Huntington Beach, CA-Big news on another loss for Butch Twining and his failed $25M lawsuit against me. He lost the original defamation case and now he’s about to lose the motion on fees as well. As you know, I exposed Twining for marching and chanting “while amongst” white supremacists at the September 10, 2025 Charlie Kirk rally at the Huntington Beach pier.  Video of the rally, widely available online, show that Twining was at the rally while white supremacists including Ryan Sanchez and Nick Taurus led numerous chants, including “white lives matter,” “fight, fight, fight,” and “white men fight back.” He denied his actions and the judge ruled that what I said was “substantially true.” I prevailed and he was exposed. The self-styled MAGA City Councilman, who is retired and was selected last December to serve as Mayor Pro Tem over his council running mate Chad Williams, claimed damages from lost business and political advancement.  If the ruling has confirmed, that he is required under the anti-SLAPP statute to pay my attorneys’ fees and costs. Butch Twining’s attempt to intimidate and silence me is now backfiring with his frivolous lawsuit. The fact is that he was at the rally while amongst known white supremacists and doesn’t like that he was exposed. He should be ashamed of himself for abusing the Court system, and now he knows he can’t use his high-priced LA lawyers to bully his constituents. The ruling was made by Judge Craig Griffin, who was appointed to the Superior Court in May 2009 by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. My legal team, led by Lee Fink has given a very expensive lesson to Butch Twining in the First Amendment, but apparently one he needed to learn. Let’s hope Mr. Twining does the right thing and pays his debt on time. If not, California law allows for me, as the plaintiff, to file a lien against his home and other property, levy his bank accounts, and garnish his Huntington Beach City Council wages if he does not pay as ordered.

Huntington Beach, CA-At last night’s meeting, I announced that the Ocean View School District Board of Trustees has not taken any action regarding development of the Glen View property. Claims that the Board has approved high-density apartments or plans that would result in the loss of green space at Glen View are simply not accurate. At this time, our property development efforts are focused only on the Sun View and Pleasant View sites. We understand and respect that residents care deeply about their neighborhoods, our schools, and District property. These are important community assets, and we welcome public participation and thoughtful input whenever discussions about their future take place. At the same time, we ask our community to distinguish between understandable concerns based on rumors or speculation and decisions the Board has actually considered or made. Sharing accurate information is important, particularly when discussing issues that can significantly affect our neighborhoods and schools. If and when any underutilized District property comes before the Board for consideration, that process will take place publicly and transparently, with opportunities for the community to hear the facts, follow the discussion, and make its voice heard. We encourage residents to continue following our Board meetings, particularly the ongoing discussions regarding Sun View and Pleasant View, to see that public process in action. We value your engagement and look forward to working together as these conversations continue. Good things are coming for OVSD community and we are excited to get started. More news to come!

Bologna, Italy-Even from Italy, I wasn’t about to miss one of the Ocean View School District’s most important meetings. Last week, I attended our special board meeting remotely via Zoom to help interview candidates for the vacant trustee seat following Jack Souders’ resignation. Unfortunately, during the meeting, former 2024 school board candidate (and 2022 Huntington Beach City Council candidate) David Clifford used his public comment time to make a series of false and misleading claims about Ocean View School District finances, employee compensation, and board actions. Among his inaccurate statements, he falsely claimed that the district used one-time funds to provide ongoing salary increases. That is simply not true. He also misrepresented the 2022 compensation agreement, ignoring the fact that when California provided districts with approximately a 16% COLA, Ocean View approved a 10% salary increase, well below the state’s funding increase, not the exaggerated version he presented. Facts matter. Public trust matters. Anyone seeking public office has a responsibility to do their homework before speaking at the microphone. Spreading misinformation doesn’t serve our employees, our taxpayers, or our students. Voters deserve leaders who are informed, honest, and committed to the truth. That’s why I’ll be supporting Jennifer Rank for Ocean View School District Trustee this November 2026. I encourage you to do the same.

Huntington Beach, CA-Great news! Our board and district staff are exploring innovative ways to address two major challenges facing our community: declining student enrollment and the increasing difficulty for working families and public employees to afford housing in the outrageously expensive City of Huntington Beach. After receiving 25 proposals from developers through the RFP process, OVSD is evaluating workforce housing opportunities at the former Pleasant View and Sun View school sites. These properties are no longer needed for school operations, and we believe they can be reimagined to serve our community while remaining public assets. The school sites will NOT be sold. Our vision is not simply to build housing. We are committed to preserving significant open green space, protecting opportunities for youth sports, reducing blight and vandalism at vacant properties, and generating revenue that will help support public education. The proposed housing would prioritize school employees, teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who struggle to live in the communities they serve. Developers, not taxpayers or the school district, would bear the cost of construction. With enrollment declining by nearly 2,000 students over the past decade and only 13 of our 25 properties currently operating as school sites, it is our responsibility to thoughtfully steward public land for the benefit of current and future generations. Our board remains committed to preserving community open space while creating opportunities that strengthen our schools, support our workforce, and help keep Huntington Beach a place where working families can continue to call home. Thank you to board subcommittee members Vice President Patricia Singer and former board clerk Jack Souders for doing all the heavy lifting on this process to bring these ideas to the entire board as a whole. Thank you to Los Times, Daily Pilot, reporter Matt Szabo for summarizing our last Tuesday’s board item so well. The entire article can be read online at the ‪@Thedailypilot‬ or ‪@latimes‬ .

Huntington Beach, CA-Shame on them! Shame on the Huntington Beach City Council for choosing an operator of a semi nude bar over elementary school children. Four of the five members of the Huntington Beach City Council voted to support granting Distractions Lounge a full liquor license just 560 feet from Westmont Elementary School. Only council members Williams and Gruel voted to protect and defend the safety of the school children. Despite testimony from community members, school advocates, and neighbors, public safety concerns were ignored. The council majority of Burns, Kennedy, McKeon, and Twining sided with the poorly run business. As Ocean View School District president, I stated, Westmont Elementary is already uniquely impacted by multiple nearby bars. Yet the council voted to make that situation worse. According to testimony presented during the appeal, Distractions Lounge has been associated with calls for public drunkenness, assaults, DUIs, weapons incidents, drinking spiking, and multiple rapes. Neighbors and community members raised concerns about police activity, and disturbances. Trustees Keri Gorsage and I spoke in support of the appeal and urged the council to put students, families, and public safety first. We asked a simple question, has the applicant demonstrated that expanding this liquor license will improve conditions in the area? The answer presented by opponents was clearly no. Instead of acknowledging the legitimate concerns raised about placing expanded alcohol sales so close to an elementary school, Council Members Kennedy and Twining downplayed the potential dangers to children and the surrounding community. The City’s responsibility is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents. Children, families, and neighborhood quality of life should come before the desire to sell more alcohol. Shame on every council member who voted for this expansion and ignored the concerns of parents, residents, and school leaders. Huntington Beach families deserve better. VOTE THEM OUT THIS NOVEMBER!