SOAR Petitions and the Law

* In your article, “Lawyer Says SOAR Petitions Violated Law,” June 11, Ventura County elections chief Bruce Bradley says that he is “no expert” but his “feeling is that 99% of the people probably put down where they live anyway.”

Do or should his feelings have anything to do with our finely honed election laws and should anyone wish to hear his personal estimates of statistical probabilities?

He goes on to state that the Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources (SOAR) petition “technically does not comply with the elections code.” Leave out the word “technically” and every law-abiding citizen, regardless of their personal interest in this specific issue, knows what is right here and what is wrong. It does not comply with the elections code.

We are, to paraphrase, either a society of laws or of special interests.

KEVIN McCURDY

Ventura

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* I support the proposal of Ventura County Supervisor John K. Flynn that the Board of Supervisors use its legislative powers to place the SOAR initiative on the November ballot. This is clearly the will of the Ventura County electorate.

It is very unfortunate that a protest based on a technicality could call into question the validity of the SOAR initiative. My husband and I were volunteer signature gatherers. We can vouch that there is widespread support among the citizens of Ventura County for this initiative and that there was no confusion by people regarding how they should sign the initiative.

The politicizing of an inconsequential technical issue to thwart the will and hard work of so many is distressing. By placing the SOAR initiative on the ballot, the Board of Supervisors will avoid legal costs and respond directly to the demonstrated wish of the voters.

KATE FAULKNER

Ventura

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* Some 70,000 signatures were collected for the SOAR initiative. A technical glitch may put this in jeopardy.

I think the people should have the vote, not just leave it in the hands of a few. The county residents are more than interested and deserve to be listened to.

The basic desire and mood of this county add up to the same thing. We need to hear what voters think about this issue. It is too important not to be on the ballot.

AUDREY MORIN

Somis