ORANGE COUNTY PLATFORM : Party Labels Damaging

Even though I have been a registered Republican for over 30 years, I am dismayed to see a nonpartisan office, such as the Orange County Board of Supervisors, being politicized by the Republican Party. Historically, local, district and county offices have been regarded as independent of partisan politics in Orange County. Now I see lines are being drawn in the 2nd district supervisorial race. Candidates who resort to labeling by party affiliation are doing a disservice to the role and the philosophy of county government.

One of the strengths of a nonpartisan office is that the voter can focus on the candidate who is best prepared or qualified to address the issues facing county government. The problems of Orange County require a supervisor who is not handicapped by a party label. On the contrary, to solve the problems of Orange County he/she must have the freedom and capabilities of working with the political machinery of the state and federal levels. There is wisdom and strength in the concept of nonpartisan offices, and those who constantly raise the banner of party labels will only succeed in weakening the effectiveness of the very critical position of county supervisor.

California’s pioneer of political reform, Hiram Johnson, a Republican, and other leaders of both parties saw the wisdom in keeping partisan politics out of local races. The record of accomplishments of each of the candidates should gauge their worthiness to hold local office, not their political affiliation. This is true because local public officeholders are closer to the people, they are more accessible and their records can be more easily examined. Political party affiliation at the state and national level make more sense for accountability, but even their reliance on them is a crutch to allow one to vote by membership in a party as opposed to qualifications and record as a leader.

“Blind partisanship” is exactly why many Democrats and Republicans alike are dropping out as voters, or following Ross Perot’s leadership stressing common sense and grass-roots, people-oriented issues, rather than special-interest issues associated with political parties. Services to people do not require “partisan allegiance” and most local elected officials deal with these type of issues. The law wisely does not permit candidates for local elective office to use their party affiliation on the official ballot or on their official candidate’s statement.

We should be able to decide the election on the qualification of the person rather than the label of the party. If we must promote polarization, let us do it on ability rather than affiliation.