Commentary : Excerpts From Killea Speech Sounding Political Alarm

This institution--the Senate, the Assembly, the Legislature as a whole--is in serious trouble. We have lost the public’s confidence, and it has been a failure of both political parties to provide the leadership to regain it.

So, after more than 40 years as a registered Democrat, I have decided to leave the Democratic Party and re-register as an independent.

While my change of party is for the most part symbolic, symbolic of my dissatisfaction with the ability of the party leadership to come to grips with the issue of political reform, it was still for me personally a very difficult decision to make.

My first involvement in electoral politics began in San Diego in the ‘70s, and I was always a nonpartisan participant. We managed to accomplish quite a bit in a nonpartisan fashion.

Then I moved into the Assembly where I had to wear a team jersey, Democrats on this side, Republicans on the other. It wasn’t really my style, but I played the game because that, I was told, was the only way it could be played.

Then, of course, in 1989 I sought and won election to the Senate in what was described as a “safe Republican district.” I ran as I always have as someone who sought to offer a choice on issues instead of party loyalty. Over the past five years, in three very contentious elections, my constituents have indicated their support for my individual, nonpartisan approach.

Last year, when I was new to this house, I announced with Common Cause and the League of Women Voters that I supported Proposition 131, which would have established term limits of 12 years for all legislative offices, campaign spending reforms and establishment of an independent prosecutor for political crimes.

My position was regarded as an act of heresy within my caucus, and I was rebuked accordingly. The far more Draconian measure, Proposition 140, passed, and the Legislature has suffered not only from the cuts, but from the spectacle of going to court to undo the public’s will as expressed at the polls. If successful, this lawsuit will do more damage to the Legislature as an institution than the measure itself.

My change in party doesn’t indicate any change in my values, my philosophy, my legislative agenda or my votes. Joining the Republican Party was never a consideration when I decided to leave this one.

(But) I have come to conclude that I need to do something to get the message through to my colleagues and friends that things are indeed not well. This is my way of sounding an alarm.