The stench of the Culver City Democratic Club’s refusal two weeks ago to open-facedly endorse candidates for both open seats on the School Board will not go away.
“If the club were truly interested in trying to steer the direction of the School Board, they would have found two candidates to support instead of just one,” says City Councilman Jim Clarke. “They would have found two Democrats, not somebody became a Democrat two weeks ago to get a party endorsement.
“I can’t think of a reason anyone would change his or her party registration for a non-partisan race unless it was to get the endorsement.
Mr. Clarke is one of the Dem Club’s oldest, most loyal members, and he remains severely irked that the club only endorsed Prof. Kelly Kent. Critics are convinced the club snubbed both Scott McVarish and Anne Burke because they are founders of the United Parents of Culver City, regarded now as a bitter rival because its endorsees defeated the Dem Club endorsees in the last election.
He believes the latter two were worthier of the Dem Club’s blessing because they long have been registered Democrats.
Call it party loyalty.
“We are not the Good Government Club,” said Mr. Clarke. “We are the Democratic Club. We support Democrats.
“Here is a reality: When (Mayor) Mehaul O’Leary was running for the Council, he was not even allowed to present to the Democratic Club because he is an independent. He still is miffed about it.
“The rules are that we only consider Democrats. If that is true, gee, how could this have happened.”
Mr. Clarke passed along an anecdote about the late Mayor Richard Alexander, one of the most popular politicians of the last century.
“I understand that he would change his party registration every four years and become a Democrat so the Democratic Club could endorse him, and after the election he returned to being a Republican,” Mr. Clarke said.
“It makes a joke of the whole thing.”
I was at this meeting and I disagree with Jim. If an endorsement from a particular group means anything, it should mean that the club is willing to stand behind those endorsed, and to be held responsible for that endorsement. Merely being a registered democrat does not mean that one can be trusted to honor the values important to the Party and club. Personally I voted to endorse two candidates at the meeting because I thought two candidates earned that endorsement. I have no beef with others who disagreed.