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Former NFL player from Irvine running for secretary of state
November 11th, 2009, 1:47 pm · 13 Comments · posted by BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento Correspondent
Damon Dunn, a former NFL and Stanford University football player who now lives in Irvine, announced today he will seek the Republican nomination for Secretary of State next year, with eyes on challenging the Democratic incumbent, Debra Bowen, in the fall general election.
Dunn played wide receiver for the Cardinal, where he was a standout kick returner, and had a brief stint in pro football with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets in the 1999 and 2000, where he raked up a single reception for 6 yards in five games played. (His biography also says he played for Jacksonville Jaguars and the Dallas Cowboys, but his NFL.com bio includes no mention of those teams.)
Upon retiring from football, Dunn became an entrepreneur, co-founding a real estate holding company. His campaign Web site stresses his long-time faith and charity work, and touts him as a successful businessman.
But one thing he apparently is not is a voter.
In his official press release announcing his candidacy, Dunn admits to having not voting — ever — until May of this year.
“As Secretary of State, I will fight for 100% voter registration,” Dunn said in the written statement.
I cast my first vote in May 2009. There is no excuse or justification. I grew up in a home where no one voted. As an adult, I have worked to restore hope in struggling communities and among those who have not had the same blessings I’ve experienced in my life. Through service, I knew that I could help hundreds of people in my community. But that is simply not enough. In every corner of our state today, millions of people are hurt and struggling under policies that require positive change in Sacramento. In the interest of pursuing that change, I’ve decided to leave my job so that, with the confidence of the people of California, I can serve the public in a greater capacity.
Dunn goes on to call himself “a recovering non-voter” but adds that he believes “the experiences in my life give me the unique perspective to reach those who do not participate in the process, empathize with their lifestyle, and encourage them that their vote does matters.”
Dunn has to get points for officially announcing his candidacy a few days before Stanford’s big game against USC this weekend. But his football pedigree may be the only thing going for him.
The GOP is going to put up a guy who hasn’t voted as a candidate for state’s top election’s official? Isn’t that a bit like nominating a guy who doesn’t like football for NFL Commissioner?
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DENA BUNIS, Washington bureau chief, 202-628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
BRIAN JOSEPH, Sacramento correspondent, 916-449-6046 or bjoseph@ocregister.com
JENNIFER MUIR, County government reporter, 714-796-7813 or jmuir@ocregister.com
JOEL WALSH, Washington bureau intern, 202-628-6381 or jwalsh@ocregister.com
MARTIN WISCKOL, Politics reporter, 714-285-2867 or mwisckol@ocregister.com twitter.com/MartinWisckol
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His qualifications seem to be he can catch
a ball and thinks this is enough.
He needs to grow up.
Depending on how much money his signing bonus was or how much he was able to fleece from the RE bubble. He’s “done” haha.
“and had a brief stint in pro football with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets in the 1999 and 2000, where he raked up a single reception for 6 yards in five games played”
Wow. What great qualifications for one of the highest offices in the state. Maybe he can start a senate and assembly intermural flag football that the taxpayers could fund. Most people start out as city councilmen and work their way up. This fella must really think high of himself. hah. The fact that he has never voted just goes to show how civic-minded he is. Or maybe he’s like Whitman and Fiorina who just weren’t ‘engaged’ due to their busy schedules. I wonder if the Lincoln Club is backing this fella?? What business was this fella in?? Selling NFL tee-shirts?? More information please.
Oh, after that stellar NFL career did he voluntarily resign??
I agree with what’s said here by other commenters. One more thing: Stanford’s football team is the “Cardinal,” not the “Cardinals.” One’s a color; the other’s a flock of red birds.
It appears some pesky editor changed my original post from Cardinal to Cardinals. Well, some of us on the politics side don’t watch college football. I, however, can assure all you Total Buzz readers that college football is my passion — I’m a big Nebraska Cornhuskers and Missouri Tigers fan — and that originally I did write Cardinal. I changed it back. Good catch, Crash 27.
Frankly, voting is highly overrated anyway. With some of the democratic candidates that have been offer, not voting is completely understandable. I’m sure will be a great candidate if he gets the nomination.
Meg Whitman wasn’t much of a voter either. She was busy setting up companies and creating jobs. But now that she’d decided to enter politics, she will be an involved voter and will make a great Governor.
I like that she is focused on improving education, creating jobs and cutting government costs. I can’t understand why the other candidates don’t have her grasp of these issues.
I’m sure Damon Dunn will make a fine Secretary of State for her.
~ Lauren Z
“for the people, by the people”….what qualifications are needed? We’ve been sucked into accepting that we need to vote in “professional” politicians.
I am not limited to voting for only ‘professional politicians’,
But if a person showed ZERO interest in the city, county, state and national electorial processes, voting for positions of power and for vital measures and referendums placed before the people, what kind of a civic leader would he/she make - seriously.
What a joke!
I agree with that. I’m tired of the same ol’ same ol’, particularly in our state! it’s gotten us nowhere.. well actually, we’re going backward, which is actually somewhere different entirely.
I’d at least listen to what he has to say and can’t be much worse than what we’ve had in years past.
this is not the “highest office” in the state (to whoever said that). they deal with elections and other matters like trademarks and licensing notary publics.
Secretary of State is a very powerful office. Go to the website and see for the area of responsibility.
I don’t necessarily believe in the status quo either. But if joe the wino or fred the plumber throws his hat in the ring they’d better have a good opening line cuz chances are I’m going to brush them off as attention grabbers. Being an ex-NFL player with zero name recognition (to my knowledge) and claiming ‘entrepreneur’ status don’t mean much. And the ‘recovering non-voter’ might be funny coming from larry the bartender but not from someone who wants to become the next Secretary of State. Let’s get serious here.
FYI:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?&entry_id=51442
another Meg Whitman background. but hey change is good right?
Well well lets just look at the current politians do you realy trust any of them ever? what do we have to lose trying out a non voter a least he has a clean slate to be critsized by you and others going forward.