Political Parties and Nonpartisan Local Elections

I share the concern of your editorial (May 19) and former La Habra Councilwoman Robin Young (Letters, May 26) regarding partisan polarization of traditionally nonpartisan local races. To blame this trend on the Republicans, however, is to ignore recent events that, if anything, point to the Democrats as the real instigators.

It was the Democratic Legislature which changed the law to allow consolidation of nonpartisan municipal elections with the partisan November general election. This consolidation (which The Times editorially supported) is leading toward greater partisan polarization in city and county races.

A recent ruling of the California Supreme Court (dominated by Brown-appointed Democrats) now permits political parties to officially support specific city council candidates. To reverse this ruling, Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Monrovia) has introduced a state constitutional amendment to restore partisan neutrality in local government.

It is Willie Brown, David Roberti and the legislative Democratic majority who have blocked the Mountjoy bill. They evidently see the court ruling as a mandate to dump big money into Democrats running for city councils and county boards of supervisors.

In this atmosphere of legislative and judicial partisanship, can you really fault Orange County Republican leaders for “circling the wagons” to protect their own?

Yes, this trend may help Republicans in Orange County, but it may also help Democrats in areas where they are strong. In the end both parties will be locked in a stalemated campaign-spending spree, and the quality of local government will suffer for it.

It is in the interests of both Republicans and Democrats to keep statewide partisan politics out of local government. To this end, let us support the Mountjoy bill and evaluate candidly the results of election consolidation.

Let us continue our cherished California tradition of clean and cooperative local government.

CHRIS NORBY, City Councilman

Fullerton