Regarding the Guest Opinion “Laguna Power Play” by Alan Boinus (Aug. 23): I agree that the Laguna Beach Democratic Club’s “endorsement” of Whalen and Jones for City Council does not represent the view of the great majority of Democrats in Laguna Beach. The larger point, however, is that the Club should not endorse any candidates in the City Council race.
Candidates for City Council do not run as representatives of one party or another, which is good because then we can concentrate on whether or not these candidates will represent the interests of the residents of Laguna Beach. Endorsement by either party is a distraction from that focus.
As a Democrat, we all agree that it is important to get out the vote for Democrats in the House and Senate races and for the President. But the City Council is a far different matter. It is a non-partisan race and should remain so. I call for the Laguna Beach Democratic Club to cease endorsements for City Council and to retract their current “endorsement” of Jones and Whalen.
Roger Owens, Laguna Beach
I absolutely agree!
Agree, the LB DEM CLUB has done a disservice to their local party and their credibility has been shattered.
Re: Endorsements. I am not supporter of Police and Fire employees forming Political Action Committees (PAC) to endorse City Council candidates either as they have final approval on their salary/benefits/pension benefits contracts/agreements. It’s absolutely a conflict of interests.
I worked in City government. When it comes to government decision maker power, public safety services in particular has always supported those willing to support their financial and work demands.
It’s why our public safety service costs have risen to 40% of our City budget over the last decade during 12 year CC Whalen and 6 year CC Kempf’s representation. It’s helped them stay in office but hasn’t been so good for LB stakeholders. We still hear “there’s not enough money to keep us safe and secure” pleas coming from them every day and the community safety problems are growing. Fact is their leadership financial commitments and self-interest wish list projects aren’t sustainable.
Support realistic and responsible council representation for our City starting 2024!
This should also apply to our School Board Election! Another non-partisan race that should be about the kids, fiscal responsibility, Community voice, etc. None of which have anything to do with party affiliation. Should be about the candidates that can get the job done, take back the district and give our kids the education they deserve and we pay for.
Thank you Roger! a great statement and the replies seem to agree..The democrat party really does not resemble the old democrat party in anyway shape or form, yet people seem to refer to it as if it did. Bringing in the “party” name is to sway “party people”..city council is supposed to be non-partisan, however it certainly is not. I saw a wonderful intellectual discussion the other night and what used to be a well known person as a democrat, RFK,Jr said a very interesting thing and I believe it is true, he said that the Democrat party is now the Republican party and the Republican party is what the Democrat party used to be and he was absolutely correct, The Dem party has always been about big gov and now it’s bigger then ever but they also now represent the huge corp and industries and have more money as politicians,huge on Unions (which any thinking person knows are like the mafia), it’s mentioned at every moment it can, also the democracy has disappeared, I mean when the people can’t even nominate their own presidential choice..?? Where the Republican party is now for the little guy, trying desperately to stop what is happening to our schools, censured speech , parents rights, inflation and our laws on elections and upholding the constitution. I am neither one, because I always have and will vote for the most intelligent and capable..but dang, he was right!! Parties do not have a place in our small town City elections