By Pat Orr
For the Apple Valley Review

When I wrote about the California Presidential Primary a few weeks back, I really hadn’t grasped the arcane rules of how our contest really works.

It is entirely possible for a candidate to get the most votes statewide and come in second in delegates awarded. The California primary is really 53 small primaries because delegates are only awarded if you win a Congressional district. When you win a district, three delegates are awarded. Thanks to the 2011 Citizens Committee on Redistricting, which purposely grouped conservative Republicans in very few districts in order to defeat sitting Republicans, you can get a scenario where conservatives will never be proportionally represented in a primary election in California because they are centered in too few Congressional districts to form a large enough voting block to carry a conservative candidate to victory.

Thirty-nine Congressional districts are held by Dems and the remaining 14 are Republican. This results in a heavy concentration of Republicans in 12 or 13 districts who are likely to favor a Ted Cruz and 40 more districts with very light GOP registered voters who may favor Trump. Yet, no matter what the actual Republican voter make-up of the Congressional District, each one only awards three delegates.

The fact that only registered Republicans can vote in the “closed” primary is an unknown factor for Trump who has attracted non-Republicans in other “open” voting contests.

Whichever Republican wins the most votes statewide does get a bonus of 10 extra delegates plus three state GOP leaders who are committed to the overall winner. So in fact, a candidate could win in all the heavily Republican districts and win the statewide vote but end up with less delegates than a candidate who wins the 49 other poor-performing GOP districts garnering 147 delegates.

Confused yet? Good — I think that was the goal of this system.

You get one more weekend with your money

Federal tax returns for 2015 are not due until April 18 this year. Most of us (who work) have April 15 circled on our calendar each year as a day we dread if you have to pay, or look forward to if you usually get a tidy refund.

Why is it put off three days this year? It so happens that everyone in Washington, D.C. gets a holiday on April 16 this year to celebrate Emancipation Day. Great, you say, April 16 is a Saturday so, no harm, no foul right?

Ah, but no, unions can’t abide a holiday on a weekend, so if Emancipation Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, as it does in 2016 and 2017, tax day gets put off so all Federal employees can get a paid day off on either Friday or Monday.

The holiday commemorates the day that slavery was “officially” abolished in the District of Columbia when President Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862. Slavery didn’t end in the rest of the states until after the Civil War and didn’t become law until the 13th Amendment was passed and ratified by 30 of 36 states in 1865.

For you “stars and bars” supporters, it is sad to note that Mississippi didn’t formally ratify the 13th Amendment until 1995. A little slow on the uptake there.

Pitch in this weekend

Saturday is officially Apple Valley Community Clean Up Day. Twice a year, the Town encourages and coordinates volunteers to help us clean up our neighborhoods. It's a great activity for your club or youth group.

The activity goes from 9 a.m. to noon. Call the Town in advance at 760-240-7000, ext. 7071 and choose a designated part of town you want to cover.

Not coincidentally, Saturday is also the day for free Tire Amnesty drop off at Lion’s Park (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and free hazardous waste drop off on Nomwaket Road (10 a.m. 2 p.m.). No matter what you encounter, there is a spot where you can dump it for free.

It’s time to quit complaining about the junk in that lot across from your house and do something about it. Pitch in for a “cleaner way of life.” Go to the Town's website or call them for more details on any of these programs.

Update on water line insurance

Some weeks ago I reported my total dissatisfaction with the insurance you can buy to cover broken water lines through Liberty Utilites, Apple Valley (Ranchos).

I wrote a nice note on my last water bill and deducted the premium for the insurance. I just received a notice from Liberty that said pay the overdue charges ($11.98) or my water gets shut off April 18.

I called the actual insurance company, as I should have done in the first place, and they terminated the insurance immediately. I can’t blame Liberty because even though I’m sure they get a “cut” for marketing the program, they just bill what they are told and when the bill is shorted, action ensues.

So a word to the water wise: Call the insurance company to terminate your plan, don’t try to get it done through the water company, or you could be left high and dry.

— Pat Orr is a local business owner, community volunteer and political junkie.