Letter in support of Penny Rich for Orange County Commissioner

[Michael Brader-Araje]

Dear Orange County Commissioners,

 

I would like to unequivocally, and with great enthusiasm, support and endorse Penny Rich for the open seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

 

Penny has been one of the finest public servants our community has had over the course of her more than twenty years of public service.  Given her experience already as a county commissioner I do not know of anyone more qualified to fill this open seat.  I could write pages about how dedicated, hard-working, responsive, prepared, ethical, and caring Penny is and how seriously she treats the responsibilities entrusted to her by our community.  She is a known quantity that will serve our community well in this open seat.

 

Additionally, it is clear that selecting Penny is not only the right choice, it is also the fair choice to ensure our community’s voters do not feel disenfranchised.  Penny narrowly missed being re-elected in the most recent election by only seven votes.  Seven votes!  Clearly, our community has already spoken loudly and clearly about whom they would like to see fill this empty seat and the Board would do well to listen to the voters of Orange County.  To ignore the most recent election results would not only dishonor the voters, but it would simply be wrong and unfair.  In fact, not selecting Penny sends the message that when we have the opportunity to select more than one commissioner, we should refrain from doing so and only select the one candidate we want to see on the Board.  Ironically, my support for Mark Dorosin wound up generating one of those seven votes that was the difference.  Had I realized this would be the case, I may not have chosen a second candidate.  In fact, had just my immediate family members and a couple of friends done likewise, Penny would have been re-elected.  It was heartbreaking to say the least to realize those second votes were the difference, but I believe in full participation in our democracy hence the votes for two candidates.  

 

My son participated in his first election ever in this most recent election cycle.  He is an active participant in our democracy and was proud to be a first-time voter as well as proud to vote for Penny Rich.  If the Board opts to not select Penny to fill this open seat, I would be gravely concerned about what message that sends to the voters of our community and the risk of disenfranchisement it could create.  Especially given the current national climate with restrictive voter laws being enacted left and right, this is an excellent opportunity for the Board to say to our community “we hear you and your vote matters!”  By not selecting Penny, the Board would be ignoring the will of the voters and saying to our community “hey, even if you can vote for two or three candidates, only choose your most important choice if you want to give that candidate the best chance to win.”  I don’t believe that is a message the Board should be sending.  We need voters to fully engage with our democracy. 

 

It is my fervent hope that when the time comes for the Board to fill the seat vacated by Mark Dorosin that the Board will do the right thing - listen to the voters of Orange County and select Penny Rich for Orange County Commissioner.   Thank you and please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Michael Brader-Araje