Why Lobbyists?

Let me see if I got this right. Ventura County is spending 300,000 of its taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars to send some lobbyists to Washington, D.C. Their mission is to lobby the commission charged with the closure of military bases to leave Point Mugu and Port Hueneme off the list.

Excuse me, but isn’t that the reason we have elected representatives? I mean, Elton Gallegly surely must be aware that these military bases are on the list. And one would assume that the reason he was elected in the first place is to act as ombudsman for Ventura County and to represent Ventura County’s best interests. Why do we need lobbyists if we have Elton? Or why do we need Elton if we have lobbyists?

Surely Elton Gallegly and his staff are not so overburdened with legislative activities that they are unable to represent the best interests of the constituency. I seem to remember when Bob Lagomarsino represented this district prior to the gerrymander, that he argued successfully against the base closures.

My message to county supervisors is this: Quit wasting taxpayers’ money on items that we already pay for through the nose. And the message to Elton is: Quit playing partisan politics and get on with the job of representing the citizens of Ventura County.

The military bases in Ventura County are not insignificant to the economic structure of this county and if they are closed during Elton Gallegly’s watch, the voters will not soon forget.

GARY WOLLARD, Camarillo