North Orange County residents seek to represent Democrats, Republicans on Central Committees

A record 40 North Orange County residents are seeking 24 positions on the county's Democratic and Republican central committees in the March 3 primary election.

However, don't expect to see brochures, cable television advertising, paid endorsements on slate mailers or candidate statements printed in the county's voter information pamphlets for the contenders, who are running in down-ballot races that draw little voter attention.

Winners tend to be incumbents, candidates with name recognition due to high-visibility posts on city councils and school boards or who have notable occupations listed under their names.

The positions they're seeking are volunteer slots on the two party organizations, which are the nuts-and-bolts bodies that keep the partisan Democratic and Republican apparatus operating throughout the county.

However, the committees have one important role that can affect races for federal and state legislative offices, as well as the nominally non-partisan contests for county, city council, school trustee and water board positions.

The committees can endorse candidates, thus giving the selected individuals a leg up on their competitors by allowing them to campaign with the official imprimatur of the Democratic or Republican party.

Each central committee has 42 elected members, six from each of the county's seven state assembly districts, plus ex-officio members that include elected officeholders and candidates from past elections.

Only voters registered as Democrats can vote for Democratic central committee positions and only voters registered as Republicans can select the GOP committee members.

Democratic candidates seeking the six seats to represent the 55^th Assembly District (Brea, La Habra, Placentia and Yorba Linda) are incumbents Cynthia Aguirre, Lourdes Cruz, Jeff Letourneau and Molly Muro.

Others are Gail Cain, Natalie Estrada, Isabella Rubio and Sean Thomas. Not seeking re-election are Joana Barcelona and Allyson Vincent.

Republican contenders are incumbents Brett Barbre, Gene Hernandez, Tim Shaw and Craig Young. Others are Anthony Johnson, Elvira Moreno, Michael Navarro, Melissa Salinas and Rhonda Shader. Not seeking re-election are James Gerbus and Peggy Huang.

Democratic candidates seeking the six seats to represent the 65^th Assembly District (Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Palma, Stanton and parts of Anaheim and Garden Grove) are incumbents Arnel Dino, Mirvette Judeh, Ed Lopez and John Vassiliades.

Others are Eric Barlow, Ada Briceno, Jose Castanada, Bruce Johnson, Andy Lewandowski, Jose Magcalas, Marisol Ramirez, Mike Rodriguez and Patricia Tutor. Not seeking re-election are Monika Broone and Jesus Silva.

Republican contenders are incumbents Baron Night, Leroy Mills, Steve Sarkis, David Shawver and Cynthia Thacker. Others are Nicholas Dunlap, Bobby Florentz, Amy Fremen, Dewayne Normand and James Waters. Not seeking re-election is Shawn Nelson.