Orange County no longer is majority Republican, but mixed GOP-Democrat-Independent. This is shown first in the three races for the OC Board of Education, on which currently all five members are Republicans, three this year challenged by Democrats supported by the California Teachers Association.
With the Republican incumbents first, they are Jorge Valdes vs. Beatriz Mendoza in Area 1, Ken Williams vs. Nancy Watson in Area 3 and Tim Shaw vs. David Johnson in Area 4. The key difference is the Republicans strongly support charter schools, while the Democrats want more restrictions. Charters are public schools operating largely outside the labyrinthine, 2,000-page California Education Code.
Why do parents have dozens of choices for the SUVs in which they ferry their kids to school, but are limited to just one local school unless there are charters?
The contrast with the Los Angeles Unified School district is clear. In 2022 its school board flipped from pro-charter to anti-charter, and since has been severely restricting charters. Let’s not do that in Orange County. For students to achieve, parents need school choice.
The OC Board of Supervisors flipped to a Democrat majority in 2022 for the first time since the dreaded Disco Era. That majority will not change after this election as only two GOP seats are up for grabs. If both Democrats win, the board will be all Democrat. Again, do we want Orange County to become LA, where four of five supervisors are Democrats?
In District 3, incumbent Republican Don Wagner goes against Farrah Khan, mayor of Irvine, where I now live. Wagner has been good on most issues. On her website, Khan boasts “she initiated and passed the city-wide ban on smoking in public places,” another Nanny State nuisance. So I can’t smoke a stogie on the sidewalk now? Some things are intolerable.
In District 1, the main candidates are Republican Janet Nguyen, a former supervisor and current state senator, against Democrat Frances Marquez, a member of the Cypress City Council. I’ve known Nguyen for two decades and she would bring fiscal responsibility to the board. In the interview with our editorial board, Marquez said a couple of times she would solve fiscal problems by getting more money from the federal government – which is $34 trillion in debt.
Since I moved to O.C. in 1987 to write for the Register, In the past I’ve lived in Huntington Beach 28 years. I love Surf City and go there often. I was heartened that voters elected a strong conservative majority to the city council. Unfortunately, the council has forgotten a major conservative principle: responsible governance.
It has put before voters three unneeded measures. Although initiatives are a key part of California Democracy, they ought to be used sparingly, for only the most pressing issues.
Measure A asks, “for all municipal elections, the City: may require Voter Identification for elections; provide more in-person voting locations; and monitor ballot drop-boxes, be approved?” Notice it says “may,” which could mean “may not.” But the main problem is it violates current state election law and would be thrown out in court.
Measure B limits the flags flown on city property. The council already has this authority.
Measure C would enact a two-year budget, which would be good. But it also allows the mayor or a council majority to cancel council meetings, provided one is held a month. That’s too much power for the mayor.
HB has a lot of problems, especially with its budget. The council should stop wasting voters’ time and fix those problems.
Let’s flip back to Irvine, long ridiculed by me and others as the Beige City, but which I really like now that I’m here. On the ballot is Measure D, which would shift the council from five at-large districts to seven members. Six would be elected in districts, with the mayor elected citywide.
I usually favor expanding elected body membership to increase representation. And Irvine now is a large city of more than 313,000, meaning districts are more suitable. I’m voting yes and hope the new arrangement will restore my freedom to pursue my favorite vice.
John Seiler is on the SCNG Editorial Board and blogs at: johnseiler.substack.com
