Praise for Sen. Marian Bergeson and Her Record in Sacramento

* Your article, “O.C’s Bergeson Has Proved a Capitol Asset, (Feb.13),” lists legislative accomplishments of our state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach).

It does not mention “The Bergeson Act.” Naming a law after one of its members is a special way in which legislators honor a colleague. Offhand, I can’t think of anyone else Orange County currently sends to Sacramento that has been so honored.

“The Bergeson Act” is the California Teacher Credentialing law of 1988. It has had two effects--one intended, the other not. The intended effect was to boost teacher standards.

The unintended effect comes from entrusting responsibility for policing teacher training to a bureaucracy more sensitive to the institutions it is supposed to police than to the public in whose name it polices them.

For example, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) grants repeated postponements of evaluation to the UC Irvine Education Department. It will soon be three years after that was originally scheduled. To Orange Countians, who wish to input in that re-approval process, the CTC is trying to say, “no way,” in spite of Bergeson Act provisions for “the community” to be involved. Sen. Bergeson deserves commendation for the Bergeson Act and praise for the extent to which it provides children with better teachers. How bureaucracy handles her law deserves a thorough performance review.

AMIN DAVID

Chairman, Los Amigos of Orange County

* Thanks for a terrific article on Marian Bergeson. It made the point very nicely that a class act is a class act whether it is in Sacramento or Orange County.

As a negotiator, Marian has felt that almost anything can be accomplished when you get everyone to the table. When things seem stalled on dead center (beach curfews, and county transportation issues come to mind), she always manages to find an area of agreement between the disparate opinions--whether it’s conservatives versus liberals, or cities fighting the county.

The only way her departure from the Legislature could hurt Orange County would be if she packed up and went home for good. Having her on the (county) Board of Supervisors will mean a new venue for her, but the same determination and intelligence working for us. All of us.

THOMAS WILCK

Corona del Mar

* Your article on Marian Bergeson’s expected departure from the state Senate leaves me more than a little concerned about our county’s legislative representation once she leaves. If Bergeson was such the hard worker, where has the rest of the 13-member delegation been?

Here’s hoping that Bergeson’s successor will somehow emulate the characteristics that made her successful--honesty and integrity, conservatism with a smile, persistence behind the scenes, and a willingness to look for a sound solution before looking for a sound bite.

If we can’t find a suitable replacement, will the county consider letting Bergeson job-share?

MYRTLE HOOD

Stanton