All politics is local
Fed up with all the partisan bickering in Washington D.C. and Sacramento? Had enough with a political system that seems to have been hijacked out from under the people? Then perhaps it’s time to take back control of the political process. And, if former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Tip O’Neill was right, and all politics is indeed “local,” then Mono County Supervisor Vikki Bauer recommends, no encourages, getting involved in Mono County’s Central Committee process.
Wait … you didn’t know we had one? That’s not surprising. “Everyone thinks party politics is national, but California’s election code mandates political parties have local central committees,” Bauer explained. She went on to say that citizens dismayed at how policy is (or isn’t) put forth, can get involved in influencing how things get done right here at home. “What if Jane Smith sitting at home in Mono County knew she could get 25 signatures and be part of the process?” Bauer asked rhetorically.
It’s a civic process authorized under the California Constitution, she said, and taking a run at a seat is not far-fetched, and actually pretty easy to do.
Every two years duing the election cycle, along with the Assessor, Board of Education members and so on, Central Committee candidates for various parties can get on the ballot. Mono County has 21 seats each for Democrats and Republicans, but as Bauer points out, if there are not enough nominees to stage a challenge for a seat (the numbers are apportioned by district), very often they are never seen on the ballot. “As a matter of routine, they’re pulled and signed off ‘appointed as if elected,’” Bauer said.
Awareness, she said, has been one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when it comes to getting more public participation. Paperwork not withstanding, Bauer said more often than not, it’s been done word of mouth. “You almost have to know someone on the Central Committee,” she expained. “I’m on the GOP Central Committee and had to remind myself to pull new papers. I’m smart, an elected official, and it took me a year and a half to find out how to apply for the Central Committee!”
Larger counties, she observed, have more vigorous policy debates and competition for seats on those central committees, due largely to greater population bases.
One of the upsides to serving on the committee: exerting influence in party conventions. You don’t even have to go. Local votes are added to that of all of the state’s 58 counties and can ultimately be reflected in national policy decisions.
“Think about it … locally one-quarter of the population makes the decisions for 100 percent of us,” she said. “There’s something wrong with that. In Mono County, 3,500 get to decide for the 14,000 living here. Anybody out there like that? I don’t.”
Getting out the vote, she said, was a nice idea, but it hasn’t lived up to its potential. “It’s not enough. We have to get mad and get involved,” she charged. “Those of us who are sick of party politics as usual have to get in there and take back our parties. And the grass roots, the ones in our backyard, is a great place to start.”
Bauer said she wants to see a healthy engagement across all party lines. “I’m not advocating one party or another. I think they all need us … Democrat, Republican, whatever,” Bauer stated. “Bottom line: we’re stuck with the party system. You can have all the tea baggers you want, but this is how it works in America.”
Nomination papers can be obtained from Linda Romero in the County Clerk’s office (call 760.932.5530 or e-mail lromero@mono.ca.gov). Filing is free, you just need to get 25 signatures and have it back to Romero by no later than 5 p.m. Friday, March 12.
