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Harris Sherline: Should Firestone Run Against Capps?
Will Brooks Firestone step into the breach and run for public office one more time? Can he? Should he?
Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, represents a congressional district that was gerrymandered specifically to favor her election. She has not served the community at large well, instead concentrating her efforts on behalf of an entrenched liberal constituency that has managed to keep her in office, notwithstanding breaking her promise to serve no more than three terms.
But enough about Capps. This is really about Firestone.
My initial reaction to the news that he may be thinking about running against Capps is that I wish he would. My reasons are purely selfish — in the sense that I believe he would be a far more evenhanded and productive representative of the people in California’s 23rd Congressional District.
After two terms in the Legislature and one as Santa Barbara County’s 3rd District supervisor, he has nothing to prove. His record clearly demonstrates that his reasons for holding public office have never been about personal gain or advantage. Firestone is one of the few people who truly believe in public service. Contrary to many of the politicians who hold office today, he has never sought to take advantage of his position for his personal benefit.
During his time as a member of the Assembly, Firestone accomplished something that was badly needed and long overdue at the time when he introduced a resolution requiring the Assembly Rules Committee to contract with a recognized private accounting firm to conduct a performance audit of the Legislature’s lower house. The measure was adopted by the Assembly on a 61-5 vote.
When Firestone left the Legislature in 1998, he said, “When I first ran for the Assembly in 1994, I set two very simple goals: to begin to make government run like a business and to start reforming education. ... In three years, California has made great progress in both areas, and I have played a material role in that progress. I feel I have done what I set out to do; now it’s time to give others a chance.”
Now, once again, the siren call of public service is beckoning Firestone — and I can understand why, at this stage of his life, he might prefer not to respond. For one thing, the sheer demands on the time of officeholders can be overwhelming. Everyone wants to get to them for something, seeking favors or special privileges, making public appearances, raising money, often forgoing one’s personal needs to meet the needs of constituents. It requires enormous effort and focus.
There’s also the matter of cost. At the time Firestone ran for the Board of Supervisors, as with all candidates, he asked for contributions from his supporters. Unfortunately, as I recall, the financial support he received fell far short of the cost and he was forced to spend about $250,000 of his own money on his campaign. I suspect that has to be on his mind at this point as he thinks about possibly mounting a new campaign that is bound to cost a great deal more than running for county supervisor, especially against an incumbent who already has more than $473,000 in her campaign account.
Another consideration Firestone certainly will weigh, in addition to his age and being at a point in his life when he probably thought he would be free of significant responsibility, is the stress of serving 3,000 miles away and having to travel back and forth to his district. As a county supervisor, he could be home most nights and weekends. In Washington, D.C., he will be away from our Valley and the district most of the time for two years.
Finally, having had a pacemaker implanted in 2008, I’m sure the question of Firestone’s health is bound to be an important consideration in evaluating his options.
On the other side of the equation is Firestone’s drive to serve his community. He is clearly qualified, not just politically speaking but also because of his extensive and successful business background. He is thoughtful, evenhanded and knowledgeable.
Firestone does his homework, works well with others who have a different point of view and he believes in limiting government. The Republicans couldn’t ask for a better candidate.
Finally, as one who also has held positions of responsibility and reached retirement age, I can understand the appeal of getting back into the action one last time.
If Scott Brown can win a Senate seat in Massachusetts — an overwhelmingly liberal state — surely Firestone can win in California’s 23rd District.
— Harris R. Sherline is a retired CPA and former chairman and CEO of Santa Ynez Valley Hospital who has lived in Santa Barbara County for more than 30 years. He stays active writing opinion columns and his blog, Opinionfest.com.
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» on 01.24.10 @ 12:29 AM
She is a tax and spend our money liberal..pro illegal alien also..
» on 01.24.10 @ 12:39 AM
SOMEONE RUN against Lois. Hasn’t she done enough damage?
» on 01.24.10 @ 04:39 AM
Who did the damage?
Who looted the banks, ran up a record deficit, got us into the Iraq War (very profitable), ran up health care costs, brought us Enron, IGA, Gitmo, fear, torture and hate for America? Democrats or Republicans?
Do we need more of Bush and Cheney policies? There is still some of our money left to steal.
» on 01.24.10 @ 08:36 AM
Lois “two term” Capps. What a complete waste of money. Why not give Pelosi two votes and save all money wasted on Lois in salary and expense?
» on 01.24.10 @ 11:19 AM
He should run, but remember her district is chalk full of num nuts like Ronny who still get all their news from the DNC and its network affiliations, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, NYT, BG, LAT, SPI, AJ etc… Wise up Ronny, its game over.
» on 01.24.10 @ 11:41 AM
Actually Harris we have someone else in mind rather than Firestone. Daniel Petry
» on 01.24.10 @ 12:14 PM
Harris Sherline has all the answers.
He (modestly) tells us that almost every week.
Why doesn’t HE run against Lois Capps?
His philosophy would fit right in with the John Boehner/Tom de Lay wing of his party,
wouldn’t it.
Go for it, Harris.
» on 01.24.10 @ 12:28 PM
Dear AN50
Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will not hurt me. You are so juvenile hiding behind a fake name and calling people names.
You never answer my comments, only hide behind Rush, Rove, Hanniny, Malkin, and Fox Views.
The game is not over yet, kiddo or kiddette.
I’ll bet we agree about a lot of things and I would listen to you if you didn’t hide.
» on 01.24.10 @ 01:18 PM
No, Mr. Sherline, you and other right-wing Fox fans are reading way too much into the Massachusetts election. It was not a referendum on President Obama or the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party’s nominee was a terrible candidate, and I say that as a woman who wanted to support a woman candidate. The American people stand firmly behind our President and Congresswoman Capps after eight years of the arrogant Bush regime.
» on 01.24.10 @ 02:58 PM
Patty & Ron Dexter,
WHO CONTROLLED CONGRESS for the last two years of Bush? This “banks” thing started with the Dems/Carter and simply got worse as it went along. Attempts at reform by Bush were blocked. Hey, he was no angel but HEY, if it weren’t for the ridiculous thing called the MSM the public would know more about the CONGRESS/DEMS in CHARGE liability in this! Somewhere out there are some great YouTube clips of WHO and HOW this happened. And the DEMS were very guilty (Frank, Raines, Reid, Dodge, Schumer, Pelosi.) Get off it.
Massachussets - HELL YES that was referedum. Keep trying to spin it away. It ain’t GOING away. But a lot of Dems are… 2010.
» on 01.24.10 @ 03:26 PM
She never saw a tax she didn’t like, and is a spending fool.Capps has no business experience and needs to go—She lied about running two terms?? I guess that means nothing to Democrats and the socialist corrupt-Trial lawyers & unions & ACORN group—I.m changing to an independent—
» on 01.24.10 @ 04:43 PM
Dear SB Native,
I remember Rush counting the days when Clinton would be out office. And they spent 50 million dollars of our taxes to find out that he did what? Rush was wrong as he usually is. The whole right wing spin machine starts with catch phrases supplied by Karl Rove and Frank Luntz. Fox and friends repeat it word for word.
The “Liberal Media”. Hah! How come most of it is owned by Republicans? Murdock, Disney, G.E. Westinghouse, and soon NBC may be owned by Comcast.
I suppose you love that the Supreme Court legislated giving special interests a free hand to spend any amount of money to trash the opposition. Is that an America you want? What happened to election reform?
» on 01.24.10 @ 09:04 PM
Dexter - “And they spent 50 million dollars of our taxes to find out that he did what?” The answer is lie and get a BJ in the Oval Office. OMG are you that void of morality? That’s sick.
» on 01.25.10 @ 04:05 AM
Dear Nelsilo,
It is sick for a Democrat to do something not nice, but just fine for a republican. Attacking Iraq for no good reason and killing a bunch of people is OK as long as there is profit to be made.
Do you still believe that Saddam and Iraq attacked us on 9-11?
Until we hold all politicians and religious leaders to the up to the same standard, they will continue to do things that you and I find so offensive.
Name calling is really childish. It means that your argument is weak.
» on 01.25.10 @ 10:44 AM
I am still hung up on Firestone voting to allow more off-shore oil drilling.
» on 01.25.10 @ 10:31 PM
Firestone would be OK, but, does he even live in the CA 23rd District? His old house is not.
» on 01.26.10 @ 10:08 AM
Scott, when you get in your car and turn the key you remember what Firestone did for you. Get off this imbecilic notion that you can drive a car but not burn fossil fuels. For that matter get off the notion that you can even survive without burning fossil fuels. Then encourage your elected representatives to help our country drill for more.
Ronny, we went to war with Iraq over their snubbing of UN resolutions. The purpose was to depose Saddam Hussein and impose international order on the country. The resolution they violated was put in place by the UN in response Saddam not allowing adequate UN inspection of facilities suspected of being used in the production, storage and/or testing of WMD. Bush took this route not wanting to chance anything in the wake of 911, not because Iraq had anything to do with 911. Why do you fanatical Bush haters continue to perpetuate this idiotic false story about Saddam and 911? You also perpetuate the nonsense that we went there for oil, money, revenge or any number of loopy crack pot schemes all put out on the internet (probably by some nit wit in high school) as a diversion from the real reason stated above. Park your Bush hatred and drop the dailykoz talking points. It really does not make you or any other liberal look intelligent or informed but rather desperate and fanatical. I don’t believe you to be either of these. I don’t believe you are so blinded by partisan loyalty that you cannot see any other point.
Finally if you really want to know who I am I would be glad to meet you, maybe even buy you a beer or two. But I will never make the mistake of publishing my name on the World Wide Sewer again, got it?
» on 01.26.10 @ 03:01 PM
Not about Democats. Not about Republicans. We need an intelligent and thoughtful representative won’t lie to her constituents as Capps has and who is more than just a mouthpiece for party leadership as Capps is and who does more than occupy her dead husband’s seat as Capps does. This mindless bleating about Bush and Cheney is just that - mindless bleating and so last decade. Who will lead and who will just sit in office and follow?
» on 01.28.10 @ 12:17 PM
Do we know how Firestone feels about repealing the 17th amendment? Any Republican who fails to endorse repeal should be shunned; I’d rather vote for a democrat.
» on 01.29.10 @ 05:11 PM
Yeah right An50 , and those maps of Iraq oil fields on the table during the secret Cheney energy task force meetings in 01 ? What was that about? Are you really that gullible ?
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