Boost for Nonpartisanship

Reluctantly the California Supreme Court has allowed political parties to become embroiled in nonpartisan local and state elections. The situation can and should be corrected before the elections in the fall of 1986. To that end, the Legislature should approve Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7, sponsored by Assemblyman Richard L. Mountjoy (R-Monrovia.).

Since early in the century the California Constitution has provided that local officials run for office without partisan label or through party nomination. The provision covers mayors, members of city councils, county supervisors, school boards, judges and others. On the state level, nonpartisan offices include the state superintendent of public instruction, the state Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The system, an outgrowth of the Progressive movement, has served California well. But the Supreme Court ruled last December that while the Constitution establishes certain offices as non-partisan, it does not specifically prohibit political parties from involving themselves in such contests through endorsements, fund-raising and the like. Four justices who face voter approval in 1986, including Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, excused themselves from participating in the case.

The California system has demonstrated over the years that voters can make intelligent choices in these elections without participation by political parties. In particular, contested judicial elections should be conducted on the basis of professional qualifications, without regard to party label or political ax-grinding.

Mountjoy, a Republican, does not believe that the state Republican Party should meddle in the fall, 1986, Supreme Court campaign, and hopes to get his amendment on the June, 1986, ballot to prevent that. The measure faces a hearing in the Assembly Constitutional Amendments Committee today, and must pass the full Assembly with a two-thirds margin before the Legislature’s recess for the year on Sept. 13. The Senate would have to act by the end of next February.

Political parties have an important role in California government. But in nonpartisan elections, let the parties serve strictly as bystanders.