Political Scandals

With the political season in full swing, we must get used to the new Alice in Wonderland ethical standards. Discounted hotel rooms become bribery. Embellished resumes become perjury. And now mashed-potato-circuit political dinners become extortion.

By blowing such micro-scandals out of proportion, it is easy to lose sight of what our leaders really stand for. We need to judge them by what they accomplish and contribute to the community, not by whom they have dinner with.

I am particularly concerned with suggestions by The Times that county planning commissioners Roger Slates and Stephen Nordeck be barred from voting on projects because they invited some developers to a dinner to meet an Assembly candidate. As the commissioner representing my area, Nordeck has led the fight to protect the canyon areas from overdevelopment. He has been consistently tough on the proposals of the big developers, including Arvida, and has frequently voted against them. I do not believe that my area should lose its vote based upon some imagined conflict of interest.

RON SMITH

Orange