Local Issues Facing Orange County Voters

By Jeff R. Mathews

Fairgrounds, CCW, and Taxation

While I am a proponent of individual and private property rights, at the same time I also believe in the rights of the community to keep and maintain what are uniquely public assets. The Fairgrounds have been a public (local, county, state) asset for many decades, and should not be sold by the state to any private entities with the intention of redeveloping the site. Instead, I support acquisition of the Fairgrounds by the City in which they are located + Costa Mesa + and allowed to be run by an independent (not state-appointed) body in partnership with the County and Costa Mesa. I also support the Costa Mesa ballot initiative (which will be on the ballot in the upcoming June election) which, if passed, will lock in the present and future zoning of the Fairgrounds property for exclusive fairgrounds use only.

Second Amendment and CCW

The right of the individual to keep and bear arms is explicity delineated under our Constitution. I support the loosening of the tight grip on our ability to carry concealed weapons (CCW). California is a "may issue [CCWs]" state + therefore the Sheriffs of each county have the sole discretion on whether to issue CCW permits. I believe that rather than CCW permits being issued only after a showing of "good cause" (which in Orange County is interpreted far too strictly), instead they should be issued on a less stringent good cause showing. If a person has a clean background (no felonies, no mental illness, etc.), and has demonstrated ability to use firearms safely, then a CCW permit should be issued. It has been said that an armed society is a polite society. While that precept as a whole might be arguable, I believe that in recent incidents in our county (shootings in restaurants, bank robberies, etc.) had there been citizens armed (via CCW) and trained in firearms use, the results may have been less severe and in fact + deaths of unarmed citizens may have even been prevented.

Taxation

I do not support the increase of taxes under any but the most extreme circumstances. Time and again it has been demonstrated that taxes raised beyond a certain point will inevitably result in a decrease in revenue as economic growth and spending drop. Typically, revenue is not the problem + spending by government is the problem. I have found that in too many cases - at local, county, and state levels - salaries and benefits comprise well more than half of the annual budgets, and in some cases upwards of 75% or more. How can municipalities and states provide essential services (for which are tax dollars are paid) when the bulk of their revenues are allotted towards salaries, benefits, and other non-essential services? While the Central Committee does not deal in government budgets, its membership should nevertheless be aggressive proponents of financial and economic stability at all levels.