By Steve Thompson, Chairman of the Butte County Republican Party
Ever wonder how candidates for office come by their endorsements from the political parties that support them? While visions of smoke-filled rooms may fill your head, it’s a lot more bureaucratic (and boring) than that. The subject of endorsements by the Butte Republican Party came up in the newspaper recently, specifically in local non partisan races, and as chairman I wanted to take this opportunity to explain some of our policies to the general public.
I should make clear that the party has not always endorsed in local non partisan races. I can remember several years ago I was at our republican fair booth and a former chairman of the party showed up. He saw that we had a Wahl for City Council sign up and gave me heck for it. It wasn’t how things were done in his day I guess.
Over the last decade the Republican Party, both locally and nationwide, has been going through an internal reformation. The moderate wing and the conservative wing have been in a tight contest for control, with the future of our party hanging in the balance. Many of us in the conservative wing feel that the party should be more active at the local level, and that we should do whatever we can to help identify conservative candidates at the local level and give them our support. Non partisan races were originally intended to limit partisan influence, but the partisan influence was never removed, just moved to the background. The downside is that now voters have a hard time knowing where the candidates stand on issues that matter to them.
You see, if I look at a ballot and I see the designation of “R” or “D,” I may not know for sure what that candidate stands for, but at least I have an idea of their general views. Take away the designation and now I have very little to go on. The remedy to this of course is for voters to educate themselves better, but time is limited and the local races often go overlooked. The result is that a conservative voter might end up voting for a very liberal candidate (and vice versa), which will eventually tend to frustrate and disenfranchise voters. For example, a few years ago, college students who were registered Republican received letters stating that Scott Gruendel was “the Republican Choice” for city council. Anyone who knows Gruendel knows this is false, but many students were likely fooled. Had they been able to see Gruendel’s registration on the ballot, they could have made a more educated choice. In the long run I believe partisan designations are good for the political process.
There is also the annoying occurrence of slate mailers. You know those mailers with a republican sounding name that show up with endorsements of Wally Herger, Dan Logue, Doug LaMalfa, and Jane Dolan??? It leaves you thinking, how did she get on there? As a county chairman I get a lot of calls from angry voters wanting to know how this happened and how can they stop it! All I can say is pay close attention to the asterisks and look for the official logo of the republican party when casting your vote.
With all of this considered, the Butte County Republican Party recently decided to get more involved in local elections. We have been actively vetting candidates to determine whether or not they match our values and deserve our support. We have already made some endorsements this year and we plan to make more. We will do our best to publicize our endorsements so that the voting public will know where we stand and who we support.
Our process is by no means perfect. We have a general set of rules (our bylaws) that we have to follow. All of our members are elected to the positions they hold, and it takes a 2/3 vote to cast an endorsement, so it’s not an easy process. Because we have members from throughout the county (Chico, Paradise, Oroville, Biggs, etc) we have members who can look at candidates from an objective viewpoint and decide if we should be supporting them or not. They’re also real people too, with jobs and kids and their own individual priorities. They have the same capacity for human error as you or I, but they’re good-hearted people and I have faith in them.
One of our general guidelines is that we try not to favor one Republican over another. When republicans face each other on the ballot, the party should generally let the voters decide for themselves. The exception to this would be if a flat-out liberal RINO was running and we felt an obligation to point this out. There have been mistakes made over the years though, and the process is not perfect.
All of this leads up to the current election, and more specifically the Chico City Council race. Anyone who pays attention knows we have a liberal majority on the Chico City Council, and that the lone conservative, Larry Wahl, is leaving the council. While they are not allowed to list their party designation on the ballot, it’s hardly a secret where any of them stand. It is however, perfectly legal and just for political parties to tell voters who we support and why. To suggest otherwise would be a violation of our 1st Amendment rights.
Although we haven’t taken a stand in every race, we did in the Chico City Council race. You can stop by Republican Headquarters on the corner of East and Cohasset (the old Hollywood Video building) and find out more. Currently we support the following candidates:
Chico City Council:
Bob Kromer
Mark Sorensen
Bob Evans
Chico Unified School District:
Erik Lyon
Sean Worthington
Dean Stefanides
For more races, stop by HQ or check out our website at www.butterepublicans.com
Thank you all again for being patient readers. If you have questions about our endorsements please post them and I will try to get back to you with an answer.
Thanks for the list of endorsements, I hope people take notice because this is an extremely important election. Chicoans have a chance to dump a haughty, arrogant, close minded council and replace them with some really decent, responsive, open-minded people.
But who will represent the Chicoans who are NOT Republicans?
There is a reason city council positions are, by law, non-partisan.
Of course, the progressives probably have their signs at Democratic headquarters. But the Republican cry of, “They’re doing it, too!” sounds like a child’s playground excuse for bad behavior, not a valid excuse to abandon principle–and the majority of Chicoans.
However, these endorsements are ideal for common sense candidates that are truly independent. People are fed up with partisanship. They see partisanship as the root cause of government intransigence.
Government not listening?
Why should they? The partisans only listen to members of their own party.
The largest plurality of voters is independent voters.
The problems you mention with the current city council are the result of ideology. How can replacing ideologues with ideologues be called a change?
Q: “But who will represent the Chicoans who are NOT Republicans?”
It will be for them as it has been for conservatives under liberal/progressive dominance in the council…they will be represented by people who are more conservative. DUH!
“People are fed up with partisanship. They see partisanship as the root cause of government intransigence.”
I disagree. People are fed up with the compromises that have been made in the march ever leftward over the last 50 to 60 years! Bipartisan politics has been about Democrats ushering in socialism and big government and Republicans giving in to them an inch at a time to reach agreement rather than both standing on principles and the Constitution to do (and not do) what serves Americans best.
“The problems you mention with the current city council are the result of ideology. How can replacing ideologues with ideologues be called a change?”
Now you’re speaking TEA!
” Quentin asks, How can replacing ideologues with ideologues be called a change?” Fair question and I would say it depends.
The ideology of those running is to fiscally careful. That’s okay, we don’t need to spend anything without getting our money’s worth. They also believe in listening to the people and conducting themselves in a manner befitting the democratic process. Thats okay, this means they will pay more attention to people and engage in less pushing of things without our permission. They are also business people with a good business sense unlike these other clods on the council who are totally lacking in business experience. I like the new people – they bring a good direction for the city of Chico. Lets support em! Vote: Bob, Bob and Mark!
Oh and for what its worth, Quentin I think you are open to reason too, if you got on there I am sure you would work out just fine.
Q: “But who will represent the Chicoans who are NOT Republicans?”
It will be for them as it has been for conservatives under liberal/progressive dominance in the council…they will be represented by people who are more conservative. DUH!
So, you are OK with MOST of Chico not being represented by your three TEA party friends?
Wow! Good for you!
I am not at all OK with that.
” Quentin asks, How can replacing ideologues with ideologues be called a change?” Fair question and I would say it depends.”
Jack?
It doesn’t “depend.”
Ideology IS the problem.
Partisanship IS the problem.
If you vote for ideology, you get all the problems that ideology brings with it. No “depends” about it!
You guys are endorsing the three most extreme partisan ideologues in the race.
Get yourself a whole case of lipstick to dress up your TEA bagger ideologues so they look like anything you want!
You guys are endorsing more of the same nonsense.
I would think you’d be tired of it by now.
Quentin: “So, you are OK with MOST of Chico not being represented by your three TEA party friends? ** Wow! Good for you! ** I am not at all OK with that.”
OK…be upset. What can you do about it? If they get selected that is how it will be!
What system, other than the system we have, do you prefer? Taking turns, Quentin as dictator, anarchy?
You gripe and complain about ideology and partisanship…what is the remedy? (mind control?)
If you wish to make a point…for heavens sake make it!!!
the argument of last resort:
Reductio ad absurdum!!!!
The point is Ideologues are blind to the points being made. This is why Ideologues make poor representatives.
Thank you for helping me make that clear, young lady!
Quentin: “The point is Ideologues are blind to the points being made. This is why Ideologues make poor representatives. ** Thank you for helping me make that clear, young lady!”
Thank you for saying what you mean…and for calling me “young lady”.
You still have not said what you would put in place of parties and elections.
We are a nation of human beings, ostensibly living in freedom, who participate and vote as we see fit. Unless you have found a “remedy” for human nature, you, like the rest of us, get to participate, or refrain from participating, within the system we have.
If human beings with conservative views win a majority the people of Chico will have selected conservatives to represent them. It’s a contest and as we have seen in the past progressives sometimes win as well.
I’m curious, and perhaps this would help clarify your position and gripe, what would a nonpartisan candidate look like? How would he vote on issues? Can you describe YOUR ideal candidate for city council?
Here’s Quentin’s team:
http://www.chicodemocrats.org/
http://myweb.csuchico.edu/~mwilliams26/ChicoStudentDemocrats/CSU%20Chico%20Student%20Democratic%20Club%20Info%20Center.htm
THANK YOU, RANDY!!!!!
When they have to lie about you, that means your points are incontrovertible–that is to say, they cannot be argued with–they are the TRUTH.
Randy?
YOU are why the US is in the shape it is in.
Thank you for pointing out the obvious, sir.
Intelligent people KNOW I am independent.
If you take a few minutes to educate yourself this Fall, we will all have better government. Do yourself and your community a favor–educate yourself. the altenative is too horrible to contemplate.
Wow!
I saw this same 3-year-old link posted on the topix web site!
You must be that little boy that hides in his closet all day called Try Common Sense.
It’s a pleasure to see that you have come out from under your rock and are using your real name.
It’s a pleasure to meet you, child.
Randy…I believe you hit a nerve.
“Independent” means nobody tells Quentin what to think…a fine trait, until it goes solid. Then it becomes elitist in the extreme. Quentin is a “special case” in his own mind. He reserves the right to refuse to take a position, explain a platform he could support, or a system that would be superior. Independent means he gets to be critical of all others from his imperious throne. It’s a shame really…I sense a man with a keen mind if only he would set it free.
The candidates we’ve supported are not ideological as is being claimed here. They are conservative inidividuals but hardly wrapping themselves in the party banner. They’ll be good, thoughtful leaders for all Chicoans. I am pretty sure they won’t scowl at the people they disagree with like the current council does.
I’m also not certain that a person without an ideology, basically without a belief system, is either possible or desirable. I like to know where my leaders stand. At the same time, regardless of their partisan leaning, as a voter I deserve common respect and service. Again there’s no evidence to suggest these gentlemen would not provide such service to their constituents.
Steve, I completely agree with you. I too have met these three gentlemen and was impressed with their past experience, their conservative beliefs and their plans for Chicos future. All of Chico would be well-served by them.
Steve wrote: “The candidates we’ve supported are not ideological as is being claimed here.”
Quinton and the rest of the “independent” liberals always go way over the top describing Chico Republicans. They have never come into contact with any of the moss back conservative republicans that live in Chico. I seriously doubt that any of the three candidates, other than being one heck of a lot more fiscally conservative and financially responsible with the our tax dollars, would agree on exactly what the conservative philosophy is, much less be marching lock-step conservative idealogs. Quinton takes great delight pointing out when a republican fails to measure up to the conservative standards he seeks to hold them to. When in truth Quinton simply does not understand the conservative philosophy. Conservatives are not the candidates of the developers and developers are not conservative. Conservative values, the American dream, free enterprise, liberty, hard work and opportunity. And the most important difference from the liberals is the they respect property rights. The right to protect your land and use it in a manner consistent with the zoning and building codes. Within those constraints the neighbors, having built their homes according to the same rules, have no right to tell a property owner that he cannot do the same on his land. It is that conjunction of a belief system and financial interests that causes the developers to support them. The developer seeks certainty in his business model. They are seeking a fair process where after having invested their capital into developing a project, having followed every rule and regulation their investment will not be thrown down the toilet like WalMart’s was for goofy idealogical reasons by progressives whose protection of property rights extends no further than their own property line.
Back in the 1980’s the Chico liberals discovered that they could win by running against the evil developer’s trying to buy the city council. They have been running that way ever since. A 30 years of the same BS every election. It is a very old lie in Chico that people like Quentin cling to. All though Quintin has figured out that there are developers behind both sides and not him. The developers will always be there no matter which side is in power. One side built the Chico we have now. The progressive developers are trying to turn Chico into a high-density hell, anywhere USA/Europe. Pick your poison or future. A bit of tastefully done sprawl with well designed roads and no traffic congestion compared to New Urbanism doesn’t seem so bad.
Then we have Quinton the bitter man in the middle. Accepted and wanted by neither side. Desperately trying to be noticed by holding republicans to beliefs and standards that he neither understand or shares. He has no standards of personal conduct just like the liberals. There is not much that he can say about the liberals, no standards to hold them to. Hoping to gain respect from the people that have none. He has become their attack dog. The useful idiot to be used and discarded like so many others before him.
Q ask Micheal Jones he will tell you all about being used by Chico liberals.
Thank God that the Republicans almost got to control everything. We live in Las Vegas and do not know of one person that does not want the health bill repealed. Please get rid of it. One thing that was never brought up is what other things Obama put in the bill. I believe if you put out all what was put in the bill it would scare people and bring them to the republication party. The general public does not know what is in the bill. Some way you are going to have to go on national tv to a large audience and let Americas see what Obama tried to do. If he refuses to change it then let him finish his 2 years he has left fighting an impeachment to get rid of him.