Critics Say Prop. 198 Will Muddle Political Process

Imagine Democrats crossing over to vote against hard-line conservatives like Assemblyman Tom McClintock, knowing they could create division in the Republican Party.

Or how about Republicans casting ballots against Rep. Brad Sherman in the Democratic primary, hoping to defeat the party’s strongest contender.

That is just what some critics of open primaries fear could happen in Ventura County as 88 years of closed primary elections end.

Proponents, however, see Proposition 198, which was upheld Monday by a federal judge, as an attempt to move campaigns away from the extreme fringes and toward the center of the political spectrum, where most voters sit.

First approved by voters in March 1996, Proposition 198 will allow voters to cross party lines in primary elections.

All candidates will be listed on the same ballot, regardless of party affiliations. And where, since 1909, registered party members could vote only for candidates from the same party in a primary election, Proposition 198 allows all registered voters to vote for any candidate.

Barring a successful appeal by the state Democratic and Republican parties--both of which have vowed to appeal--open primaries will be the law during next June’s primary election.

Proposition 198 supporters say the move will mean more candidates to choose from and increased voter turnout.

“It’s going to make it easier in the primary election to gather a larger number of votes, which is probably going to have the effect of neutralizing the very liberal element in the Democratic Party and the very conservative element in the Republican party,” said Brian Fox, a Ventura attorney who is chairman of the Ventura County Republican Central Committee. “It’s very discouraging to the far right and far left . . . but I think those elements in both parties represent a very small, vocal minority.”

But not everyone thinks that is such a good thing.

Some say it will simply make it more difficult for voters to decide who is who and what is what.

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“You won’t have people taking strong ideological stands,” said Robert L. Gallaway, chairman of the Ventura County Democratic Central Committee. “They’re all going to be trying to be all things to all people. It’s really just going to be a beauty contest.

“People have complained about the political process--that all the candidates are the same, that there is not much of a choice,” he added. “This will exacerbate that problem.”

For Ventura County, the primary in June and general election in November will have huge implications on how the county is represented in Sacramento and Washington.

Up for grabs in June will be seats held by Republican Rep. Elton Gallegly, Sherman, Democratic state Sen. Jack O’Connell and Republican Assemblymen Brooks Firestone, Nao Takasugi and McClintock.

“I know most of the people in my party disagree with me, but if the goal is to make it easier to elect moderate candidates, this court decision accomplishes that,” Sherman said.

Monday’s ruling drew quick criticism from members of both parties, who argue that Proposition 198 allows members of one party to hold sway in deciding the nominee of a rival party.

“I don’t know why voters supported this idea,” said county Supervisor John K. Flynn, a prominent Democrat. “It really doesn’t distinguish the parties very well. I think it clouds the two-party system.”

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Gallaway said that boosting membership rolls in the parties will become even more difficult, since many voters have traditionally registered with a particular party just so they can vote in the primary.

In addition, he predicted that primaries will be more costly to candidates, because they will be forced to attract the attention of all voters in both the primaries and general elections.

Conservative activist Stephen R. Frank of Simi Valley agrees.

“What it means is that there will be more games in politics and less issues,” Frank said. “There will be more money spent in campaigns and less accountability.

“It’s a sad day for good government.”