Dick Spotswood: Political centrist lens puts focus on Marin issues

I have long complained about the demise of California’s once vibrant two-party political culture.

Today, the state’s dominant party, the Democrats, command supermajorities in the Legislature and control every statewide office. Its leadership is firmly composed of “progressives” on the left.

The Republicans have not offered even marginally acceptable candidates to most Californians outside of communities in the Sierra and in sparsely populated Central Valley rural counties. The GOP’s base and leaders appeal exclusively to populist devotees of Donald Trump.

So far, no California “third” party catering to the “middle way” has emerged. Those who are center-right or center-left are left out of the equation when it comes to resolving the Golden State’s long-festering policy dilemmas.

Centrists try to avoid the extremes of the looney left and just plain weird right. They don’t automatically cast either no or yes ballots. They are swing voters that can make or break local measures.

While once a Democrat, I’ve been registered as a “no party preference” voter for decades. I consider myself a political centrist. We don’t just split the baby down the middle. Centrists pursue ideas which borrow the best from both liberal and conservative traditions without going to their extremes.

What might a centrist recommend regarding Marin and North Bay policy issues?

Increased property taxes: Start by learning how well current budgets are managed. Prudence and honoring past promises are crucial. All tax measures must have a definite sunset date. For school taxes, curriculum enhancements that achieve better student outcomes outrank shiny new buildings.

Municipal infrastructure: Deferred maintenance is a management failure. Well- maintained streets, bridges and sewers, and adequate water supplies are the goal.

Crime: Centrists agree with past Mayor Willie Brown when he told the San Francisco Chronicle, “The call to ‘defund the police’ as part of the anti-racism, anti-police brutality movement is either one of the dumbest ideas of all time or the hands-down winner of the worst slogan ever.” Instead, adequately fund and fully staff police and sheriff departments. Intensively train officers and deputies to interact with everyone equally.

Public employee compensation: These women and men are essential in making Marin communities work. The goal is excellence in delivering those services. They should be paid in accordance with their private sector counterparts. The costs of their pensions shouldn’t outstrip their agency’s ability to fully fund.

Point Reyes ranching. Most Marinites supported the preservation of Point Reyes National Seashore as parkland. They understood that this “last, best place” was populated by low-impact inter-generational ranching and agricultural families. Managing those dairies and farms prudently should be the long-term vision.

Regarding vaccines and climate changes, centrists follow the science. They avoid taking deep dives into the internet to answer life-and-death questions.

Making government work: Marin centrists are frustrated when local governments stumble on essential issues such as resolving Ross Valley flooding. Studies and plans pile up and consultants thrive. The process that kicked off with the 2005 New Year’s Eve flood but hasn’t resolved the underlying problem is a failure.

Cultural issues: Centrists understand that cultural wars are stirred up by partisans and ideologues on the far right and left. By developing a compromise of national consensus, abortion or same sex marriage haven’t become political issues in Europe or in other developed nations. Absent that consensus, addressing these topics should be a matter of personal choice without the government telling people how to live their lives.

Immigration: America has greatly benefited from immigrants. Unlike much of rural America, California with almost 40 million people living in what once was northern Mexico, already is a multicultural, multi-racial state. Centrists accept and embrace that reality. They simultaneously advocate well-enforced policies that prioritize legal immigration that’ll satisfy unmet national needs.

Columnist Dick Spotswood of Mill Valley writes on local issues Sundays and Wednesdays. Email him at spotswood@comcast.net.