By Pat Orr
Apple Valley Review
I have been asked by several readers, “What happened to the other editorial columns that used to appear in the Apple Valley Review on a weekly basis?”
Without coming right out and saying so, the implied comment was, “How can your junk survive when they cut out Dennis Prager?”
My short answer: “My junk is free.”
But that’s not the whole or accurate answer. Actually the word came down from the new owners of the Daily Press that they wanted local weeklies to reflect local-only news and views, hence syndicated columns were dropped.
So there is your answer, real and unvarnished. It wasn’t that I was left standing as the only perfect example of writing allowed for your eyeballs — this column simply fits the new profile.
The rest of the races
To continue the recitation of candidates begun last week we finish with races that have larger constituencies than just Apple Valley but are equally important.
Victor Valley College Board of Trustees
Elected incumbents Dennis Henderson, Lorrie Denson and appointed incumbent Brandon Wood have all filed for another full term. Challengers Marianne Totoriciis is a retired educator and Adele Turner-McClain is a teacher for Apple Valley Unified School District. One might assume both may have the backing of the college employee unions who would dearly love to have more friends on the Board of Trustees. The contentious nature of the battle to retain accreditation has strained the relationships between board and unions in the last few years and elections have a way of settling those issues — for a while at least.
Board of Equalization, District 1
Most folks don’t know or care about the BOE, unless you own a business. It’s then that you realize this agency, which collects many different taxes from us, can be very important.
Long time local conservative and former State Senator George Runner is running for re-election to this post against Chris Parker, a member of the State Democratic Party Committee, a tax attorney. He ran previously in another district and lost before boundaries were changed. Parker’s hope now is that demographics may allow him to knock Runner out of this post.
I believe it is better to have watchdogs at the BOE than lapdogs. Always put a conservative in charge of watching/collecting tax dollars.
Congress and Assembly
I have more respect for you than to restate who is running for your Congressional and Assembly seats — the primary was only 60 or so days ago. If you don’t know the four men running for these two offices by now, please don’t vote.
Paying for votes to be legal?
Yes, the newest idea to prompt lazy non-voters to get up off the couch and cast a ballot for the folks who promise them more free stuff is a “voter lottery.”
You heard right.
There are plans to introduce a bill that would turn every vote into a chance at a $1 million lottery prize on election day. It’s a way to encourage “people of color” and the “disengaged citizen” to come out and join the democratic process say proponents.
It’s also against several state and federal laws to pay folks for their vote, but why should mere legalities slow down a good idea to pander to people?
One assumes you could — if you’re a registered Democrat - invoke the “Chicago Rule” and get extra shots at the prize by casting multiple votes in different communities.
Celebrate or mourn?
Monday is Labor Day. We created that day to honor good old hard working Americans.
Times have changed.
You can’t even say working man anymore or you’re a sexist and frankly there aren’t enough “persons” working in America anymore to be much cause for celebration. Labor Day was always more about celebrating achievement through hard work to achieve a uniquely American dream. Let’s hope the dream can be resurrected by leaders who still believe that a hand up is better than a handout.
Pat Orr is a local business owner, community volunteer and political junkie.