CALIFORNIA,ONE ELECTION OLDER AND DEEPER IN DEBT.
Propositions 71 (for stem cell research) and 61 (for children’s hospitals) add almost $4 billion to the state’s debt load. But if we must have largesse, let’s bring it home: Proposition 71 should be a boon for research at UC Irvine’s Reed-Irvine Research Center.
n The election pointed up a growing dichotomy in Orange County between growth-oriented and change-averse cities. Larry Agryan appeared to survive charges of ethical transgressions and the defection of some longtime allies to regain control of the Irvine City Council. Agran’s political prowess was a key factor, but so was voter approval of his ambitious, big-city agenda. Another can-do, pro-development mayor, Curt Pringle, retained his majority in Anaheim. While there was a fight for the Santa Ana council, downtown development was not in jeopardy. Huntington Beach, with many projects on its plate, took a business-friendly tilt with the elections of Don Hanson and Keith Boor to the council, although “greenie” incumbent Debbie Cook led the vote-getting. By contrast, developer-backed candidates were drubbed in Dana Point, “property rights” candidates lost in Orange and Measure L, a relatively modest proposal to convert a Balboa Peninsula trailer park into a boutique hotel, was overwhelmingly rejected in Newport Beach.
n Van Tran, first Vietnamese-American elected to a state Legislature, led a wave of victorious Asian candidates in OC. Others were Steven Choi and Sukhee Kang to the Irvine City Council, Janet Nguyen to the Garden Grove Council and Kim Oanh Nguyen-Lam and Trung Nguyen to the Garden Grove Unified School Board.
n It was a rare, wonderful election for employers. Nationally, Kerry lost. In California, voters rebuked their anti-business Legislature. They rejected Proposition 72,an employer insurance mandate that would have been an awful job-killer,and they passed Proposition 64 to reduce frivolous lawsuits. Californians also nixed Proposition 67, a phone tax that would have hurt small businesses. Locally, Brea’s Measure C, a business-license tax, lost.
n Given the above-mentioned voter repudiations of the state Legislature, you have to wonder: Why do California voters keep returning these kooks to office? Every incumbent lawmaker won, and the Democrats retained their wide margins in both the Senate and the Assembly.
n The Democratic Party: wonderfully built to carry California and New York, and to lose the nation.
n The Republican Party: lucky to have the Democrats for opponents.
n John Edwards and Teresa Heinz Kerry: Their sizzle fizzled.
n Tom Daschle: the GOP’s sweetest takedown since Tom Foley in ’94.
n Voters love to complain about the lack of good people who run for office. But what happens when a good guy gets on the ballot? Bill Jones is a superb public servant,intelligent, principled, experienced, mainstream. And against the radical, polarizing Barbara Boxer he never had a chance. Boxer had incumbency, imagery and all the cash she needed. Even her critics applauded her for conducting a nearly flawless campaign. By contrast, Jones’ own supporters derided him for his ineptness at campaigning and fund-raising, turning his drubbing into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Boxer gets six more years. And Californians keep the U.S. senator they deserve.
n OC lawyer/watchdog Bill Mitchell wonders why high gas prices weren’t a big issue in the presidential campaign. So do I.
,Rick Reiff
