Tea party candidates are running against moderate GOPers all across America, dividing the party, and now it’s happening here.
While I was down in Sacramento yesterday, an email appeared in my “in” box from the campaign staff — thanks for thinking of me — that a longtime resident Sue McGuire is going to run in district 1, competing for moderate GOPer Nate Beason’s seat. It’s the most “purple” district in our county, reflecting a diversity of political views.
The vocal, local hard right contingent — whose comments have picked up steam since the local Occupy Wall Street crowd challenged them (in numbers and in voice) — all jumped on board with priase of Sue, some throwing the moderate Republican Nate (also a retired naval officer and international relations fellow from Stanford) under the bus.
“It will be interesting to see how Nate responds to this challenge. I think it is time for a little more conservatism in the decision making process at the BOS,” wrote one of them.
“The analysis by Russ is dead on; Nate has lost the necessary community support from most political spectrums for an unprecedented third run for Supervisor,” claimed tea party advocate Barry Pruett, whom Nate didn’t endorse for clerk-recorder and who lost the race handily. Barry, who lives in the south county, not district 1, has been an ongoing critic. His wife works for hard-right Congressman Tom McClintock.
Nate is well liked in his district. He hasn’t declared his candidacy, but I expect he’ll run for a third term. The district is half registered GOP and half registered Democrat, with “people in the middle” (AKA, the moderates) being the swing voters.
Believe it or not, supervisor is also a nonpartisan seat and most of our local problems are, well, nonpartisan. That’s Nate’s philosophy, so he has rubbed some of the vocal partisans — in his own party, no less — the wrong way.
Some examples that come to mind are endorsing Greg Diaz for clerk recorder (because he was the most qualified candidate) and recently, voting for a government-mandated airport safety plan (unavoidable) that has riled some well-known developers and real estate speculators (details are here). As an “elected” Nate’s become well informed and gained experience in some important nonpartisan issues, too — like wastewater treatment.
The press release announcing Sue’s candidacy, written by former KNCO reporter Chuck Whitten who’s now supporting her campaign, is here. The release downplays partisan politics, but Sue has been vocal in the tea party, rudimentary research reveals (see below).
Sue also submitted a petition to the California Citizens’ Redestricting Commission requesting that one commissioner not be “muzzled” in filing a report that explains his reasons for voting against the state and federal legislative districts in California. (McClintock is going to be replaced by Wally Herger as a result of that decision).
The links to this material are public_comment_9nevada_20110815_1y and Sue.
There also will be a chance to scrutinize Sue’s work performance. She worked in the DA’s office from 2003 to 2008, in a public role. I’m sure people in the DA’s office and other lawyers in town could tell us. The “court community” is a small one. Now Sue’s in private practice. Sue graduated from Lincoln Law School in Sacramento, according to the California Bar.
Here’s one of Sue’s contributions from this summer, showing some tea party advocacy:
“My Thoughts For The Average American By: Susan McGuire
by Nevada County Tea Party Patriots on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 12:25am
So many of us are concerned about what is going on in our country and support the Tea Party ideals (fiscal reponsibility, free markets, and constitutionally limited government), but feel you don’t have time to get involved. A suggest a couple of things you can do:
ONE: Do you get e-mails from National, California or Nevada County TPP? If you sign up for one or watch their website(www.teapartypatriots.org or www.norcalteapartypatriots.org or www.nctpp.org respectively), on occasion they will send out “ALERTS”. These give directions for simple things with minimal time requirements that people can do. They are usually time sensitive. Generally, names and telephone number(s) will be provided for those crucial members of Congress whom you can call and indicate you want them to vote “No” or “Yes”. My experience is it only takes a few minutes and you will either get an answering machine or a live assistant to a senator who will politely take your message. The Senators then have people in their office make hash marks for each contact and add them up.
SECOND: Write a letter to the editor. I’ve learned that all Congressman, particularly California but also US, receive these every morning from some geographical area and read them, which is where they get their “pulse on the community”.
These two suggestions are the simplest, least time consuming, and productive ways for you to do something, to support TPP ideals, and with a small time investment get rid of your guilt conscience … instead of just talking, “doing” something. It is my feeling that the The Tea Party Patriots are the one organization made of and speaking for “We the People.”
Thanks for your patriotism!!! Let’s move mountains.
Running the Race together,
Sue
SUSAN KAY McGUIRE
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