Two for Supervisor

Of all public officials in Orange County, the most visible to the public are the five members of the County Board of Supervisors. On the June 7 ballot, two of them, Roger R. Stanton and Gaddi H. Vasquez, will be seeking to retain their seats on the county’s top policy-making body.

Stanton and Vasquez are far better qualified than the two candidates seeking to replace them, and both deserve new four-year terms.

Vasquez was appointed to the county board by Gov. George Deukmejian in March of last year to fill the unexpired term of Bruce Nestande, who resigned to enter private life. Vasquez, who was the governor’s chief deputy appointments secretary when selected for the county post, was not new to the county or to local government. He had been an aide to then-Supervisor Bruce Nestande, and before that was an officer in the Orange Police Department. In 1986, he was named by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Latinos in the United States

Since taking office, Vasquez has lived up to all expectations and earned the right to be elected to his own four-year term. He worked with his contacts in Sacramento to help institute toll roads in Orange County, and has been active on the board in developing a plan to ease traffic congestion by requiring builders to pay for a major road network before completing development in the foothills of the 3rd District. He is a strong advocate of child-care facilities, and has urged the formation of a Hazardous Materials Strike Force, bringing together county, state and city agencies to hunt down illegal polluters. He is a hard worker who keeps in close touch with the people whom he represents.

In a county that lacks a recognized leader, Vasquez is being looked on as someone who possibly can take command and provide the direction needed to tackle the county’s complicated urban problems. He appears to have the ability, experience and commitment to lead the way, and should feel more comfortable in filling that role when he becomes an elected--rather than an appointed--member of the county board.

Stanton, who is seeking his third term, is one of the brightest members of the county board and, along with Vasquez, could be an outstanding supervisor. He knows and understands the county’s problems, and although his performance in his second term has not been as distinguished or as energetic as his first four years, Stanton’s experience and ability make him the best choice in the 1st District. Both Stanton and Vasquez seem to be attuned to the voters’ strong desires for more “responsible” growth, and we urge that they be returned to the county board.