Mark Bucher to Replace Chuck DeVore in Todd Spitzer Race

Bucher

In addition to Chuck DeVore dropping out of the race for Orange County supervisor, the Weekly has learned conservative activist Mark Bucher will challenge fellow Republican Todd Spitzer for the 2012 open seat.

Bucher is a successful businessman, a prominent–even outspoken–Christian conservative and longtime public-employee-union nemesis. He is tied to another union nemesis: Costa Mesa Republican councilman Jim Righeimer, arguably the most hated man in California politics from the perspective of union bosses and membership. The two men married sisters.

We’ll have to see what the switch in candidates means to the race. DeVore is a better public speaker, a thoughtful policy wonk and a veteran campaigner, but he needed to raise substantial contributions in a down economy.

Bucher, who is close to OC GOP boss Scott Baugh, brings his own advantage: He’s relatively wealthy–meaning he
might have an easier time working against the $1 million Spitzer has in his campaign account.

An official announcement for Bucher’s campaign is expected today.

Spitzer, who isn’t popular with some local conservative activists, previously served as a supervisor before he was elected to the state Assembly.

–R. Scott Moxley / OC Weekly

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