Assembly

The campaign for the 74th Assembly District seat is not as sophisticated as the race for the presidency of the United States or even the U.S. Senate. Still, there are certain minimum expectations — namely being available to the public and the press — of how to conduct a campaign. So far, the race has been a disappointment. Of the three candidates, Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, Assemblyman Allan Mansoor and Newport Beach activist Bob Rush, only Mansoor is exhibiting the type of behavior that is likely to get him elected.

To help you determine who to elect in the upcoming election for the 74th Assembly District, here is a quiz titled, "Who said it: Assemblyman Allan Mansoor or Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle?" Answers appear at the end of the quiz. 1.) "I invite you to join my campaign to begin the process of returning both courage and imagination to our disgraceful state Legislature. " 2.) "When the highest-taxed state in the country cannot fund education, there is a spending problem.

Candidates for the 74th Assembly District will gather tonight for the Feet to the Fire Forum in Costa Mesa. Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) and Newport real estate investor Bob Rush will square off on local and state issues with members of the Orange County press. Each is running in the June 5 primary. Orange County Register columnist Barbara Venezia will host the forum. Media panelists include Daily Pilot Editor John Canalis, Pilot contributing columnist Jack Wu, Voice of OC Editor Norberto Santana Jr., Newport Beach Independent Editor Roger Bloom and former Pilot Publisher Tom Johnson, now general manager of The Current.

Well then, last week's column criticizing the Newport Beach council's decision to remove the Corona del Mar fire rings got quite a reception. I think the only thing I wasn't attacked for was the Reagan quote. Even my attempt at sarcasm regarding the trashy harbor was skewered by my buddy Mike Whitehead, a columnist over at the Newport Beach Independent. But I must address a couple of mistakes made by my, um, "fans": No. 1: I'm an opinion columnist, not a reporter, so if you don't like my opinion, don't read it. No. 2: If you take what I write as gospel, then you need to go back to school for reading comprehension lessons.

California's gerrymandered legislative districts make for predictable elections. The districts are Volvo safe. Voter registration dictates which party will win, making the primaries the only real "contests. " The winner is nearly always the incumbent. But redistricting lends a little excitement every decade or so. Now is one of those times. Consider the newly redrawn 74th Assembly District, a swath that jogs through Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine and Laguna Beach.

A West Newport Beach community activist known for needling city officials over the proliferation of drug rehabilitation homes has entered the 74th Assembly District race. Real estate broker Bob Rush filed his papers to run on Tuesday and has pledged $100,000 of his own money to fund his campaign to unseat Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) in a recently redrawn territory that includes swaths of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine and Huntington Beach. The first Democrat to declare candidacy, Rush could draw some independent voters away from Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, who has raised considerable cash but failed to win support of the local Republican establishment.

Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) raised more money in 2011 than his chief challenger, Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, but has less money on hand, campaign filings show. Mansoor raised about $200,000 in 2011, much of which went to pay off debt from his 2010 Assembly run. The former Costa Mesa mayor for the primary currently sits on about $42,000; it's a combination of funding from his reelection campaign committee and his 2010 campaign. He has already accumulated more than $13,000 for the November General Election, which he can use if he is one of the top two vote-getters in June's open primary.

Harbor View Elementary School's longtime music teacher, Linda Messenger, was honored with a standing ovation at the recent holiday program - her last school-wide musical assembly before she retires in June. "Harbor View has always been proud of our musical program," said Principal Charlene Metoyer. "This is due to the fabulous direction of Mrs. Messenger. I don't know if anyone can take her place. " Messenger has worked at Harbor View for 11 years, and she also has taught at Whittier, Newport Coast and Newport elementary schools, teaching thousands of students instrumental and vocal music as well as dance.

State Sen. Tom Harman (R-Costa Mesa) has endorsed Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) for reelection, Mansoor's office announced Tuesday. "Allan Mansoor has been one of the strongest voices in the assembly in support of pension reform," Harman said in a prepared in a statement. "We need Allan in Sacramento to continue to fight for important reform measures that will get California's fiscal house back in order. " Mansoor was previously Costa Mesa's mayor and will be up for reelection in 2012.

Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle confirmed Wednesday that she is weighing a run for the state Legislature that could pit her against Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) in the June 2012 Republican primary. "I am seriously exploring a run for the Assembly," she said. "We need to work together to find true solutions for jobs and the economy. People are tired of the stalemates of Sacramento and Washington, D.C. The engine is leadership. We need it to support all the cities in the district.