A Little TV Exposure Would Help

Although there’s a different cast of characters on Orange County’s Board of Supervisors these days, most people still wouldn’t be able to identify any of the five members if they met them on the street. But if the supervisors decide to televise their meetings, it’s possible that residents might have a better idea of who represents them and what sort of job they are doing.

The latest proposal to televise the supervisors’ meetings is due for consideration by the supervisors this month. It should be approved, even though it is a watered-down version of the proposal wrongly rejected last year.

Last year’s version suggested live broadcasts of the meetings, a good idea. This year’s suggestion is to tape some meetings and give the tapes to cable TV operators in the county. There is a possibility of live broadcasts later. The best system would be live broadcasts followed by reruns on tape, giving those interested in the meetings the chance to view them no matter what their schedules.

At various times, supervisors opposed to televising their weekly sessions have objected on the basis of costs and the possibility that camera hogs in the audience would posture and drone on forever.

But the costs would be relatively minor, an estimated $62,000 to $93,000 for six months of live broadcasts. And the board already sets time limits on speech-making by audience members. Gavels were made to be used. And long-winded orators should be of less concern than having elected officials heed their responsibility to listen to their constituents, even when they don’t like what they’re hearing.

Two of the three supervisors new to the board this year, Todd Spitzer and Thomas W. Wilson, have suggested a pilot program in which the county tapes supervisors’ meetings and offers them to cable companies. If one more supervisor agrees, the experiment can begin.

The supervisors meet in Tuesday morning sessions three times a month and during the evening the fourth time, making it difficult or impossible for most of their constituents to attend most of the meetings. Many cities already broadcast their city council meetings. Letting people watch the Board of Supervisors sessions at home, either live or on tape, will give residents a better idea of what their elected officials are doing and could increase interest in local government.