Putting Party Politics Aside

* It was a delightful sight to behold! And, the photo was nice, too.

There in the May 28 edition’s Orange County Voices column was Shirley Grindle advocating more participation in politics by Orange County citizens, not less.

It was enough to warm the cockles of an old Republican county chairman’s heart.

Grindle, the long-serving, and sometimes intimidating, self-appointed watchdog of local campaign financing, has come to the well-reasoned conclusion that when more people participate in politics by contributing to the candidates of their choice, the government will likely be better.

Now Grindle and I usually don’t land on the same side of the political fence. After all, to me she is a liberal and I am a conservative. She has long advocated the growth of government and I have opposed it.

She favors taxpayer-funded campaigns. I am against public money for political use. But in her well-reasoned and reflective column, Grindle came up with the correct conclusion. Democracy is well-served when more people are involved.

However originally well intentioned, many so-called “reform” laws limiting campaign contributions have discouraged broad participation.

Yes, our County of Orange government is in serious need of more daylight in the decision-making process. The bad memory of the county’s bankruptcy has not yet faded.

The people deserve a greater voice in their Orange County government. Responsiveness to the people should never be abandoned to the influences of powerful, moneyed special interests.

Shirley, we agree!

THOMAS A. FUENTES

Chairman, Republican Party

of Orange County

* Shirley L. Grindle’s article reveals what we all have long suspected: The board’s decision to put an international airport at El Toro has very little to do with our county’s need; but everything to do with payback for election financial support from developers seeking pork-barrel privileges.

Grindle’s assertions are confirmed by an article on the same day in the Times, “Taking the Insanity Out of Public-Works Planning” by Jack O’Connell and James King, which calls for regional infrastructure planning from the state on down to the county level and below.

I believe that impartial regional planning will confirm that tying existing regional light-rails to existing regional airports (LAX and especially Ontario) will take care of Orange County’s airport needs for the next 25 years. And that planning now for an additional regional air-rail-port (at Camp Pendleton) in partnership with San Diego County, 25 years from now, will fulfill Orange County’s future air-transport needs.

Grindle tells us what the public must do to get a voice on the county board (support reform candidates); O’Connell and King give that new board guidelines on how to take the insanity out of public-works planning.

DAVID L. HAMMOND

Foothill Ranch