Was everyone treated fairly?

Contributed
Published: June 26, 2008

To the editor,
While reading the editorial in the June 20 edition of your paper, I thought, “At last sanity. Why has it taken so long?” Then I looked to the right and read Mr. Green’s letter and said, “Wait a minute!” You can’t call for the end of this election controversy in the same edition where the former editor of your paper draws another seated supervisor (indirectly) into the fray and admits to getting on the nursing home’s bus and trying to influence its occupants’ votes.
I have stayed out of all this because I have always thought this election “stuff” was a tempest in a teapot, which has gotten more press than the recent murder trials.
Let’s look at the issues: First, the so-called illegal websites; I used the term “so-called illegal” because it is not illegal in the sense of killing someone, or stealing, or any other felonious act. The fact is that the people who put the websites up didn’t take credit for their act. But, these were the same people who took credit for the print ads and mailed brochures that characterized the candidates in the same manner as on the websites. So, why not take credit for the same information on the website? There seems to be no good reason, but is it a terrible crime? Not in my mind. You can’t hide from the fact that “you” are responsible for posting a website, which requires giving your name or the sponsoring organization’s name and paying for it with a credit card. So, why not own up to the fact that you did something wrong?  Maybe, because you didn’t think it was wrong, maybe because you thought cyber print and newsprint are treated differently.
The other “illegal act” is the timely disclosure of monies taken in and/or spent during the campaign. I do believe those involved in these disclosure issues knew about the timeliness of providing correct financial information, and I cannot offer a reason why they were late other than to say maybe they didn’t realize that the deadline had come. But, again I don’t believe for a second that they were trying to hide anything or were intentionally committing a heinous illegal act. It was an oversight, a mistake. We have all done it or had one or two in our lives. Do you really believe the people whose names have been mentioned in this debacle are criminals? Of course not! You might disagree with their methods, but they are not criminals in any form or fashion. In fact, they have done many good deeds for the county and their community.
So, who was hurt in all this? Teel Goodwin? No, he won; in fact he credited the website for his win. Graves? I don’t think so. He would have gotten the same bump Goodwin got. Let’s remember, seated Supervisor Graves came in a distant third in the second district race. Even with some high-power endorsements, Mr. Graves lost because the voters didn’t like what had taken place over the last four years, plain and simple. I don’t believe the lack of timeliness in disclosing financial information by anyone had an effect on the outcome.
Only time will tell if a hoax was perpetrated on the voters of Orange County. That hoax would be a candidate portraying himself one way to get elected and doing something totally different as an elected official. However, it is not a crime to lie to the voter, and never will be since politicians write the laws. The question we all need to ask is: Was everyone treated fairly? The measure of a community is how the members treat each other. Whether they have lived here a day or all their lives, what makes a good community a great community is how we treat each other during difficult times, whether caused by man or nature. So those involved with this election fiasco, either directly or indirectly, should think about it and make amends if necessary, and move on.
John Bangs
Orange