a marc sussman field plan just ask jenny oropeza
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Art - Why don’t you publish that Reynoso is Correa’s brother-in-law? I enjoy your blog.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Give it a rest Sean. Saying your defense of Edgardo gives shills a bad name is a “personal attack”? man, if you can’t figure out the difference between criticizing someone’s actions and attacking the person…
How soon until Sean rejoins Orange juice?
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Wow Art; damning the party all due to one race which happens to be the same one your sweetie is running in. The DPOC is not nearly in asa much trouble as you think.
June 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Dan,
So tell me Dan, what is your party’s record outside of central OC? If not for Correa, Sanchez and Solorio you would have NOTHING to brag about and you know it. You guys don’t know how to win. And you cannot take ANY credit for the successes that Correa and Sanchez have enjoyed. Face it Dan. Your party, as it is currently constituted, is INEPT.
I was at your emergency meeting last night. I saw your crazies in action. It was not a pleasant sight. The OC GOP Central Committee members may be unpleasant, but they are, for the most part, functional. Your party on the other hand appears to be run by genuinely crazy people, for the most part. You guys REALLY need to clean house.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Art, you keep talking about the “crazies” you saw at our meeting. I know crazies, you know crazies, we do have a handful, but those were not the ones who resisted rescinding the Hoa endorsement. (Well, some of them were but not mostly.)
It was more, from what I saw, a geographical thing: Folks who were from outside of the First Supervisorial District (with the exception of Gila) thought that all the criticisms of Hoa was much ado about nothing, they don’t live with the cholo problem and don’t take the Oil Spill Known as Van Thai Tran as seriously as maybe they should.
And they thought the “Jacobins” who were hellbent on punishing Hoa & Edgardo were just embarrassing the party, rescinding an endorsement and airing the party’s dirty laundry in public, and possibly secret Jannies. I would say “we” instead of they, I felt the same way and I’m no crazy… but as I’ve written before, I changed my mind after hearing first Misha and then the profoundly disappointing Hoa himself, whom I’d been expecting to hopefully fire Edgardo or AT LEAST seriously address the problems at hand, which he did not.
I’m glad I’m not a member of the Central Committee so I didn’t have to vote on this; the fact is DPOC leadership (Barbaro, Melahat, etc.) should have taken care of the Hoa problems before it became such a public scandal. Rescinding an endorsement right after making it would have made the party look wicked lame, and the Bolsavik has admitted that it would have really hurt the party in the Vietnamese community. So there were no good choices, Steve Young’s toothless compromise probably the least worst.
Anyway it’s not a question of “crazies,” just a majority of OC Dems who are from outside the area and possibly insufficiently concerned with the issues that concern central county Democrats.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
“How soon until Sean rejoins Orange juice?”
I prefer him WOWING us in the comments, here and at our naughty little sister site.