The Voter
League of Women Voters of
Central Orange County Area
September 2011
President’s Message
Welcome to Another League Year
By Harriett Walther
Welcome back to reality after
what I hope was a relaxing, fun, daring and learning summer.
Your officers have kept the
COCA wheels turning during my
medical adventures of the past few
months. I want you to know that vice
presidents Joan Hake and Ronnie
Kinney, Secretary Gisela Meier,
Treasurer Sue Guilford, special projects chairs Sheila Claus, Alice
McCullough, and newest member
Kathy Moffat have been dedicated,
creative and fun leaders. All have
agreed to continue their tasks. The
amazing Gisela will take on editor-
ship of the VOTER. Carol Enos,
off-board member, will continue to
handle publicity. Hooray for all of
them! And hooray for you for continuing your membership in our
League!
Until our first monthly “Lunch
with League,” October 19, here are
some dates to note:
The Orange County Board of
Supervisors will vote September 13
on the county redistricting plan (for
supervisorial and county school
board districts). September 17 is
Constitution Day. (My personal
favorite article is the 19th amendment – what’s yours?)
September 24, North Orange
County LWV invites us to their
“Redistricting Forum” at CSUF –
Mackey Auditorium from 12:30 to
3:00. Free admission and free parking.
Please save October 19 for
“Ten Myths About the National
Public Vote’” at our monthly
luncheon, and October 22 for
ILO’s Women’s Equity Month
lunch to celebrate the California
Women Suffrage Centennial. Details follow.
I look forward to seeing many
of you during the year ahead.
Inside this issue:
Meet the New California LWV President
Jennifer Waggoner is a
strong believer in the
League’s core values and
says she can’t watch Iron
Jawed Angels (about the
Suffragettes) without crying. She lives in San Francisco, where she first
joined the League in 2001.
After serving in numerous positions, including president, she joined
the state board in 2007. She has been
the state communications director
and served on the audit, finance and
human resources committees. She is
a frequent presenter at
League workshops and
conventions.
Her professional life
as a consultant with a
variety of clients (mainly
in operations, finance
and communications for
nonprofits and small
businesses) helps her stay abreast of
trends and best practices. She holds
a degree in Government from
Claremont McKenna College and a
Diploma in Public Policy from the
University of Edinburgh.
Report on OC Board of
Supervisors Meeting
2
Calendar, Redistricting Forum,
Justice Breyer Event
3
Federal Govt. in Education,
NOC Kick-off Event
4
History of Federal Government Role in Education
5
First Woman Voter in CA,
Celebrate Women’s Suffrage
6
Support for
Redistricting Commission
7
Membership Application
Back
Page 2
The VOTER —LWV/COCA
September 2011
League of Women Voters
Central Orange County Area
Report on the Orange County Board
of Supervisors Meeting, August 9
Serving
Anaheim
Fountain Valley
Garden Grove
Los Alamitos
Midway City
Orange
By Wanda Shaffer
Santa Ana
Stanton
Tustin
Villa Park
Westminster
Mission Statement:
The League of Women Voters is a
nonpartisan political organization
that encourages the informed and
active participation in government
and influences public policy through
education and advocacy.
President
Harriett Walther
Vice President, Voter Services
Joan Hake
Vice President, Membership
Ronnie Kinney
Treasurer
Sue Guilford
Secretary
Gisela Meier
Directors
Social Concerns: Alice McCullough
Action: Kathy Moffat
Education: Open
Clip and Come Chair
Susy Mintzer and
Eileen Keturakis
Voter Editor
Gisela Meier
League Telephone
(714) 647-7101
Web Sites
www.coca.ca.lwvnet.org
www.ocilo.lwvnet.org
www.ca.lwv.org
www.lwv.org
www.smartvoter.org
www.easyvoter.org
Health Care Agency update
Public Speaks out about “Laura’s Law”
Request for approval and selection of various vendors for outreach and engagement services, and authorization of a Director or
designee to execute agreements, prompted Mary Palafax, public
speaker from the 3rd District, to reference the current situation in
Fullerton regarding the death of a homeless person. On behalf of her
son and others with family members with mental illness, she requested the County implement “Laura’s Law.” Laura’s Law passed
the Callifornia Legislature in 2002, however, it has only been implemented in two counties. This discussion was followed in the afternoon by an additional 20 speakers requesting adoption and implementation of this law. The Board approved development of a White
Paper to study potential for implementation and using Prop. 63 funding.
Supervisors Bates and Campbell recalled voting for this law as
members of the California Assembly. Supervisor Moorlach has never
heard of Laura’s Law.
To read about Laura’s Law, go to Lauraslawoc.org
Human Resources Department
CEO Tom Mauk was directed to present, within 45 days, a plan
of action for implementation of an ad hoc committee’s recommendations for “fixing” problems in the Human Resources Department.
Supervisors Nelson and Bates held seven meetings and found the
audit findings of these problems to be true. Mauk has requested Carl
Crowne, retiring head of the department, to reconsider his retirement.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding county employee
health care benefits and the cost to the county.
Auditor – Controller
Quarterly status report on Property Tax Management System
(PTMS). TATA of India is completing coding. County five years
into project. Cost is $20 million. Currently 25-30 staffers from India
in OC working on project, with finishing work to be completed in
India.
OC Community Resources
Armory Emergency Shelter report; Karen Roper, Director of OC
Community Services reported on 10 year plan project for OC to have
year round emergency housing, with support and transitions to permanent housing.
BOS votes 3-2, with Supervisors Nelson and Bates dissenting, to
continue using redevelopment funds. Next year the County will have
to pay $13 million back to the State of California in order to continue
with the redevelopment plans.
September 2011
The VOTER —LWV/COCA
Forum on Redistricting to be
Held at Cal State Fullerton
A forum titled “Outcomes of California Redistricting
and How it Will Affect You” will be held Saturday, September 24, at Cal State Fullerton. The event is free and
open to the public.
Topics will be:
• How will redistricting affect you?
• The past and present history of California redistricting.
• Information on the Orange County Redistricting
Committee and the State Redistricting Commission.
Speakers will be Dr. Michael Ward, one of the 14
California Redistricting Commissioners, and Monika
Broome and Mary Fuhrman, members of the North Orange County League.
A video on gerrymandering will be shown and each
attendee will receive A Citizen's Guide to Redistricting,
an up-to-date 124-page booklet published by the Brennan
Center for Justice, at the New York University School of
Law.
This event is co-sponsored by the North Orange
County League of Women Voters and Cal-State Fullerton.
It will be held from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in the Ruby Gerontology Center, Mackey Auditorium, on Gymnasium
Drive on the CSUF campus.
There is free parking nearby.
Supreme Court Justice to Speak
at Richard Nixon Library
Stephen Breyer, Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme Court,
will be the guest speaker at the Richard Nixon Library on Wednesday,
September 14, at 7 p.m.
The event is free and open to the
public.
Justice Breyer will discuss his
new book: Making Our Democracy Work, A Judge’s
View. Copies will be on sale and there will be a book
signing after the presentation.
Reservations are required and may be made by calling
(714) 938-9120 or emailing [email protected].
The library is located at 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., in
Yorba Linda.
Page 3
LWV COCA
Calendar
September
2
Clip and Come, 11 a.m. Marie Callender
Restaurant, on Grand Avenue in Santa Ana.
For information call Susy Mintzer, (714) 5443082.
10
Clip and Come, 9 a.m., Marie Callender
Restaurant on Brookhurst in Garden Grove.
Breakfast, articles and discussions. For information call Eileen Keturakis (714) 758-0265.
Visitors welcome.
13
COCA Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Walther
home, call (714) 997-0660 for directions. All
COCA members are welcome.
24
Redistricting Forum, 12:30 to 3 p.m.,
CSUF Mackey Auditorium
October
7
Clip and Come, 11 a.m. Marie Callender
Restaurant, on Grand Avenue in Santa Ana.
For information call Susy Mintzer, (714) 5443082.
8
Clip and Come, 9 a.m., Marie Callender
Restaurant on Brookhurst in Garden Grove.
Breakfast, articles and discussions. For information call Eileen Keturakis (714) 758-0265.
Visitors welcome.
11
COCA Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Walther
home, call (714) 997-0660 for directions. All
COCA members are welcome.
19
COCA’s Lunch with League, 11:30 a.m.,
China Palace Restaurant, 13444 Newport
Ave., Tustin. Speaker: League member
Marilyn Lees will present 22 Myths about
the Popular Vote.
22
Luncheon Celebrating 100 Years of
Women’s Suffrage in California. See page
6 for more details.
Page 4
The VOTER —LWV/COCA
September 2011
The History of Federal Government in Public Education
Produced by the LWVUS The Education Study: The Role of the Federal Government in Public Education
From the very beginning of our Republic, a welleducated citizenry was thought to be essential to protect
liberty and the general welfare of the people. Even before
the Constitution was established, the Land Ordinance of
1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 included responsibilities of the nation for an education system.
Education has long been considered a national concern by the federal government. Through federal action,
education has been encouraged and financially supported
from the first Northwest Ordinance in 1785 to the present.
Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution granted Congress
the power to lay and collect taxes to provide for the general welfare of the United States. It is under this “general
welfare” clause that the federal government has assumed
the power to initiate educational activity in its own right
and to participate jointly with states, agencies and individuals in educational activities.
During the first century of our new nation, Congress
granted more than 77 million acres of the public domain
as an endowment for the support of public schools
through tracts ceded to the states. In 1841, Congress
passed an act that granted 500,000 acres to eight states
and later increased land grants to a total of 19 states.
The federal government also granted money, such as
distributions of surplus federal revenue and reimburse-
ments for war expenses, to states. Though Congress rarely
prescribed that such funds be used only for schools, education continued to be one of the largest expenses of state
and local governments so the states used federal funds
whenever possible for education.
Two of our constitutional amendments played an important role in public education. In 1791, the 10th
Amendment stated, “The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to
the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the
people.” Public education was not mentioned as one of
those federal powers, and so historically has been delegated to the local and state governments.
In 1868, the 14th Amendment guaranteed rights to all
citizens by stating, “all persons born or naturalized in the
United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
citizens in the United States and of the state wherein they
reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of
life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor
deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.”
A brief historical overview of federal involvement in
public education may be found on page 5.
The League of Women Voters of North Orange County Presents
A Kickoff Luncheon
Saturday, September 17, 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
With special guest speaker Superior Court Judge Frederick P. Aguirre on
Mendez v. Westminster School District:
How it Affected Brown v. Board of Education
Alta Vista Country Club
777 E. Alta Vista Street * Placentia, CA 92870 * 714 -524-1591
Please RSVP by September 7
Menu: Chicken Cordon Bleu, House Salad, Rice Pilaf, Vegetables, Carrot Cake, Tea or Coffee. A no-host bar.
Name(s) ____________________________________________________
Phone number _______________________________________________
Number of lunches __________ X $25.00 = _________________
Please detach and return the bottom part of this form with your check to:
LWVNOC, P.O. Box 3073, Fullerton, CA 92834
For questions, please contact Joan Cohen at 714-525-0023 or cohen. [email protected]
For Treasurer’s Use Only: Check# _____________ Amount $_____________ Date: _______________
September 2011
The VOTER —LWV/COCA
Page 5
History of the Role of the Federal Government in Public Education: Timeline
Event
Date
Explanation
Land Ordinance & Northwest Ordinance
1785/1787
Requirement of a system of public education to be established in each
township formed under a specified formula. Regulated monies raised
via taxes and selling or renting land.
Land Grants
1841/1848
Congress granted 77+ million acres of land in the public domain as endowments for support of schools. Federal government also granted surplus money to states for public education.
Early philosophy – first six
presidents
Discussion of a national university and urging of federal involvement in
public education. Seen as critical to preparation for citizenship in a republican form of government.
First Morrill Act otherwise
known as the Land Grant
Act
1862
Donated public lands to states to be used for the endowment to support and maintain at least one college with specific purpose of teaching
branches of agriculture, mechanic arts and industrial education.
The original Department (Office) of Education
established
1867
Began to collect data – information on schools and teaching that would
help states establish effective school systems.
Second Morrill Act
1890
Gave the Office of Education responsibility for administering support
for the original system of land-grant colleges.
Smith-Hughes Act
1917
Promoted vocational schools
Lanham Act
Impact Aid laws
1941
1950
Eased the burden on communities affected by presence of military and
federal installations: payments to school districts.
GI Bill
1944
Provided post secondary education assistance to GIs returning from
World War II
George-Barden Act
1946
Provided funding for agricultural, industrial and home economics training for high school students
National Defense Education
Act
1958
In response to Soviet Sputnik. NDEA included support for loans to college students in science, mathematics and foreign languages.
Elementary and Secondary
Education Act
1965
Established comprehensive set of programs including Title I of federal
aid to disadvantaged.
Title IX
1972
Prohibited discrimination in education based on gender.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
1973
Prohibited discrimination based on disability.
Department of Education
cabinet level agency
1980
Recognized the important role of public education in our country.
Educational Testing Service
(ETS) and NAEP
1983
Federal government transferred responsibility for administering the
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to ETS: the nation’s report card.
Nation at Risk
1983
Report indicating that the USA was falling behind in education achievement.
President G.H. Bush
1989-1992
“Indian Education Bill of Rights”
K-12 Drug awareness model
Advisory committee on Hispanic education
America 2000 education reform program
Work began on national standards
President W. Clinton
1993-1999
Academics 2000 offered grant to states / local school districts for innovation. Teach for America.
President G.W. Bush
2001-2008
Reauthorization of ESEA –No Child Left Behind.
President Barack Obama
2009 -
President Obama’s Blueprint for Reform – Reauthorization of ESEA.
Race to the Top: Grants awarded to states with innovative ideas that
accepted the Common Core Standards.
© 2011 by the League of Women Voters of the United States
Page 6
The VOTER —LWV/COCA
September 2011
Caroline Severance, the First Woman to Vote in California
Caroline Seymour was born January 12, 1820, in New
York and graduated from the Female Seminary of Geneva, New York, in 1835. She
taught in private schools until, in 1840, she
married banker Theodoric Severance. She
moved with him to Ohio and later to Boston.
She became involved in reform causes that
her husband and his family supported, including women's rights and abolition.
While the name of Caroline Severance is
not one of the best-known in social reform
and women's rights, she was instrumental in
the founding of a number of organizations.
She attended national and regional Woman's
Rights conventions, and, in 1866, helped
Susan B. Anthony found the Equal Rights
Association.
In 1867, with Lucretia Mott, T. W. Higginson and
others, she helped to found the Free Religious Associa-
C
tion. In February 1868 she and others founded the New
England Woman's Club which she served as
president until 1871. With Lucy Stone she
helped found the American Woman Suffrage
Association in 1869.
After the Severances moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1875, Caroline Severance continued her active efforts. She helped
establish kindergartens, founded the city's
first Unitarian congregation with her husband, and helped to begin three successive
woman's clubs. The third, the Friday Morning Club, was in the center of social reform
efforts for the city.
Caroline Severance continued her work
for woman suffrage, was active in the campaign of 1911 which secured the vote for California
women, and at age 91, she became the first woman in
California to register to vote. She died November 10,
1914.
elebrate
100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in California
with the Orange County
League of Women Voters
Luncheon and Program
Saturday, October 22 at 11 a.m.
Meadowlark Golf Club
16782 Graham Street
Huntington Beach
Cost: $30
Reservation Deadline: October 8
Send check to Marguerite Lyon
2961 Salmon Drive
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
(562) 431-0371
[email protected]
Guest Speaker: Dr. Judy B. Rosener
UC Irvine Professor Emerita, author and
international lecturer on women’s issues.
September 2011
The VOTER —LWV/COCA
Page 7
Business, Seniors, Good Government and Community Groups Continue
to Support the Voter-Approved Citizens Redistricting Commission
August 19, 2011
Several prominent business, nonprofit and
good government groups expressed their continued support for the voter-approved Citizens
Redistricting Commission as the historic Commission completed its work this week. The Los
Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, California Common Cause AARP, the League of
Women Voters of California (LWVC), California State Conference of the NAACP, National
Federation of Independent Business/California,
California Forward and the California Chamber
of Commerce all supported the creation of the
Citizens Redistricting Commission so that politicians could no longer draw election districts
to protect themselves, their parties and their
special interest friends.
“Voters said they wanted citizens to be in
control of the redistricting process in an open
and transparent manner and that was achieved
by this Commission. This redistricting process
is far preferable to the self-serving, backroom
deals that characterized the drawing of district
maps in this state for decades,” said Gary
Toebben, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Legislative, congressional and Board of
Equalization district maps were drawn by the
14-member Commission to adhere to a set of
objectives set forth in voter- approved Propositions 11 and 20 redistricting reforms. The entire
process was undertaken in fully-noticed public
meetings throughout the state allowing for, and
welcoming, community input.
In all, a total of 34 public hearings and 70
other Commission meetings were held in 32
cities over an eight-month period. The proceedings, including the Commissions election process, were also provided for online viewing.
“The Commission was committed to hear-
ing the voices of Californians and conducting
their business in an open process. The result is
that districts are no longer rigged behind closed
doors to protect politicians’ jobs, and voters
will finally have a real voice in elections and
can hold politicians accountable,” said Kathay
Feng, executive director of California Common
Cause.
The supporters of the Commission point out
that challenges to redistricting maps are never
unexpected and the voter-approved redistricting
reforms anticipated and addressed this issue. If
there are legitimate objections to any maps
based on the Commission’s not abiding by the
legal requirements of Props.11 and 20, then
those would be rightfully challengeable.
“We are confident that any challenges to
maps will be resolved and the clear winners
will continue to be California voters who expressed their frustration with political gridlock
and passed redistricting reforms to hold politicians accountable,” said David Pacheco, California president of AARP.
Pacheco added that, as required by law, the
Commission has created a report describing
why and how they drew each map according to
the mapping criteria contained in Propositions
11 and 20.
That report can be found at:
http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/downloads/meetin
g_handouts_082011/crc_20110815_2final_rep
ort.pdf
“The voters put their trust in an independent citizens commission to conduct redistricting
in an open, inclusive process, and the commission has more than fulfilled that trust,” stated
LWVC President Jennifer A. Waggoner. “This
citizen-driven process will be a model for the
entire nation.”
Source: www.ca.lwv.org
League of Women Voters Central Orange County Area
Membership Application
______New ______Renewal
_______________Month/Year first joined League
______I am unable to join, but would like to support League activities with a donation in the following
amount:________
Please Print
First Name___________________________Last Name_______________________________________
Street Address:___________________________City:_________________State:______Zip:__________
Phone Number:___________________________Email:_______________________________________
Annual Dues: $60
Additional Member (living at the same address): $30
Student member: $22.50
Please make checks payable to LWV COCA. Dues and contributions to the league are not tax deductible. Contributions to
the Education Fund are deductible to the extent allowed by law. Checks for donation to the Education Fund must be payable to
LWVC Education Fund.
Membership in the League of Women voters is open to all women and men of voting age who are U.S. citizens. Noncitizens and persons under 18 are welcome to join the League as associate members.
Send check and completed form to: LWVCOCA
P.O. Box 704
Orange, CA 92865
www.coca.ca.lwvnet.org
THE VOTER
League of Women Voters
Central Orange County Area
P.O. Box 704
Orange, CA 92865
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