Give Vasquez a Chance to Prove Himself

Re “Not the One for Peace Corps,” editorial, Aug. 20: While there are better-qualified candidates to head the Peace Corps, Gaddi Vasquez is certainly not unqualified for the job. His years of government service, the fact that he is a quick study, his excellent personal and communication skills and his ability to motivate young people and to reach out to those who may disagree have made his course on California politics one of the most popular courses taught in our department. Such skills will come in handy in Washington.

Vasquez and the other former Orange County supervisors are certainly not blameless for their handling of the bankruptcy. However, a fairer portrayal would place the bulk of the responsibility on an independently elected, incompetent treasurer, greedy investment houses and, to some extent, on voters, who want more government services than they are willing to pay for.

Of much larger significance, I believe, is the fact that this appointment is part of a concerted effort by President Bush to reach out to the Latino community and especially to Mexico. This is a sea change in Republican Party politics that will be good for the U.S. and California. I think Vasquez will turn out to be a pleasant surprise as head of the Peace Corps. Early setbacks in the careers of people such as Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy turned out to be powerful motivations to prove themselves. I think that will be the case here.

Fred Smoller

Chair, Department of Political

Science, Chapman University

Orange