America First Republican Club

by Hope Horning

LW contributor

The America First Republican Club had a great turn out of over 100 people for the member appreciation picnic on Sept. 20 that celebrated its growing membership. It was such a success that the club is considering making the picnic an annual event.

Guest speaker Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen discussed the Proposition 50 ballot that was mailed on Oct. 6 and the following reasons club members and Republicans should vote no on 50:

• The redistricted map divides Seal Beach representation between three separate and different Congressional Districts 41, 42 and 45.

• It repeals the historic voterapproved Citizens Redistricting Commission and throws out citizen-drawn maps to be replaced by politician-led maps.

• Does not follow the guidelines of the Federal Voting Rights Act to ensure minorities have equal opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.

• Many of the new congressional districts are not geographically connected but sprawl around specific population demographics.

• Local boundaries and communities of interest are not preserved with cities, counties, and neighborhoods divided.

• It will bring gerrymandered congressional districts back to California.

The club’s information booth will be set up on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout October and Nov. 1, 3 and 4 outside Clubhouse 6 from 9-11 a.m., which coincides with the Golden Age Foundation’s hospitality hours. Members hosting the booth will provide information about Prop. 50 and collect ballots for those who choose not to use U.S. mail or the yellow ballot drop box near the Amphitheater. The ballots will be hand carried to the Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana by a club officer.

The Seal Beach in-person voting center will be open Nov. 1-4 at Fire Station 48, 3131 North Gate Road near Seal Beach Boulevard.

The club will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 15, in Clubhouse 3, Room 2. Social time begins at 4:30 p.m. and the official meeting will begin at 5. Members are encouraged to bring snacks or hors d’oeuvres to share.

The guest speaker is Eric Dutra, Deputy Executive Director of Orange County GOP. He will discus Prop. 50 in detail.