Proposition 198: Open Primaries

Your endorsement of Proposition 198 for the “sake of moderation” (editorial, March 18) appears to be based on the assumptions that independents are more moderate (and they are disenfranchised under the present system); Democrats voting for Republicans are more moderate; and Republicans voting for Democrats are more moderate. Implying or asserting them as true does not make them so.

The more logical extension of your endorsement of the Alaska-Washington models of a single slate would be to effectively eliminate the primary and go to the municipal election model--a single candidates’ list with a run-off election if any candidate fails to get a majority.

Until a change such as that is made, stay with the present system and if independents want to express a choice, they are free to identify with a party. A significant portion of the support necessary to seek office comes from the party--and the choice of who represents the party must, in all fairness, be left to those committed enough to identify with the party.

JACK ISKEN

Encino

* I ask you to consider the following scenario:

In the primary, a Democratic incumbent is running unopposed for reelection. Several Republican candidates are seeking the opportunity to run against the incumbent in the November election.

Suppose that one of the Republicans is the greatest candidate that has ever run for public office. Wouldn’t it be prudent for the Democratic Party to ask their members to cross over and vote for a lesser candidate, so their chances of winning in November would be enhanced? And, of course, it could work the other way if the incumbent was a Republican.

It just doesn’t seem logical to allow Democrats to choose Republican candidates and vice versa.

ROBERT PAUL COLE

Paramount

* Proposition 198 calls for the same kind of “open primary” as the one currently in place in Louisiana--where corruption is routine and extremists, such as KKK member David Duke, are able to get enough fringe votes to be nominated.

Please join Common Cause, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and California’s five minor political parties in opposing Proposition 198.

ART TORRES

Chairman, Democratic Party

Sacramento