Despite a debate that has raged for over a year concerning the
need for some form of election ethics watchdog group, low public
turnout at a Board of Supervisors-sponsored workshop on the
question threatens to derail the proposal.
Hollister – Despite a debate that has raged for over a year concerning the need for some form of election ethics watchdog group, low public turnout at a Board of Supervisors-sponsored workshop on the question threatens to derail the proposal.
Only about a dozen people attended the workshop, and just three people addressed the board. Supervisors seemed daunted by the low turnout, and some questioned public interest in the matter.
“I’m not very sure it’s an issue,” said Supervisor Anthony Botelho. “Otherwise we would have had a room full of people. I don’t see a whole lot of people pushing for this.”
Regardless of the low turnout, supervisors voted Tuesday to hold another public hearing, although they did not set a date.
Since last summer, the board has had on-again, off-again discussions about the formation of an ethics committee.
The idea was proposed in August, a few months after then-Supervisor-elect Jaime De La Cruz beat incumbent Bob Cruz for the District 5 supervisor seat by 10 votes amid suspicion of election fraud. The ethics committee has been envisioned as an outlet for candidates to air concerns about political opponents who may use false or misleading information in their campaigns.
In April the board voted to scrap the idea. Then last month supervisors reversed themselves and set up Tuesday’s workshop.
Of the three people who briefly addressed the board Tuesday, two supported an ethics committee and one opposed it.
Mickie Luna, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said she and her organization were in favor of the board creating an ethics committee.
“We really feel at this time it is one of the best ideas,” she said. “Please know we are here to assist you in any way we can.”
After Luna’s comments, Board Chairman Reb Monaco raised the issue of whether an ethics committee should be formed by the board or by the public. Luna said she thought the committee should be made up of community members, but that the board should somehow convene and oversee it.
Hollister resident Sally Bettencourt spoke in opposition, arguing that a committee of interested community members could not remain unbiased and would just become another political weapon.
“One reason why I feel this way is I don’t think you’d be able to find a non-biased person to be on this committee,” she said.
Besides, Bettencourt added, running a negative campaign is a legitimate option for candidates seeking elected office. It’s just competition, she said.
“If negativity doesn’t produce a win, they shouldn’t run a negative campaign,” she said. “Competition is the American way.”
Monaco repeatedly cautioned against the board of supervisors forming its own ethics committee, feeling that could give the appearance that the board has influence over the committee.
“This board of supervisors cannot have their finger prints on this at all,” he said.
County Counsel Claude Biddle said that the board should not have a hand in creating an ethics committee, so that the board would not be linked to the actions of a committee.
“I can see this becoming a vigilante group,” he said.
Supervisor Pat Loe agreed that the board should have no influence over an ethics committee, but she said she thought at least one elected official from the county, such as the sheriff or superintendent of schools, should be a part of creating the bylaws of the committee because their campaign experience would be helpful to committee members who have never run for office.
Supervisor De La Cruz proposed that each supervisor choose two of their constituents to be part of a group that would create the bylaws for an ethics committee, an idea Monaco rejected.
“If I appoint two (constituents), it will have my finger prints on it,” Monaco said.
After more than an hour the board voted to hold a second public hearing, hoping to pull non-profit organizations, special interest groups and private citizens into the dialogue.
“People have to step up and say, ‘I’ll do it.’ That’s what I’m waiting for,” Monaco said.
Luke Roney covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
