Democratic Club

By Mary Larson

LW contributor

The upcoming Orange County Board of Supervisors District 2 election was the topic of the LW Democratic Club’s December meeting. Featured speaker Nathan Searles, president of the Seal Beach Democratic Club, spoke about the importance of this election by showing how county Sheriff Don Barnes and District Attorney Todd Spitzer relate to the supervisors. Both are among those persons elected directly by Orange County voters as a whole. However, they are dependent upon the decisions made by the supervisors as to how much money they will recieve to carry out their respective responsibilities. Searles also lead an informative discussion about the four candidates most likely to be in the running for this non-partisan District 2 race, which will be held sometime in early 2021.

Searles is a longtime friend and supporter of the LW Democratic Club. He was recently elected as one of the directors of the neighboring Rossmoor Community Services District. He is also a candidate for membership on the California Democratic Party’s leadership body in an election to be held in January.

Democrats in Leisure World and Orange County are reminded that they are all eligible to vote for up to 14 people in the California Party run election, regardless of whether or not they are members of a club. This election for state party leadership, usually held via Assembly-based caucus meetings, will be held exclusively via mailin ballot. Participants must register for a mail ballot by Jan. 11. For more information about how to register, go to adem.cadem.org or email lwsbdemocraticclub@gmail.com. •••• On Dec. 14, the Orange County Democratic Party unanimously endorsed Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley for the Board of Supervisor District 2 election. The Orange County Registrar of Voters will announce the date to fill the vacancy in early January.

Foley had originally planned to “term out” as mayor of Costa Mesa in 2022, and then run for a seat on the Board of Supervisors when the current Board Chair Michelle Steel would also be termed out. However, when Steel defeated U.S. Rep. Harley Rouda in the race for the 48th Congressional District, she decided it was time to act.

Mayor Foley’s decision to run for the position came one month after she was elected to a second term on the Costa Mesa City Council, earning 52.2 percent of the vote in a non-partisan race against four other contenders.

The rescheduled LW Democratic Club membership meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 27, will feature further discussion about the importance of the five-member Orange County Board of Supervisors. •••• If you are a Democrat or a supporter and want to know more about the club, subscribe to the free electronic newsletter by emailing the editor, Mary Larson, at mlarson.telfords@gmail.com or by calling (562) 296-8521. Make sure to include your full contact information.

LW Democrats are urged to join the club or renew their membership. Go to https://sblwdems.wordpress.com/democratic-clubmembership- 2/ orcall(562)431-7275. Membershipsreceivedduring December do not need to be renewed until Jan. 1, 2022.