Romney a Good Choice to Represent 5th District

Two years ago, voters in three of the county’s supervisorial districts upgraded the Board of Supervisors by electing three new members who have all proved to be better public servants than the incumbents they replaced. That process continues next month when voters in the 5th District choose either John MacDonald or Clyde Romney to succeed Supervisor Paul Eckert. (The fifth supervisor, Leon Williams, is running unopposed for reelection.)

After two terms on the board, Eckert finished third in the June primary and was eliminated from the race. Had he survived the primary to face either Romney or MacDonald, it would have been easy to recommend his opponent. As it is, voters have a choice between two men who are articulate, well educated, seemingly well intentioned and possessing useful experience in the public sector.

Romney is an attorney who has lived in North County for the past 15 years, with the exception of three years when he served as Rep. Ron Packard’s chief of staff in Washington. He also is a former board member of the Solana Beach Elementary School District. MacDonald, who served as president/superintendent of MiraCosta College for 20 years, has been a member of the Oceanside City Council since 1982.

Both candidates offer a sense of dignity Eckert lacks, and either would be a credit to the office. But we believe Clyde Romney is the more able and imaginative of the two.

Little separates these two Republicans on the issues. Both have pledged to address the principal issue that led to Eckert’s downfall--the rapid, poorly planned growth of North County. Both also are committed to solving the critical, but sensitive, problem of locating a new landfill to replace the one in San Marcos that will close in just a few years.

But Romney brings more depth and creativity to the discussion of these issues. He is already knowledgeable about a wide range of other county issues and gives the impression that he would be a quick study on those he hasn’t yet had to deal with. Not only would he be able to immediately hold his own with the other supervisors, but we believe he would very quickly become one of the board’s leaders.