Local races more important
The recently announced plan to depart office announced by state Sen. Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, has initiated a local political frenzy.
An opening for state office means that, instead of an incumbent almost certainly winning reelection, the field is wide open for a change.
Candidates immediately scrambled to take advantage of this rare opportunity.
Good friend and Assembly member Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, filed papers to seek Runner’s Senate seat, along with at least three other candidates.
With Wilk vying for the higher legislative house, the scramble was on for successors to his 38th Assembly District seat. At last count, Republican contenders include Jarrod R. DeGonia, San Fernando field deputy for county Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich: Santa Clarita City Councilman Dante Acosta of Canyon Country; and former Los Angeles Police Department Detective Tyler E. Izen of Granada Hills.
Democrat Christy Smith of Valencia had already filed to run in the primary for the 37th Assembly District.
On June 7, primary voters will decide who will be the two finalists for each of our state Senate and Assembly seats. The run-off between the top two vote-getters will coincide with the presidential and general election to be held Nov. 8.
It seems that focusing on the race for president is of the greatest importance right now. Every night on the news and every day in the paper there is something about the candidates for our highest office.
But I would argue that decisions made by national electeds have far less impact on our daily lives than the decisions made by our officials right here at home.
I just returned from a week-long “accreditation workshop” in Louisville to review how to comply with the laws and rules pertaining to universities and colleges.
The workshop reminds me that federal laws provide but a very general context for operating schools of higher learning.
On the other hand, it is the states that have spelled out all the specific policies, rigorous procedures, and who have the real power when it comes to managing higher education.
In fact, it is the state that has virtually all the control when it comes to how colleges and universities function. The feds almost never interfere with how a university or college operates — it is the states who approve a school to offer degrees, and it is the states who will usually shut down an under-performing institution, not the feds.
In like kind, local political decisions affect our day-to-day lives far more than those created by federal statute.
State, county, and city ordinances and responsibilities include setting sales and property taxes, overseeing the construction of roads and the developing of infrastructure, managing how we operate our public services including fire, police, and schools, approving or denying land development projects, and allocating the distribution of water — just for example.
When it comes to most issues affecting us every day, states’ rights clearly outweigh national control. The Los Angeles County Registrar reports that our local mix of registered voters by party is almost equal— our registered voters are comprised of about 39 percent Republican and 35 percent Democrat.
This means that party affiliation in our upcoming bids for state and local office will be won more by local campaigning and less by party label.
In any local race, but a few hundred votes may select your next representative. Imagine just a few hundred voters will decide who, in turn, will work to enact or defeat changes to local law, procedures, and expenditures.
After the June 7 primary, I plan to interview the two finalists and for each local office and share with you my views of the candidates, both good and bad.
I encourage everyone to take a more serious interest in our local candidates and recognize that whomever we elect here at home will have far more impact on our daily lives than that of our next president.
This is your opportunity to vote when it really matters.
Jonathan Kraut directs private investigations and private security firms, is a published author, Democratic Party activist, and SCV Interfaith Council member. His column reflects his own views and not necessarily those of The Signal or of other organizations.
State, county, and city ordinances and responsibilities include setting sales and property taxes, overseeing the construction of roads and the developing of infrastructure, ... approving or denying land development projects, and allocating the distribution of water.