Once a political rising star, Chavez falls on hard times

By: ROB O'DELL - Staff Writer | Saturday, July 24, 2004 11:30 PM PDT ∞

OCEANSIDE ---- Once a rising star in Oceanside and the Republican Party, Oceanside Councilman Rocky Chavez has seen his star implode in the past three months. Chavez retired from the Marine Corps as a colonel in 2001, and promptly secured a $160,000-a-year job as principal of the Oceanside School of Business and Technology, a charter school that offers some college courses and on-the-job internships for high school juniors and seniors.

After he won one of two open seats on the City Council in 2002, he was widely viewed as a rising star headed for bigger things in Oceanside and beyond.

How quickly things change.

Chavez has gone from political prince to pauper in the span of three months, first by disparaging Oceanside High School graduates with negative comments, then by turning off his Republican Party mates and confidants with his ambition and sometimes brash demeanor.

Many people in Republican circles have said privately that Chavez needs to drop out of this year's mayoral race to resuscitate his political career.

Chavez rejected that notion last week, and his political supporters said it's too early to say that he has damaged his political career. Chavez said he'll take the next three weeks to take stock of his campaign and decide whether he'll stay in the nonpartisan mayor's race.

For Chavez, who has declared publicly on several occasions that he "will be mayor in November," the fact that he's even rethinking his mayoral bid is something of a revelation.

Chavez said no Republican has told him directly he should drop out of the race, but that it's clear that some powerful Republicans in the county don't want him to run.

Don McKinney, the president of the Republican Club of North County, said last week that Chavez should drop out of the race and that the reason behind Chavez's fall from grace is simple.

"He became too successful too quickly and easily, and I think it went to his head," McKinney said. "Rocky hasn't been in the (political) game long enough to know what the full dynamic is."

Spectacular gaffe

Before Chavez had his recent fallout with some of his Republican Party mates, he made an off-the-cuff remark that will follow him for years.

At a recruiting session where he was trying to recruit students from Oceanside High School to attend the School of Business and Technology, he said students remaining at Oceanside High would "flip burgers" while students who attended his school would be successful.

"If you want to flip burgers and drive around in your mother's old car, stay here and graduate from Oceanside High School," Chavez said, according to students and administrators at the event. "If you want to drive a Lexus, own a $900,000 home, and have a boat parked at the harbor, come to the School of Business and Technology."

His remarks touched off a storm of criticism from Oceanside High students, administrators and graduates, who said they found his comments offensive and demeaning. The district temporarily suspended Chavez's recruiting at the school.

Chavez apologized for the remark on several occasions.

However, three days after his remarks, Chavez went on the Roger Hedgecock show on 600 AM KOGO and ostensibly repeated the comments in somewhat less offensive language.

During the interview, Chavez said Oceanside High is great for kids "in the center of the bell curve" but that students who are struggling and want to "see relevancy and get challenged" need to attend his school.

Despite his previous apologies, Chavez insisted last week that he never said anything about flipping burgers but that he did say students graduating from his school would wind up driving Lexuses and having boats.

Republican rancor

On top of his comments about the high school, Chavez has been at odds with some prominent members of his own party who have said that Chavez's arrogance and brashness have ruffled feathers.

The issue came to a head this month when the central committee for the San Diego Republican Party voted 41-5 to endorse mayoral incumbent Terry Johnson, despite the fact that Johnson just switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in February.

Some officials, including McKinney, said Chavez should drop out and support Johnson to help ensure that Johnson and not Councilman Jim Wood is elected mayor.

"Failing to do so (quitting the race) would be a huge error," McKinney said. "Politics is a team sport. Nobody goes it alone in the political world. That occasionally means taking one for the team."

Chavez said that he has not heard anyone "except Don McKinney" express those sentiments. He said his decision on whether to stay in the race will come down to what is in the best interests of the city.

John Mamaux, a Republican and a former city manager of Oceanside and Carlsbad, said Chavez has become a lightning rod for controversy over the past few months.

"We're talking about him instead of what's best for the city, and that's going to continue," Mamaux said. "Maybe this isn't the time for him to run."

Dave Shore, a Chavez supporter who is active in city politics, said reports of Chavez's demise are premature. Shore, a Democrat, said Chavez has had a tough three months but added that a lot could happen in the next few months, whether Chavez stays in the race or not.

"It's a little too early too judge," Shore said. "There's different ways that this could pan out. Some people overcome (adversity) and it makes them stronger. Some people don't overcome it and it ends their career."

Contact staff writer Rob O'Dell at (760) 901-4067 or rodell@nctimes.com.

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