My Balinda

When my daughter was little enough to be strapped into a car seat, we were driving around town one day, talking about life through the eyes of a little girl. She asked me, “Mommy, where do I live, what is the name of it?”. I responded, “Yorba Linda.” She replied, “My Balinda?”. I said, “No, it’s Yorba......Linda.”. “Ok,” she said, “It’s My Balinda,”

Of course as a teenager, she really does not find this story cute at all, but I will never forget it. She is a very inquisitive, assertive and intelligent girl, and her ownership of the place she lives on that date, impressed me, and made me realized she shared my view of what a special place it is.

Throughout this election season, I have similarly been impressed with my neighbors, colleagues, friends, residents, parents, pet owners, home owners, business people, all who have the same sense of ownership of our wonderful community. I am impressed by the dedication and affection, by the information and attention, with which people regard this community.

The disappointing part has been to see this type of regional patriotism degenerate into a divisive, ownership mentality. “We were here first...” has pervaded the political dialogue and idealogic exchange throughout this campaign. This attitude though, “We were here first...” has in many instances throughout history, been the rhetorical start of major armed conflict. These embers of intolerance are easily fanned into a raging out of control fire.

I’m hoping for something better.

My great grandmother was a Sioux Medicine Woman, and my grandmother (her daughter) was the youngest of thirteen children. I learned many things from my grandmother who grew up on the reservation near Mobridge, South Dakota, during the depression. I learned many things from my grandmother and the stories of her youth. I learned of the importance of thrift, the value of generosity and the vileness of waste. I also learned the importance of forgiving and letting go of past transgressions and dealing with life as it exists each day at a time. If ever there were a reason and a people to stand upon “We were here first..” , it was my grandmother’s community. However, she did not teach me vindictiveness and retribution, she taught practicality and forgiveness and the futility of living in the past. She taught me that a sense of entitlement was not going to get me anywhere.

In Yorba Linda we have (unfortunately like many regions of our country and state!) experienced a difficult, bitter, resentful and angry tone to our campaign season. It saddens me. It saddens me not just for the hurt that it perpetrates to those it is directed toward, but the hurt and division that it has inflicted upon our community. I am also sad for those responsible for this race to the gutter, as I firmly believe that in your effort to deprive others of respect and power, you ultimately give up much of your own (respect and power). It is one of the laws of nature, and people who engage in these kinds of tactics, and employ these dynamics in their own relationships, rarely see it until it is too late. They don’t see how belittling others, makes them smaller, but it does.

Everyone in Yorba Linda feels a strong sense of ownership of their community. It is easy to see, and patently obvious when at each governmental meeting or hearing, each citizen who stands to be heard starts with “I have been a resident of Yorba Linda since....”, but at some point we have to all remember that on this day, at this moment in time, we ALL live here. Right Now. And, tomorrow, we all have one vote, each of us. None more important than the other. None more heavily weighted, and none worth more than one point per vote. Will we vote for our friends, the people who have promised us that they will give us whatever we want in our backyard regardless of the potential cost or impact to the community at large? Or will we vote for individuals of character who will promote the overall health of our government and practically seek out alternatives and compromises that serve the greater good?

It is by protecting the rights of everyone that we each continue to enjoy our own independence. It is by becoming involved and staying informed and voting our conscience that we prevent government from growing into a financial black hole that could swallow us all. On this day, let us all realize that Your Balinda is the same one as Mine, and work toward, and vote for, government that serves the best interests of the whole community and prevent the proliferation of government that serves only a small, select, and vocal few.

I will be voting for candidates with character across the board. They may not agree with me on every minute issue, but I’d rather trust the candidate with character to figure it out and stand for principles rather than promises. Who will you be voting for in Your Balinda?

MEASURE Y: Why indeed?

Jim Drummond, Yorba Linda’s only political columnist, urges a Yes vote on Measure Y even though he acknowledges that the law is flawed. This is consistent with what is a fundamental problem of our government at all levels right now, just because you CAN make new laws doesn’t mean you have to. Drummond’s attitude is the same as John Anderson's, which is, we can just fix it later. Yep, really. We will just get started with something that isn’t right and make it right later. What business runs this way? I certainly could not afford to survive in business if I worked that way. Not to mention, as lawyer, if I proceeded initially in cases in manner that I KNEW would not work, in hopes of “fixing” it later, I wouldn’t win many cases, and I wouldn’t have many happy clients.

Further puzzling is that there is an ethics “ordinance” exactly, word for word, like Measure Y, that was enacted by John Anderson’s majority council in June, yes June of 2010. This “ethics ordinance” says John Anderson, is too easily modified by future councils, so he moved it to a ballot measure. In order to change it, if enacted in this way, would require another vote of the people. Great idea right, create and enact a flawed law, sell it to people on the theory that we will just fix it later, but don’t explain to them how costly and complicated it is to repair it once we have it enacted in it’s flawed state. Super idea, government logic at it’s best.

This need for ethics legislation was born, according to John Anderson, from concerns that he had when he was a traffic commissioner. A City Councilwoman at that time, according to him, inappropriately requested his endorsement during an election, and he felt threatened. This seems to be an issue that should have been dealt with at that time when it occurred, and certainly is part and parcel of having a “whistleblower” policy and procedure. Anderson, as a commissioner would have bee protected and made to feel safe if he blew the whistle on this intimidating Councilwoman. The problem with the proposed Measure Y, is that it does not set forth the “policy and procedure” that would be that whistleblower policy. It leaves it for future council’s to determine and develop. One is left wondering then, if John Anderson’s stated concern related to the necessity of having this duplicative law-creating Measure is to “prevent future council’s from changing it” then why is such an important issue left in this unfinished state? The council members who opposed this measure when presented at the City Council meeting have indicated that more time was needed to perfect the terms of the whole thing. Sure seems that way. The measure specifically states “The City Council shall adopt by a separate ordinance a “whistleblower” procedure”. Then future councils, who are by John Anderson’s definition not to be trusted with this ethics stuff, will have to be relied upon to get this done. Again, super idea, government logic at its best.

The “code of conduct” portion of the measure is also executory and by its own terms incomplete. It states that the city council “shall adopt” a resolution with policies as to how council members should behave toward one another, city staff, and others they may come in contact with in the community. This probably is a good idea, to have a plan, and have it developed by a future council. Can you imagine what a list of do’s and don’t about council behavior would look like if it came from (this) Anderson’s council? It would be something like, "feel free to resort to bickering and name calling whenever you and your buddies on the council feel fully justified in doing so, and when one of your buddies interrupts and is rude to other council who are not your buddies, or starts name-calling and making politically charged comments, feel free to join in, remembering always that you are fully justified in doing so, because you are in the majority." It would probably also have a section related to election time, "When you are running for re-election though, pretend you don't know what your buddies are doing when they send out hate mail against your opponents. Try to convince the voters that you don't support negative campaigns. Just beleive that the voters will probably forget the stuff you said and the way you acted during council meetings". Code of conduct indeed.

The provision on accepting contributions from an interested party after “approving” a permit, was raised as a concern by Councilwoman Horton, who voted against the ordinance when it came before the city council. In that provision, there is nothing related to a party who benefits from the council’s NO vote on a project. This precise situation actually occurred and John Anderson and another council person accepted donations of $1,000.00 from a citizen who benefitted from a NO vote of the council. It took John Anderson about three weeks to think it over before giving the money back. I guess it is hard to think through your moral philosophy when you’re hanging on to a grand in a bad economy and an election year.

There is a portion that provides for audio tape recording of "closed" session city council meetings. In May, the City Attorney, Sonia Carvahlo quit. At that time, John Anderson's majority council voted to begin interviews to hire a new law firm. We could have stayed with the same law firm and replaced just the attorney, say with Assistant City Attorney, Jamie Raymond, who is serving now as the interim, but the majority wanted to interview new firms so that process began. The interviews have been ongoing, and conducted in these types of closed sessions and have been recorded. For some unknown and mysterious reason, no new firm has been hired and the process has now been susended,"tabled" as is the popular action by this majority council. The public can't and won't know what has transpired unless the tapes are released. At the last council meeting a motion was made to release the tapes, Anderson opposed it, his majority followed him in their typical lock-step and the tapes are not to be released. In Anderson's campaign for re-election, he continues to preach the gospel of "transparency". Huh? "Transparency"? Doesn't that mean let the public know and SEE what is going on? Ok, well apparently he only means, transparency, when it suits Anderson and his majority, but not ALL the time. This "transparency" provision of Anderson's "ethics" ordinance, requires a vote of ....guess what, 3 of the council. As long as Anderson controls the council, the public will never see THOSE tapes. Maybe there are some other ones they will want us to see. Transparency, indeed. Another great idea.

The part that I have found most offensive relates to limiting the employees, contractors and labor associations associated with the city from endorsing or contributing to candidates, initiatives or referendums. This is really a political issue and many political groups in the current election, have required an “anti-union” pledge before they will consider endorsing a candidate. The candidate is free to be part of that organization or not, political organizations are not the government and membership is voluntary. John Anderson has attempted to take that political agenda and codify it in our city municipal code with this measure. What they have done though, with the broad sweeping language here, is to limit the ability of people running for office, in office, working for the city or contracting with the city (teachers, firefighter and police) from actively participating, endorsing or contributing to candidates. Why is this necessary? Who exactly is served and protected by this? Certainly incumbent politicians, in the pocket of local special interest groups, but it is hard to see anyone else that is benefitted by this.

City employees, Firefighters, police and teachers, are citizens of our city and entitled to be heard, and to be involved to whatever extent they want to be. The U.S. and California Constitutions protect the rights of these people and all of us, to free speech, to associate with whomever we want, and to participate freely without coercion or intimidation in the election process. This section of the measure is vague and easily could be used to intimidate these individuals into silence and non-participation. It is happening. We are seeing this in the current election already. The measure as drafted, benefits John Anderson, his council and the special interests that support them.

The political undercurrent that has lead to the anti-government employee sentiments has to do with the unfunded pension liability of the state and the state budget crisis. Our job as candidates and councilpersons in Yorba Linda is to represent the citizens, regardless of their job, and these employees did not create the budget crisis in Sacramento. Politicians in Sacramento who can not make good choices and stand on their own two ethical feet, they created this crisis. Penalizing public employees by limiting their free speech rights is not in any way the solution. John Anderson said, at the candidate forum on Tuesday, that one of the most important issues was to stop the “pension bleed”. I found that an interesting comment from a public employee who has the advantage of a pension “double-dip”. I wonder what portion of his two government pensions and benefits he is willing to donate back to help us out with the current budget shortfalls?

Anderson’s most recently recruited lackey, his running mate Tom Lindsey, at the candidate debate on Tuesday, October 12, brought a copy of the U.S. Constitution and waved it around. I found it incredibly offensive, particularly from someone who either does not understand or does not appreciate the investment and sacrifice that has gone into that document becoming what it is today. The First and the Fourteenth Amendments, which rights are negatively affected by this measure, are codifications of rights that we gained after bloody conflicts with many lost lives. The first ten amendments came after the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War in which half-million young Americans gave their lives, yielded us the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Half a million lives, all of them American were sacrificed in the Civil War, yes the Fourteenth Amendment is something I revere. I did not find Mr. Linsdsey’s actions amusing at all, I value these rights and the sacrifices that were made to obtain them. Fortunately, Mr. Lindsey has the right, pursuant to these documents and the jurisprudence that follows them, to act as foolish and offensive as he likes, and I have the right to not like it and say so.

“How do I vote on Measure Y?”, the simple answer is, it's just not that simple. Who would oppose an “ethics” measure? Well, of course, no one. All reasonable people agree, ethics is something we want and need from our elected officials. Problem is, THIS measure, is not about ethics. Not at all. It is about the same thing that everything else that comes from John Anderson’s council is, monitoring the behavior of other (and future) council members, curtailing the involvement of anyone who is not one of his friends or supporters, and patronizing his own special interest supporters.

I am lifelong Republican. I voted for Ronald Reagan's re-election in my first opportunity to vote in 1984. I voted at the polling place at the Methodist Church on South Ohio and Yorba Linda Blvd. I continue to want to be part of the party of Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln. A party that stands for individual rights and smaller government. This measure violates both of those principles. It grows government regulation and tramples over the constitutional rights of many, and as such I can not support it.

I urge a No vote on Measure Y. Why? Because it is not about ethics.

Don’t be afraid to see what you see. ~Ronald Reagan

Immigration: Reducing an important social issue to a soapbox

A few months back, in my city, three members of the Yorba Linda city council, in the absence of the other two members, saw fit to entertain and grant a motion to issue a “Proclamation” in support of the recent and controversial Arizona immigration law, SB 1070.

The Yorba Linda ‘Proclamation’ states: “Whereas, the state of Arizona, who like the state of California, is in the dire straights of enduring the brunt of most of the illegal crossings of the national border”. Nowhere in the Yorba Linda Proclamation does it cite the nexus or relationship to the Arizona law and events in Arizona to any issue existing in Yorba Linda.

The state of Arizona has in recent years, been plagued with violent crime related to the trafficking of human beings and drugs across its borders. In Phoenix there were 267 kidnappings in 2009 and 299 in 2008. The assaults on U.S. law enforcement on the border increased by 46% in 2008, totalling 1097 incidents.

In March, an Arizona rancher, whose family had owned and operated the ranch since 1907, was murdered on his own property in an area of his ranch that had been known to be used for trafficking of humans and illegal drugs across the U.S./Mexico border. The rancher, Robert Krentz, was found dead in his ATV with the lights on and the motor running. His last words on the radio to his brother were “illegal alien”. The week prior to the death of Robert Krentz, 290 pounds of marijuana were found on his ranch along with eight illegal immigrants who were arrested. It was assumed that Robert’s murder was in retaliation for the arrest the week before. There are no suspects in the murder and it is assumed the suspect escaped back into northern Mexico, not likely to be located or apprehended.

There are no recent events in Yorba Linda that resemble in any way the horrific conditions and situations facing the citizens of Arizona living in close proximity to the Mexico border. The Yorba Linda ‘Proclamation’ does not state any policy or directive, it does not suggest that any action whatsoever be taken by the city of Yorba Linda. It does not set forth any agenda that the city of Yorba Linda will implement to deal with or address illegal immigration. It does not outline any problems, crimes, murders, kidnappings or violence related to illegal immigration occurring in Yorba Linda.

The city of Costa Mesa recently declared itself a “Rule of Law City”. The Costa Mesa council, noting the importance of this issue, set policy directives as well as sending a strong message to illegal immigrants, that they are not welcome in that city and that the laws of the state and federal governments will in fact be enforced in Costa Mesa. In the face of some city governments whom have indicated they will be “sanctuary” cities for illegals, and cities like Los Angeles whom have initiated boycotts of Arizona businesses because of this important issue, it is important to take a stand. The “stand” that the city of Yorba Linda has officially taken however, rings hollow in its lack of real effect or impact.

In a recent candidate’s forum for the ongoing City Council race, one incumbent candidate defended the actions of the three council members who issued the proclamation, claiming that “it got a lot of attention”. Getting attention is the job of a politician. Setting policy and providing leadership, guidance and direction, these are the jobs of elected officials. This blatantly political move was a mere political gesture and an inappropriate usage of city resources for the apparent political gain and agenda of the three council members bringing it forth.

This five paragraph “Proclamation” fell sadly short of actually accomplishing anything at all, except for taking up an entire evening of a televised city council meeting. We should have a city government that is focused on the needs of our city, focused on the issues as they present and exist in our city, and receptive to the views and needs of all of our citizens. That is the kind of city government that I will work toward if elected to the Yorba Linda City Council.

What the citizens of Yorba Linda should be asking is this: What is each of the elected Yorba Linda Council members doing to advance the best interests of Yorba Linda, other than political grandstanding that helps them get their names in the paper in an election year?

The Universal Laws of Sowing and Reaping

I had the distinct pleasure today of hearing Meg Whitman speak at a Town Hall meeting in Anaheim Hills. She is a persuasive and polished candidate, so very impressive and sincere at the same time. She spoke of the success of Ebay and graciously and confidently acknowledged that it is a unique company, she called it a “platform” that succeeded because of the users. She encouraged everyone to similarly, be a "part" of her effort to make California great again.

I share this philosophy of the impact of community efforts and that is why my children have always attended public school. I have always believed that the public school is what we make it. It is our school. I am fortunate to live in a community where most of the parents feel the same way, and due in large part to an active population of parents who care and volunteer and pay attention and cooperate with the administration, the schools in my community, all of them, are the top schools in the nation. I have subscribed to this philosophy and have seen it work. We invest in them and care for them because they are OUR schools, and the schools are great because we as a community are so invested.

A woman at the Meg Whitman town hall meeting reminded us all that we made history when we elected Governor Schwartzenager in the special election and encouraged us to make history again by electing Meg Whitman.

The point is, the government we have, is the government we have earned.

Many of us are unhappy with what we see. If you are one of those people, what are you doing about it?

I have been frustrated with the city government in Yorba Linda for some time now. I see people in elected positions, who have no vision and no direction. I see personalities that conflict, that are petty and vindictive and more concerned about personal retribution against other council members than the best interests of our community. I see councilmembers who can not make a decision, who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on feasibility studies over the past few years that have lead nowhere. I am frustrated that while the people of Yorba Linda were not paying attention, the needs of our families and businesses have been ignored. The discussions related to the redevelopment and Town Center focus on the aesthetics reflecting our rural and equestrian heritage, but no one has bothered to talk about the 6 massage parlors that are located in the redevelopment area. How does that fit into the “Land of Gracious Living” and why are we not addressing this preponderance of adult businesses while we theoretically remediate blight? Why do aesthetics and aspiring to have a rural "look" get top billing over the safety and wholesomeness of the environment we are providing for our kids?

I could not sit by any longer while our city operated in this fashion. I have jumped into the deep end of this local political pool head first in the hope that we will raise awareness and involve a large segment of our community. I want to see citizens of Yorba Linda involved and getting heard, and elected officials who are responsive to the needs of ALL of the citizens and not just the loud and boisterous few.

We will have the government that we have invested in. Do you want something better? I do. What will you invest?

Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galations 6:7

Volunteers: Making our community great

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.
- Erma Brombeck

The unique thing about who we are as Americans is our ability to see a need and meet it. Whether it is meeting our neighbors, at home or abroad, in the time of a crisis, or simply building and sustaining our own communities through our churches, and other civic organizations, donating of one’s time, energy and resources is a uniquely American endeavor. In Yorba Linda, our history illustrates this volunteer spirit that made America great, and shows an impressive and continuing pattern of volunteerism that continues to make our community truly outstanding.

In February 1912, in an area of Southern California now known as Yorba Linda, a small group of dauntless women joined together to form a noble organization still known today as the Yorba Linda Women’s Club.

In the minutes of the November 14, 1912 meeting of the Yorba Linda Women's Club, a motion was made that “Mrs. Nixon being the first one of members to have anticipations of a little one in her home, and wishing to show our regard for her, I move we give a surprise for Mrs. Nixon at the home of Mrs. Trueblood.” Two months later on January 9, Mrs. Nixon did in fact give birth to a son and named him Richard Millhous.

In those early years, the club began their proud history of service to the community by supporting the first library in Yorba Linda. They raised money for the Library building, and through the dedication of its Garden Club members, planted the trees and greenery surrounding the early library. They gave a piano to the first Yorba Linda school and were instrumental in efforts to bring electricity to the community. In 1915, together with the committment of the Chamber of Commerce and the Yorba Linda Water company, the Women’s club orchestrated the planting and care of the first park. The Women’s Club has continued to the present, to be a vital part of the Yorba Linda community contributing substantially to joint efforts with Girl Scouts and many other important charities today including Relay for Life and Fiesta Days in recent years.

The Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1915 largely as an organized group to confront the Janns company on issues of water usage. The Chamber also worked with the Women's Club on bringing electricity to the community and building the first park. The Yorba Orange Growers association was an off-shoot of this early Chamber of Commerce. Today, the Chamber of Commerce is a much more sophisticated organization with marketing opportunities for local business, promoting local business through shop local programs and education and informative legislative activigtes. As we also saw in the crisis that followed the catastrophic fire in 2008, the Chamber proved to be the go-to resource to get “boots on the ground” to coordinate assistance flowing to families in need in times of confusion and catastrophe.

The volunteer fire department was organized in Yorba Linda in 1932. The original fire station building on Lemon Drive was built by citizens of the community and financed from their own pockets. When I was a young girl living in Yorba Linda, and even during the large brush fire that scorched the northern hills in 1979, this volunteer fire department was still the main resource protecting our city. With a horn loud enough to be heard from every corner of town, the volunteer fire fighters were called to action in the event of an emergency.

The volunteer spirit in our community has been present for more than a century. It is a proud and noble tradition in our country that has remained in our community until the present time. This kind of cohesive codependence makes for a prosperous and healthy community.

Geese fly together in a "V" formation. Have you ever wondered why they do this?

The flapping of the wings of each bird creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in "V" formation, the whole flock has a significantly greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. A goose who falls out of formation will suddenly feel the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and will likely fall quickly back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.

When we share a common direction and cooperation we will get where we are going more quickly and easily. If we are at least as wise as the geese, we will stay in formation and will be more efficient and go farther and faster than any of us could go alone.

If you have an opportunity to thank the volunteers in your community who work hard to make it great, you should certainly do so. We all benefit from the work, past and present, of these tireless individuals.

A Chicken in Every Pot (August 9, 2010)

One of my earliest memories of politics was when I was a little girl and George McGovern was running against Richard Nixon. I was watching McGovern on TV with my dad when he gave that “chicken in every pot” speech. I remember being so impressed and turning around to say to my dad, “You should vote for him! He will put a chicken in EVERY pot!”.

My father was pretty angry at the speech, and explained to me very emphatically that McGovern would not and could not do as he said, put a chicken in everyone’s pot. My father explained that McGovern did not have the money to do that. At that young age, I was bewildered as to why this powerful man on television would say something that was not true.

As I have observed in politics as an adult, idealism and enthusiasm often blur the lines between promises and reality. McGovern and his successors in the hand-out philosophy of government probably don’t intend to mislead voters, but they and the public following them, certainly fail to consider any of the consequences and costs of these platitudes and ideals.

We are at a crossroads in our governments, at the state and local, as well as the federal level. The platitudes and promises that the public bought at the last election have not only NOT ferreted out, but runaway spending is exacerbating and not helping the current issues facing our nation. We must realize this. We must face it and deal with it.

I am already seeing, shaping up for the November election, big promises of these proverbial chickens being plopped down into every single pot. It is a nice idea, but it can not be done. Will we continue to buy off on unreachable, destructive ideals, or will be take ahold of the harsh reality of preparing for our future?

The only solutions to our current issues are approaches that engender good old fashioned supply-side economics. Unless and until we take the governmental stranglehold off of business and let the free market do what it does best, we will remain in the same dismal cycle of a tax and spend downturn.

This is my platform, and I think it works even on a local level.

Spending reserves and providing handouts is never the answer and is getting us nowhere fast. We must encourage, strengthen and promote the businesses in our local community. This is how we create jobs, enhance revenue and facilitate a healthy economic and fiscal environment in our communities. Teach a man to fish.......

Inclusion means everyone

Why We Don't Want Men to Vote (quote from Alice Duer Miller, 1915)


- Because man's place is in the army.

-Because no really manly man wants to settle any question otherwise than by fighting about it.

-Because if men should adopt peaceable methods women will no longer look up to them.

-Because men will lose their charm if they step out of their natural sphere and interest themselves in other matters than feats of arms, uniforms, and drums.

-Because men are too emotional to vote. Their conduct at baseball games and political conventions shows this, while their innate tendency to appeal to force renders them unfit for government

This may sound silly to us now, but in 1915, this satirical view of Alice Duer Miller, was important and revolutionary thinking. She was an activist for women's suffrage. It is astonishing to think, that it was only 90 years ago that women were completely prohibited from voting or running for any public office.

We just recently celebrated the momentous occasion of the signing of the Nineteenth Amendment, which occurred on August 26, 1920 and for the first time in this country, women were allowed to vote. The 90th anniversary of this important event should be a pensive time for those of us, men and women alike, who treasure our right to vote.

A friend recently shared with me, "What you see from here, you don't see from there", a telling and appropriate observation from Ariel Sharon. What we see from here, now in 2010, is much different from what Alice Duer Miller saw in 1915 when she wrote these words, pointing out the cruel irony in the tortured logic of men having a right to vote but not women. Since that time, women have become some of our most influential and significant leaders. In this election year, the political prophets are telling us that the influence of women in politics and at the polls will be significantly expanded, as voters exercise their right to determine what "hope and change" really is.

What an exciting time to be an American, and what an exciting time to be a republican woman in politics. It all depends on your view from here. If we choose to see only the negative that the current administrations have bestowed upon us, we will undoubtedly be hobbled with despair. Look for opportunity, because it is here, but we must take it.

"Equality and inclusion means everyone has a place on the playing field. Priority seating on the sideline is simply not good enough." Donal Cashman, Enable Ireland

Inclusion is something that every elected official should strive for. Inclusion of the views of all citizens is something that has been sorely lacking for sometime in the government in my city. The voices of a select and boisterous few have and continue to control the city and it's current dysfunctional government. We have a long proud history in our country of including everyone, regardless of their viewpoint or station in life. Inclusion of the views of the quiet majority, parents, families and business owners, is something I will strive for if I am elected to serve on the City Council of Yorba Linda.

Operation Enduring Freedom

Cpl. Claudio Patino, a 22 year old man from Yorba Linda was serving with the U.S. Marines in the Helmand province in Afghanistan, deployed as part of “Operation Enduring Freedom” when he was killed by small arms fire on June 22.

Friday July 2, was an ordinary busy day in my Yorba Linda world. I was in a hurry to run an errand, pick up my daughter.....when I received a sobering priority check. I was stopped by a motorcycle officer when I approached the intersection of Prospect and Bastanchury. Traffic was held for about 20 minutes while the motorcade lead by the hearse that transported young Claudio’s body to it’s final resting place at the National Cemetery in Riverside. It was an extraordinary and sobering sight, both literally and physically. Claudio’s comrades traveled behind his hearse in a variety of everyday vehicles. Each of them handsomely dressed in their formal uniforms, painfully young and bravely stoic on this sad occasion. I wept as I feared for the safety of these beautiful young men.

Down the street to the West of the intersection was another extraordinary sight. Many of the residents of the Eastern Star Retirement Home were gathered outside the Home with the rest of the crowd, some in wheelchairs, some in walkers, many assisted by staff from the Home, waiving flags and saluting the motorcade as it passed. How awesome, I thought, to see the Great Generation saluting the children of Generation X, as the same agenda of the Great Generation, preserving freedom at home and abroad, is still bravely continued and carried out by young men like Claudio.

Later that day, I expressed to my mother, how moving the whole experience had been, and how tragic it was that our community has experienced this great loss of one of our own young men for the third time this year. She reminded me that when she was a teenager, it was daily news that one of their own had been lost in Vietnam.

On a strange day like this, when you face the reality of the sacrifice our country has made, a day in which a beautiful, strong and dedicated young man is taken from us, regardless of how you feel about war and combat, you can not help but ponder the magnitude of the sacrifice, question the necessity of it all, and marvel that there is no other way, and that time after time, this country responds when freedom is threatened. The answer stopped right in front of me as unexpectedly as Claudio’s motorcade.

I had been significantly diverted by not only the traffic, but my resulting pensive mood that day. I eventually made it back to my schedule of errands, and I was at the Yorba Linda Post Office, when I ran into a friend. She is a mother of three boys in my neighborhood. She was very excited explaining to me that her oldest son who had just graduated in June, was registering to vote, so that he could vote in his first election in November.

I was reminded of a quote I hade read in the paper, attributed to Claudio Patino, “If I don’t, who will.”

It is so easy to get frustrated and feel disengaged in government and politics. It is so easy to be too busy to be informed on the issues in your community, and so easy to be too busy to forget to vote. It is too important not to.

Generation after generation, this country has made substantial sacrifices to secure freedom at home and abroad.

On this fourth of July, honor our fallen soldiers by making certain that you exercise the freedoms they fought to secure for you. Be a participant, be involved in your government, have a say, voice an opinion, ....and most importantly, VOTE. Someone has paid the ultimate sacrifice so that you can.