OC June Ballot Set

Filing closed on March 10 for Orange County elected offices and ballot measures to be included on the June 6 California Primary election. Three seats on the Board of Supervisors are up this year, as well as all eight county wide elected offices:

BOARD of SUPERVISORS

Second District Supervisor: John Moorlach (OC Treasurer) and David Shawver (Stanton Councilmember); Fourth District Supervisor: Chris Norby (OC Supervisor) and Rosie Espinoza (La Habra Councilmember); Fifth District Supervisor: Pat Bates (former Assemblywoman), Cassie DeYoung (Laguna Niguel Councilmember), Gary Miller (educator), and Eddie Rose (former Laguna Niguel Councilmember).

COUNTY WIDE OFFICES

Sheriff: Mike Carona (OC Sheriff), Robert Alcaraz (Ret. Deputy Sheriff), Bill Hunt (OC Sheriff’s Lieutenant) and Ralph Martin (Commander, Sheriff’s Dept.); District Attorney: Tony Rackauckas (incumbent, unopposed); Treasurer: Patrick Desmond (Deputy Tax Assessor) and Chriss Street (OC Assist. Treasurer); Assessor: Webster Guillory (OC Assessor), Larry Bales (tax consultant/auditor) and Mike LeBeau (assessor liaison); Auditor/Controller: Davis Sundstrom (incumbent, unopposed); Clerk/Recorder: Tom Daly (incumbent, unopposed); Public Administrator: John Williams (incumbent, unopposed); Superintendent of Schools: Bill Habermehl (incumbent, unopposed).

COUNTY WIDE BALLOT MEASURE

Measure A is a proposed ordinance limiting the County of Orange’s eminent domain powers to only public projects. It was placed on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors, and all five Board Members signed the ballot argument, which will appear in the Voters’ Guide:

“The government’s power to take your land, your home or your business by eminent domain must be used only for public uses. Eminent domain should never be used to take one person’s property and transfer it to another private party.

“Measure A prohibits the County of Orange from using eminent domain to take one person’s property to transfer to another person. Measure A will guarantee that the County of Orange will use eminent domain only for public uses, such as roads, parks or flood control projects.

“In the Supreme Court’s 5-4 Kelo vs. New London decision, the Court ruled that eminent domain could be used to take Suzanne Kelo’s home and transfer it to a private developer. This decision has focused public concern about the increasing abuse of eminent domain for private uses. The Court further ruled that state and local governments may place their own restrictions on eminent domain powers. Homeowners and business owners need guarantees that their property rights will be respected.

“The House of Representatives voted 376-38 to deny federal funding for projects using eminent domain for private use. State legislatures, including California’s, are considering constitutional limitations against eminent domain abuse. Here in Orange County, a growing number of cities are considering their own November ballot measures. Measure A will be an example to others of Orange County’s commitment that all share equally in the right to own and enjoy their property.

“Your Board of Supervisors shares that commitment. We have never used eminent domain for private use. The tenure of Board Members, however, is limited. Measure A will assure that the protection of property rights will be an ordinance of the County of Orange and the permanent policy of future Boards of Supervisors.”

There was no ballot argument submitted against Measure A.

Board Split on Tribal Recognition

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has voted 3-2 to urge formal recognition of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians as the official Indian nation of Orange County. Formal recognition is a lengthy process through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Supervisor Campbell and I dissented from the Board majority, seeking more information about the recognition process and what such federal recognition would mean for Orange County.

Supervisor Campbell’s and my concern can be spelled in one word: C-A-S-I-N-O.

I have met with Juaneño leaders and respect their desire to maintain their traditions and identity. To gain recognition, a level of cultural continuity must be demonstrated dating back to pre-conquest days. This is a challenge for a tribe that was missionized by the Spanish, was decimated by foreign diseases, whose land was lost to Spanish, Mexican and United States governments as well as the subsequent influx of settlers. Maintaining culture and language through 250 years of such overwhelming historical pressures would be a near-impossible challenge for any group.

Since the proliferation and profitability of Indian reservation gaming began in the 1980s, the issue of tribal recognition and casinos has become closely linked. Juaneño recognition would be the first recognized tribe in a heavily urban area. The City of Garden Grove has been looking at a tribal partnership for a Harbor Blvd. casino site. Having a locally recognized tribe would provide a strong incentive.

A casino in OC is still a long way away, but with the enormous potential profits involved, the pressures can build quickly. While I wish the Juaneños well in their efforts at their cultural revitalization, the larger issues must be addressed in a timely manner.