Orange County Perspective : An Angry Message From the Electorate : Voters Were Willing to Do What Needed to Be Done

The dust has settled on Election Day results in Orange County, but a question remains: What exactly were the voters saying with their decisions on a hodgepodge of races and issues? From all appearances, the clear message seemed to be: Do something!

That’s what angry voters were telling incumbents who asked to be reelected shortly after budget debacles in Sacramento and Washington. That’s what enthusiastic Laguna Beach residents said by voting with their pocketbooks in favor of efforts to save Laguna Canyon from development. And that’s what traffic-weary voters were saying by finally approving Measure M, a half-cent sales tax for transportation.

But the election seems to signal an even deeper change in what voters in Orange County expect of themselves and their representatives. It marked the official demise of the so-called “caveman” mentality, in which legislators felt not only comfortable but obligated to vote “no” on just about everything. The returns on a range of issues signal that the electorate no longer wants representatives who view their role simply as stifling action by government. They want legislators who work hard to find solutions to common problems.

But voters also showed that they were willing to take responsibility themselves, especially when it comes to quality-of-life issues such as transportation. Orange County has a long history of voting down any measure that would increase taxes , no matter how important the purpose. Measure M’s passage by a 54% to 46% margin was a political coming of age.

The vote for Measure M also showed voters to be a step ahead of some of their political leaders. While some members of the Board of Supervisors supported the measure, not one actively campaigned for it. There are knowledgeable political observers who believe that the public’s dissatisfaction with the board is so deep that, had its members campaigned for Measure M, they would have done more harm than good.

But what does that say about the board? And how does one account for Laguna Beach’s approval--by an astounding 80% to 20%--of a $20-million bond measure toward the $78 million needed to purchase Laguna Canyon? Here was a case of civic leaders doing what they were supposed to do; they galvanized residents to seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If the canyon is saved, these leaders can take credit.

For the most part, however, county voters joined with those around the state and nation in registering their unhappiness with incumbents--or, more precisely, with incumbency--by providing reduced majorities for nearly all local legislators and members of Congress.

They also voted, 60% to 40%--compared to a statewide vote of 52% to 48%--in favor of the stringent legislative term limits contained in Proposition 140. In one case--the 72nd Assembly District--voters even threw out first-term incumbent, Assemblyman Curt Pringle (R-Garden Grove), who was defeated by Democrat Tom Umberg. Margins for other Republicans in this heavily GOP county were comfortable, but in nearly all cases reduced from previous years. In several nonpartisan local races, Democratic candidates won seats away from the GOP. That should help raise the competition in the county, and keep both parties on their toes.

Important issues facing the county--such as housing, growth, traffic management and health care--cut across party lines. The electorate has made it clear that it expects its leaders--whatever their party--to get busy and solve them.