You're forgiven if you haven't already heard the good news about Donald Ritze. He's a helicopter pilot, avocado grower and member of the Orange County Bee Keepers Association who is running against Bill Campbell for OC's third supervisorial district.
According to a section of his website called "My Bios"--which you presumably can find on "The Internets", Ritze has a wife and kids, 232 avocado trees, and a desultory relationship with spelling and punctuation. "Everyone wants to know what party I belong to? I’m a republican, I’m not a stanch or hard liner," he explains. "During the upbringing of my sons," he adds, "I have participated and held many various positions in the community: Little League, PTA, Booster clubs, Little League Baseball, and coaching Baseball five years at El Modena High School."
Did we forget to mention Little League and baseball?
But more importantly to voters, Ritze has a compelling platform: combat the evil influence of OC Weekly, which is the root of all our problems and social ills.
In an undated letter to the LA Times posted on his campaign website, Ritze listed the following items, which although not identified as such, seem to be his central campaign issues: "1) NO TAX INCREASES. 2. Environmental Issues. 3) Waste. 4) Traffic." Elsewhere he rails about children being charged for admission at the county fair.
But Ritze's most impassioned campaign statement is buried at the end of his letter. "Our County Government needs to listen more!" he proclaimed. "The values of Orange County are in jeopardy (OC WEEKLY). Not to mention the name Orange County!!!"
It's hard to tell whether Ritze really believes OC Weekly is so influential that we're threatening the core values of Orange County--or what those core values are, since he doesn't name them--or whether he's just blasting us in an effort to kiss ass with the LA Times. If the latter's the case, it hasn't worked. So far the Times hasn't bothered to profile him.
But we have! So, you're welcome, Mr. Ritze! And good luck with your campaign--and those avocado trees. And if you're so worried about OC Weekly's evil influence on county affairs, you might want to remove the reference to one of Scott Moxley's muckraking articles about county supervisor shenanigans on one of the pages of your own website.
May 14, 2008 12:07
wow, i had no idea that the county's name was in jeopardy. shame on you ocweekly.
May 14, 2008 16:35
The more they (corrupt officials) fight our basic rights (free speech) the more directly they (those a-holes) admit they are hiding from us the imminent truth (oc weekly).
May 14, 2008 20:01
Mr. Ritze: Save yourself some money.... Orange County does not need any more politicians that refuse to fight for freedoms of speech, press and opinion. Call it quits because if you think the OC Weekly has an evil grip on the OC, then it is obvious you have NOT done your research to become an elected official in Orange County.
Mr. Ritze: Are you being paid to campaign for a position as PUPPET SUPERVISOR? This is the United States of America... THROWN IN YOUR TOWEL! We do not want you here.