GOP Secretary of State candidate (Calif.) explains why he didn't vote -- ever -- until this year

[Newsjock]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Orange County businessman Damon Dunn -- a wealthy former NFL player who has never run for statewide office -- formally kicked off his campaign for California Secretary of State today with some big GOP backing. But here's the twist: even as he seeks the job of chief state elections officer, Dunn told the Chronicle today that he has only voted once in his lifetime -- in May 2009.

Dunn, 33, says he's a real estate developer in Irvine and puts his net worth in the "multi-millionaire" category; but now he's in the same club with two other wealthy GOP first-time political candidates -- U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, both of whom have issued mea culpas on their infrequent trips to the ballot box.

... But in an interview with the Chronicle this morning, he acknowledged his voting record -- or lack of it -- and said that "there's no excuse, no defense, no justification'' for not casting even one vote until earlier this year. He sat it out last November, when the first African American major party candidate, Barack Obama, made history in the presidential race, he admitted.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detai...

[byronius]

1. Meanwhile. Debra Bowen is a damned fine civil servant.

She's irreplaceable. There are so few political figures like her. I intend to help Dunn fail in his quest by donating again heavily to Bowen.

[noiretextatique]

2. no excuse, no defense, no justification =

no chance in hell of you getting elected.

[tanyev]

3. Methinks he was recruited to run rather than finally seeing an opportunity

to realize his lifelong dream of becoming a chief elections officer.

[Garbo 2004]

4. I guess voting is for the "little people." nt

[chollybocker]

5. "...a wealthy former NFL player..."

Never heard of him before, so I looked him up:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DunnDa0...

Lifetime NFL Stats:

5 Games played (Cleveland & NYJ)

3 kick returns for 35 yards
1 pass reception for 6 yards + 1 fumble.

WOW.

The GOP just feel the need to lie about everything, don't they?

[hughee99]

9. I don't know if he's wealthy or not.

but those lifetime stats still make him a "former NFL player".

[superconnected]

6. He's a "Real Estate Developer". I know what that means when it's mixed with the word

"politician" in my area.

The truth is the guy didn't care to vote until he saw a big corrupt reason, handed to him by the GOP.

And how do you like how he sat it out on the Obama election? I think it's pretty clear he wouldn't have voted for him. I mean he felt no urge to get involved. But now, he's qualified to run for office, NOT.

[mulsh]

7. what an insult to all of us Californains

Being rich, black and nominally a republican aren't much qualification. Come campaign in Oakland bro, your sad ass back story don't mean shit.

On the other hand I hope the republic party keeps up its steady stream of non voting candidates. government isn't the problem its republican who want jobs in government that is the problem.

[hughee99]

8. I don't see what everyone's problem is with him not voting.

He's a repuke who doesn't vote. Is there a better kind? I wish they were all like that.

[David Zephyr]

10. Sounds like Meg Whitman.

She doesn't vote much herself. Some example of citizenship they make.