From inside the election

Diane Lenning

Has anyone else noticed what happened in this election?

From the inside, I would like to offer the perspective of a

candidate who has learned the election scenario of Huntington Beach

inside and out. I have run before. I was just 299 votes away from

getting elected this time. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I

sincerely appreciate you support.

Points of observation: Four of the top five vote-getting

candidates were endorsed by city employee unions, whose salaries area

major portion of the city’s budget. If that isn’t a conflict of

interest, I don’t know what is. Two of the top four were endorsed by

Huntington Beach Tomorrow, and one or two of the others may also be

members, or have strong affiliations.

Four of the top five were endorsed by the Independent newspaper,

which more often than not endorses people from or affiliated with

Huntington Beach Tomorrow; a group that includes Debbie Cook, Connie

Boardman, Tom Harman, Dave Sullivan, Jill Hardy and many other names

you would recognize. I just believe it’s time for more fairness here

in Huntington Beach. Couple this with the fact that candidates that

lean left politically have a high preponderance of getting elected in

a city that, statistics show, leans to the right politically; and

it’s easy to conclude that we do not have a level playing field in

Huntington Beach politics.

Recently, Huntington Beach voters voiced a 2-1 preference for Measure EE Property Rights, an issue which I strongly supported and

worked to help pass. Myself and another high-showing candidate had

all the major endorsements of the local and regional Republicans, and

it still was not enough to surmount this evidence.

Just a few minor changes would bring more fairness to Surf City

politics. Either both local newspapers in Huntington Beach could

endorse, or both could not; as well as the exclusion of city

employees unions from endorsements of candidates.

Realizing these differences, if nothing changes in the years

ahead, voters should be aware of what is happening in our city. Find

out more about the local groups in Huntington Beach. Find out why the

local city employees unions endorse the people they endorse. It’s not

a difficult conclusion to reach. The inferences are quite apparent.

Find out why one newspaper endorses, and the other does not. Find out

who the non-endorsing paper would endorse if they chose to endorse.

Or encourage that paper to endorse.

The next step of the process baits the question as to who the new

council will select for their appointees to boards and commissions.

I am publicly volunteering for the Planning Commission, a major

springboard used by past council persons to get their affiliated

persons elected. I have volunteered in the past, and have been

excluded from all boards and commissions. I would like that

opportunity to serve my friends and neighbors. I appeal to the

fairness of the newly elected City Council for an appointment. Not

only would it be the fair thing to do, it would show a willingness to

include representation for all the people of Huntington Beach.

* DIANE LENNING is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute to

“Sounding Off” e-mail us at [email protected] or fax us at (714)

965-7174.