Financial planner enters 74th District race
An Irvine financial planner who says he will run a grass-roots campaign instead of one that involves large-scale spending hopes to unseat state Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) in the 74th District race.
Paul Vann, an independent with more than 40 years of experience in financial planning, filed papers on Feb. 22 for the district seat that encompasses parts of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine and Huntington Beach.
However, compared to the other challengers in the race, Vann’s nearly nonexistent campaign budget has remained mostly below the radar.
In February, Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle had $118,000 and Mansoor had $42,000 set aside for campaign financing.
Newport real estate broker Bob Rush told the Daily Pilot that he would commit $100,000 of his own money to his campaign fund. He filed his papers Feb. 21.
“I’m not a career politician. I’m running as a concerned citizen,” Vann said, after stating that he is not engaging in any political fundraising.
Instead, Vann, a self-described fiscal conservative, said he is relying on voters to recognize that new blood is required in order to change the state’s dire financial situation.
“I have to believe that the people of the 74th District are not going to vote for the same people who got us into this mess,” Vann said.
Vann said if he’s elected, lowering the state’s debt by reducing spending — not raising taxes — and keeping jobs in California would be his immediate priorities.
Mansoor said via email that he will “welcome the participation of different voices in this debate.” Rush, the only Democrat in the race, was quick to distance himself from the new candidate.
“Mr. Vann and I couldn’t be more different,” Rush said. “I am not a professional politician, have never run for office before, and I care deeply about the issues affecting my community.”
Daigle declined to comment.
While Vann, a New York native, has not engaged in any formal announcement since filing, he said that he is looking into speaking engagements to introduce himself to the community.
Twitter: @speters01