ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Read Their Lips on Sales Tax

Four of the five members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors are also board members of either the Orange County Transportation Commission, which is behind the drive to put the transportation sales tax issue on the ballot again in November, or the Orange County Transit District, which runs the county’s buses and has a strong stake in improving transportation. So why are board members hedging their support for the measure when they could be educating and mobilizing the voters? Just read their lips.

Consider Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, Orange County Transportation Commission board member: “I view my role in this transportation financing issue as that of a facilitator of information and the election process, rather than as an advocate of one position or the other.” Or Supervisors Chairman Don R. Roth, a member of the Orange County Transit District board: “I don’t know that I’ll necessarily be leading the charge for it (the tax issue). I don’t think it would be a very good idea.”

We get the idea from the other members too. Supervisor Thomas F. Riley, a member of the commission, may push for the measure, but probably not until he clears a hurdle of nominal reelection opposition in June. Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez, who was presumably paying some attention the previous two times the proposal was defeated, said he needs more information. Supervisor Roger R. Stanton, who is on the boards of both agencies, has not shown much interest at all.

Such indifference is understandable when you check which way the political breeze has blown. Last fall a previous version of the half-cent sales tax increase to pay for local transportation improvements, Measure M, was defeated, 53% to 47%. It left Orange County an island among neighboring counties: the only one refusing to pay some of the cost of transit and highway projects. But even that vote was an improvement over 1984, when a similar proposal was turned down by more than 2 to 1.

The enhanced support over a five-year period also suggests that an electorate used to digging in its heels at new taxation may be coming around. After all, traffic in Orange County and in the region has certainly worsened in the meantime. But supporters of the revived measure could use some political horsepower to help persuade the public. It’s not popular to call for higher taxes, but serving on the Board of Supervisors shouldn’t be a test of popularity. It’s a place for leadership.