Maybe
– just maybe – Yorba Lindans will actually help select the
Democratic and Republican nominees for president in the June 7
primary election. If so, it'll be the first primary in city history
that residents will have played a role in choosing both of the major
party standard-bearers.
Usually,
candidates have garnered enough delegates to win nomination before
the state's June primary. Even when balloting was moved to March in
1996, 2000 and 2004 and the presidential primary to February 2008,
one or both party nominees were already assured.
And
if the nominations haven't been decided before Yorba Linda votes in
June, the city's often weak primary election turnout might see a
substantial boost.
In
the June 2012 primary, just 33.4 percent of the city's registered
voters cast ballots, a significant drop from 2004's 43.9 percent and
2000's 62 per cent. In 2008, the February
presidential
vote drew 56.4 percent, while 23.3 percent voted in the regular June
primary.
At
last count, the city's 40,839 registered voters included 22,349
Republicans (54.7 percent); 8,692 Democrats (21.3 percent); and 8,150
no party preference (20 percent).
Each
time I update these numbers, I receive an email or two chastising me
for omitting the minor parties. They are American Independent, 1,066;
Libertarian, 292; Green, 106; Peace and Freedom, 56; and
miscellaneous, 128 (all totaling 4 percent).
One
interesting aspect of the primary will be Donald Trump's vote total
from city Republicans, compared to his previous ballot appearance in
2000 for the Reform Party nomination. Under rules then in effect, he
could draw votes from registrants of other parties.
Trump's
Yorba Linda vote totaled 45, coming mostly from Republicans (28
votes). He also won six Democratic, two Reform, one American
Independent and eight non-affiliated votes.
His
campaign for the nomination lasted four months, but he won the two
Reform primaries he entered, California with 15,311 votes and
Michigan with 2,164 votes, even though he dropped out before voting.
(Pat Buchanan was the Reform nominee.)
Another
key race is for six slots representing Yorba Linda, Placentia, Brea
and La Habra on the county Republican Central Committee.
It's
important because the group makes party endorsements for non-partisan
offices that influence this city's voting, as in the case in the 2014
recall and regular council elections.
City
residents hold five of the posts: Brett Barbre, Karla Downing, Dennis
White and council members Gene Hernandez and Peggy Huang. La Habra
Councilman Tim Shaw is the sixth member.
Filing
deadline is March 11. So far, in addition to incumbents, Councilman
Craig Young and resident James Gerbus have filed candidacy
declarations.
Only
candidate for the Democratic committee so far is Placentia resident
Molly Muro. If six or fewer enter the races, all of the qualified
filers are appointed without appearing on the ballot.