Republican Club

By Brian Harmon

LW Contributor

Michelle Steel, chairwoman of the OC Board of Supervisors and a candidate running for Congress this year, stated her opposition to defunding the police during the Republican Club’s Zoom meeting on Aug. 12.

Steel went on to emphasize that she supports law enforcement, the police officers who are doing their best to deter crime and arrest lawbreakers.

Steel said that she is having stickers printed that say “Police officers are welcome here” to be placed in windows of restaurants and other places throughout Orange County.

Steel also spoke on AB5 and Proposition 15.

AB5 is a state law that requires most independent contractors to be treated as regular employees and has resulted in many being laid off instead. Steel said that a law that increases unemployment is never a good idea, but especially during this COVID-19 crisis.

Proposition 15 would abolish the 1978 Proposition 13 as it relates to business property. The Republican Club believes that increasing state taxes for businesses will result in higher prices and more businesses reducing employment, leaving California or going out of business. Steel said that the next step will be to eliminate Proposition 13 for all property owners.

Councilman Thomas Moore spoke for a few minutes, declaring his support for Michelle Steel and discussing his role on the City Council as a “fiscal watchdog.” Moore said that Seal Beach Proposition BB was passed in 2018 by voters because they thought it would increase the sales taxes to pay for increased police and fire prevention services. Instead, the money was spent to also cover costs in other areas. He said that he offered a compromise proposal to put much of the leftover money into the reserve account to meet future needs that may come up, but his proposal was defeated. Moore represents District 2 which covers about half of LW and he is up for re-election this year.

The Republican booth has been open every Monday from 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. in the parking lot in front of Clubhouse 6, the gym. So far volunteers at the club’s booth have registered 132 voters, including four who switched from Democrat to Republican and one LWer who has never before voted in any election.

Since the re-opening of the booth, the club has raised an average of approximately $500 each day the booth has been open. The Republican Club’s president gives the credit to club treasurer Elsa Gildner for her fundraising efforts.

Michelle Steel spoke at the Republican Club's Zoom meeting.