Rohrabacher endorses districting

Lolita Harper

Proponents of district representation for the City Council received a

boost Saturday when Rep. Dana Rohrabacher not only endorsed their

effort but offered to share his new office space with them.

About 50 people crammed into the Republican’s small new office, on

the corner of Gothard Street and Heil Avenue, to rally their support

for Rohrabacher’s re-election bid and Measure E, which calls for an

overhaul of council representation. Supporters of the “fair district

initiative” want Huntington Beach City Council members to run in, and

ultimately represent, one district, not necessarily the city at

large.

Two issues were on the table Saturday morning with the powdered

doughnuts, muffins and coffee: Rohrabacher’s fight for his position

in the face of former Rep. Bob Dornan’s threat to unseat him, and the

coveted Measure E.

Rohrabacher, a Huntington Beach native, also answered questions

about his views on President Bush’s proposal for immigrant workers.

Rohrabacher said that he was not opposed to immigrants as

individuals but the ill effects caused by their desperation to escape

poverty.

“They are fine, wonderful people, but what I am against is illegal

immigration,” Rohrabacher said.

His comments were met with cheers and head nods from some in the

audience.

The room held an interesting mix: Democrats who were there to

support Measure E were treated to a healthy dose of Republican-speak,

and Rohrabacher loyalists were schooled on the benefits of district

representation.

Rohrabacher rallied his troops, bolstered the concept of district

representation and delivered an impromptu speech on illegal

immigration before handing the floor over to former Assemblyman Scott

Baugh, who fired-up the Measure E folks.

“The opponents have City Hall beating up on us,” Baugh said about

a public program that aired interviews with those who are against the

district measure. “They used your car tax money to fight against you

and mine to fight against me.”

Measure E opponent Dean Albright, who was not at the rally on

Saturday, said citywide support for districting is popular but

factual information of its results is missing. Fliers touting the

measure show a tree uprooting sidewalks and suggest that district

representation would get that problem fixed more efficiently.

“It just won’t happen that way,” Albright said in phone interview

on Tuesday. “The city still has to operate from the same budget and

projects get done as they come up.”

Those at the rally on Saturday said Measure E would hold one

person accountable to one area and encourage that representative to

push harder for specific projects to move to the top of the priority

list. They were ready to spread the word, and Baugh, who has led the

Measure E fight, encouraged the crowd to grab a yard sign.

Rohrabacher also encouraged the crowd to grab his yard signs and

volunteer to walk precincts.

“This is where I need to leave,” Democrat Joe Jeffries said.