MAILBAG - Nov. 2, 2006

Remember who elected you

When I vote, I delegate. Yes, that’s what you do in the voting booth or by absentee ballot; you delegate to the candidate of your choice responsibility to take care of the business of government when that person wins. That’s not true of ballot measures, which you legislate when you vote.

I don’t vote for a candidate on a single issue. That may be what a lot of voters do, but it doesn’t make sense since when elected their job has to do with a multitude of issues and problems.

We should look at experience, background, position on issues and — for incumbents — their record. As for the endorsements factor, at some levels of government it may be more like “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.” Look out for too much negative campaign talk. Even though it may help those who use it, it’s suspicious.

When candidates are elected, they must remember that they have been delegated by the voters — those who put them in office — to serve. Although campaign contributions may have helped them get elected with “sales pitches” and advertising, those who vote directly did the delegating. And, therefore, elected officials have an obligation to listen to their constituents, not the “big money” crowd. They should seek feedback and advice from all voters they represent. We hope they will follow that route as they serve us.

Yes, when we vote, we delegate. All voters I hope will adopt the same slogan.

LARRY GALLUP

Huntington Beach

Races need to stay clean

With only a week separating Halloween from Election Day in our local races for City Council, can tricks be on the minds of some candidates instead of treats (especially of the dirty variety)?

We have already seen the usual political sign hi-jinks of past campaigns (stealing, defacing or destroying opponents’ signs). It is hard to say who is behind this mischief unless you notice whose signs are left alone and whose are vandalized.

I have also heard of civic arm-twisting and political pressure brought to bear on businesses and individuals to play ball with “the team” or risk the consequences. That is disturbing, to say the least. This isn’t New York or Chicago!

Luckily, there is a City Council meeting just before Election Day where any soiled campaign linen can be aired and any candidates who perpetrate or allow any dirty tricks or intimidation activities to occur can receive full and very public condemnation of their actions. Tan Nguyen’s Congressional campaign scandal should serve as an example.

We need to keep our local races clean and above board. We need our candidates and their supporters to respect the political process by respecting the rights of others, and by playing fair. Failing to do this will cause an ethical downward spiral that will take our city’s reputation with it.

TIM GEDDES

Huntington Beach

Southeast has had enough already

For more than a decade, residents in southeast Huntington Beach have had on their city “to do” list the improvement of the median on Banning. It is an eyesore for residents here and an embarrassment for the seven homes that front on it. The asphalt shows its 30-years-plus age. Weeds, grass and shoots from the trees peek through the unsightly asphalt periodically to enjoy the sun. Their brief enjoyment of life is soon ended when the city’s vegetation killing squad goes through the neighborhood spraying their witches’ brew.

Last week, barricades appeared on the median and hopes throughout the neighborhood rose — only to be dashed when word came that this was just going to be a patch job. Perhaps if we did not spend almost $30 million bringing asphalt and concrete to Central Park, there would be a few dollars to make this median a place of beauty. How nice it would be for the neighborhood to see living plants growing there. How nice it would be for residents of those seven homes to cast their eyes upon an island of living and growing beauty as they go out in the new day to bring in the paper.

JOHN SCOTT

Huntington Beach