Newport needs to return to campaigns past

How I long for the good old days of civic responsibility and civic

participation, honest campaigns run by high-minded volunteers and the

old-fashioned spirit that de Tocqueville noted and admired in his

wonderful “Democracy in America” that is unique to our wonderful

country.

In the olden days (1974), when I ran for Newport Beach City

Council on a platform of good libraries and senior facilities, sound

planning for a good quality of life, etc., my campaign cost all of

$2,500, as I recall. Our expenses were for printing on cheap paper

and stamps for one mailer. No slick shiny brochures. And there was no

repayment for shoe leather used in walking every precinct in the city

and appearing at candidates’ meetings run by the nonpartisan League

of Women Voters, not the chamber of commerce. We pounded the pavement

and pounded the flesh in translating our platform into meaningful

areas of concern.

Frankly, I was astounded when I was phoned by an identified

Republican office holder on behalf of one of the candidates in my

district. What happened to nonpartisanship as an aspirant for City

Council?

I read that Dave Ellis is a member of the Lincoln Club. He

certainly can afford that privilege with his high fees, but can we

afford the noxious result? Another candidate listed among his

credentials his activity on behalf of the Republican Assembly, a

far-right-of-center philosophy, and again betrayal of the

nonpartisanship of the office he was seeking and won.

Will the high cost of political partisanship keep candidates to a

minimum and to a financial elite? Will deceit and dirty tricks

provide the integrity we seek for office holders? In the olden days,

the days of Dora Hill, Doreen Marshall, Jay Stoddard, et al, politics

was an act of duty. As wonderful Les Steffensen observed it was “your

turn to run,” your turn to work for your city in the best interests

of the greatest good for the greatest number.

Can we return to the good old days with campaign finance reform

and resultant responsible democracy? Let’s not cry over spilled

spoiled milk and do something to reform the system.

LUCILLE KUEHN

Newport Beach

* LUCILLE KUEHN was a Newport Beach Councilwoman from 1974-78 and

has been involved in the city’s library system.