by Susan J. Knight

From sleepy Seal Beach to rabble-rousing San Clemente, diligent Observer Corps members have reported on increasing right-leaning partisanship exhibited by elected officials in public meetings.  Observer reports include plenty of evidence: speaking out against the governor; grumbling on the dais about State overreach; putting partisan resolutions to a vote; meetings with far-right organizers; and supporting voter rights restrictions.  In many cities, residents don’t seem to agree with these sentiments and activities, and public speakers are pushing back.

California’s Proposition 50, proposing temporary redistricting maps, has made the partisanship more evident.  No surprise, Huntington Beach threatened legal action against the state over the measure.  More surprising, Seal Beach, Dana Point, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach and San Clemente all adopted resolutions opposing the measure.  Other public entities considered similar resolutions but voted them down, including the Irvine city council and the Orange County Board of Supervisors.  The reasons cited for opposing Prop 50 included more temperate justifications, including concerns over the proposed redistricting maps’ effects on their cities.

For more information about what’s happening in your city, school district, and county, check recent Observer Corps reports on our website in Observer Corps Public Documents here. [link to:   https://my.lwv.org/california/orange-coast/committee/orange-coast-government#