When Isn’t A Politician Not a Representative and Vice Versa

(Editor’s Note: Merriam-Webster’s top three definitions of a politician are, in descending order:

“A person experienced in the art or science of government, especially one actively engaged in conducting the business of a government.”

“A person engaged in party politics as a profession.” And:

“A person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow, usually short-sighted, reasons.”

Turning again to Merriam-Webster, a “representative,” as used as a noun in this slate mailer is:

“One that represents another or others.”

“One that represents a constituency as a member of a legislative body.”

“A member of the house of representatives of the United States Congress or a state Legislature.”

“One that represents another as agent, deputy, substitute, or delegate usually being invested with the authority of the principal.”

The purpose of the slate mail creator – Citizens for Representative Government 2010 of Redondo Beach – appears to be to use the third, most pejorative definition of politician and contrast that with the fourth definition of representative.

Representative, good. Politician, bad.

With the possible exception of Larry Aceves, a retired school superintendent running for state schools chief, every individual on the front of the mailer is a politician, at least within the meaning of the first two definitions.

They receive the benefit of the doubt on the “experienced in the art or science of government” issue.

All are also representatives. All but one are present or former members of a legislative body and the one who isn’t is still a representative.

Barbara Alby is a former GOP Assemblywoman. Mike Villines, is a GOP Assemblyman from Fresno. Sam Aanestad, a Republican state senator from Grass Valley, is flanked by arguably the most experienced person in the art or science of government on the page – GOP Rep. Tom McClintock of Granite Bay who, despite routine railings against government waste, has had a taxpayer-financed job for 26 of the past 30 years.

Steve Cooley, Los Angeles’ Republican District Attorney, is a politician and represents the “people” when they bring legal action against wrongdoers.

On the back, ignoring the local sheriff candidates and the ballot propositions, GOP Controller candidate Tony Strickland is a state senator who previously served six years in the Assembly. Mimi Walters, a GOP state senator, previously served four years in the Assembly.

Damon Dunn, a Stanford University graduate, former player in the National Football League and now owner of a real estate firm, is the only candidate on the slate mail for statewide office who is not a politician. Nor is he a representative. He’s just a wannabe.

As denoted by the asterisks next to their names, all of the candidates with photographs paid the creator of the Citizens for Representative Government Voter Guide to be included.)

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