So how’d you like that primary election?
A young man with rich friends in far-flung places, a wealthy farmer, billionaire blowhard, and a moneyed liar, all vying for political seats in their respective jurisdictions … kinda sounds like characters from a soap opera, doesn’t it? Must be some power that comes with those political positions, or why else would wealthy folks spend so much of their money on the outcome?
There I go being cynical again. That campaign rhetoric may very well be true, they could be running and spending their wealth because they care about serving their communities.
No matter, I did my civic duty. I’m still trying to get the sticky stuff off my feathers from that braggy, “I voted” sticker yet I’m already thinking about the November election. A bird can’t even catch her breath before more election news comes rolling in.
The latest (as of this writing anyway)? Former Lompoc mayor John Linn has announced his candidacy for City Council.
This is particularly interesting news because it comes at a time when the city is up in arms about a certain proposed motorsports park, of which Linn has been a major supporter.
You know who doesn’t support the park? People who live close to the proposed location. Despite assurances from the committee in charge of moving the project forward that noise issues have been abated, residents close to the proposed spot believe it should be located elsewhere.
But the council contains some park supporters as well. Councilman Jim Mosby has also been a big supporter of the park, even before he joined the City Council. And because he was appointed to fill a council seat when then-councilman Bob Lingl won the mayoral seat in a victory over Linn, who was running for re-election, Mosby’s seat is up for election.
What all that means is a possible nightmare for park opponents. If Mosby and Linn both win seats, then the Council will have at least two decision-makers who have not only actively supported the park, but who have also served on the Lompoc Motorsports Park Committee. As of press time Linn was the first and only person to declare his candidacy. But it’s still early in the game.
Grab your popcorn, folks; it will definitely be a race to watch.
Everyone gets ramped up about the presidential elections, and that’s OK. Deciding who takes that position is a monumental choice. But sometimes I feel like a little bird in a sky full of hawks. Of course that will never stop me from throwing in my two cents of seed and casting my vote. However, I think the local races are just as exciting as the big one. Plus you have a bigger say in who gets elected. And that feels pretty empowering.
I’m still hoping for the best in the presidential election, but I’m rooting for some of the races that directly impact my little piece of the world.
Besides the Lompoc election, this bird will also keep her eyes on a few other council races. In Santa Maria two council seats and the mayoral seat are up for election, and in Buellton there are two council seats available.
The Canary watches politics like some watch Netflix. Contact her at canary@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 9-16, 2016.