I've never been thrilled with the Dem Club endorsement process because clubs often turn a blind eye to surges of new members before an endorsement meeting. However, it's also clear that all the candidates played by the rules here and the playing field itself was an even one. I know Betsy Butler's campaign tried to recruit new members to join the Malibu club, because I was forwarded several emails from her campaign manager Lindsay Bubar. But they made the mistake of sending out their recruitment letter AFTER the 30-day deadline.

So if Torie Osborn and her campaign is guilty of anything, they're guilty of competence and planning ahead.

People who I was surrounded by -- on all sides -- are people who live in Malibu. They all told me how impressed they were with Torie Osborn and that they voted for her endorsement. They came to the meeting completely open - as they care about numerous issues in Malibu, including the Lagoon.

There were people who have been long-time Dem Club members, and some who joined just a couple of months ago. "It was a no brainer" - I heard from some. One person, a long-time Malibu-ite, who joined the Club before the deadline, mostly because he wanted to hear how the candidates were going to address the lagoon - told me he hasn't been impressed with a politician in 30 years, and he was going to send Torie $100 right away.

I lived in Malibu for 10 years, and I work there often -- and while most know of my work related to Malibu Lagoon, I also often do work to enforce coastal act violations - like when someone destroyed habitat on National Park land or built an illegal golf course. So, I was grateful when I learned a few months ago that the Malibu Democratic Club, whose Board had voted to oppose the Malibu Lagoon project, has provisions for joining for those not residing in Malibu. I joined in gratitude.

And today I was rewarded by being allowed to vote for endorsement of someone who I learned shares my desire to Save Malibu Lagoon from the bulldozers and Save Malibu from overdevelopment. Democracy.

If 80 people were in the room, as the Patch reporter who attended the meeting reported, unless someone was comparing addresses to votes as voters turned in their cards, how would anyone know who lived where?
Were ID cards and driver’s licenses checked?
Is it legitimate for Malibu property owners and business owners to be a member of a political club in a community where they spend most of their time?
Doesn’t a club have a right to make sure that those who vote are people who have been members, and not just those who claim to be Democrats and who come in at the last minute ONLY so they can hijack a vote on a controversial issue? I believe that there is a big difference between a town’s Democratic CLUB and a party caucus to select a Presidential candidate.
If anyone wants to challenge the legitimacy of the vote based on where people live, they first should examine the place of actual residence of each and every current member of the City Council.

For the record, I wrote, "I am estimating there are 80 people in the room, but I am not good at these estimations."

Then there might have even been more than 80 who were there. I would say that 80 is about right judging by the number of tables , the number of people at each table, and the 20 or so people lining the walls and standing near the food. Sounds like SOUR GRAPES to me by supporters of Bloom or Butler who got what I consider an embarrassingly low number of votes. Torie Osborn had done her homework. She spoke from the heart about the heart of the Malibu and issues that Malibuans consider important. As one born in Malibu with a place on the Old Road, I was impressed with how well prepared she was and how thoroughly she understood issues of real concern to this area. I, for one, do not want to see Malibu become a West Coast version of Miami. If we want Miami, we should move there and not spoil our magnificent hills, creeks, and habitat for wild animals.

The question I heard asked was: "How many of you are Malibu residents who can't vote today?" Only a couple of people raised their hands. The people surrounding where I sat all live in Malibu, and they did not raise their hands because they were able to vote - some long-time Club members, some who joined a couple of months ago. Yes, I endorsed Torie Osborn last year -- before the district lines were changed and when I thought Torie's only opponent would be Richard Bloom. I told Betsy that I would consider a dual endorsement, and I was waiting to hear how things went at today's forum. If I had thought Betsy would half-way represent the things I care about in Malibu, where I lived for 10 years and where I work now on numerous issues - I would have voted for "no endorsement" -- but I voted for Torie to be endorsed by the Club. A clear choice after today.

I have added a statement from club President Jean Goodman to the article.

How long is it fair to require a voter to be member in order to vote? Should they be able to buy a membership on the day of the vote? Should a Malibu resident be allowed to vote if they must live outside the city for work for more than six months a year? Should an out-of-state person be allowed to join and vote if they live in Malibu more than six months a year? Should someone who works in Malibu but goes home to sleep in the L.A. part of Topanga, just outside the Malibu City limits, be allowed to be a member? Should a city council member who does not live in Malibu, but works in Malibu, be allowed to be a member? Let's see. Since 13 votes were undecided, then only 14 votes were required to gain endorsement. Since Bloom got zero votes and Butler got only five, if you total all non-Osborn votes, you get 18 votes. Do you think that in that room of 80 people or more, there were only 18 voters who had been Demo Club members for more than six weeks? Sounds like sour grapes to me. Osborn was well prepared and addressed issues close to the hearts of devoted Malibu residents. She did her homework. She deserved the endorsement.

I listened to the tape recording. Pam actually asked two questions: "How many people live in Malibu, raise your hands?" and "How many people who live in Malibu wanted to vote today and were turned away?"

If Betsy Butler can't get more than 5 votes in a room of 80, that's not Torie Osborn's fault. That's Betsy Butler's fault. This is just sour grapes from a campaign that got outworked and out-organized. Keep in mind that Betsy Butler's campaign sent emails out asking their supporters to sign up for these very same Democratic Clubs. It's not like they didn't engage in the exact same practices.

The truth is, Torie Osborn wowed the room today. She earned this endorsement in every way imaginable.

This at least 30 days prior for dues to pay for many of these political groups is usually the norm so it's good you are getting involved. But we have had our own odd problems in West Hollywood where the night of a big endorsement vote even though the organization said you had to be on time and could not vote after a certain time arriving late then suddenly many more people arrived (some say after other members made a lot of cell phone calls to them to get their asses down there cause there group would lose the vote) and then the board suddenly let these late arrivals bend the rules and slide in and vote too that night. It all is at times unfair but it's an old old story of how politics works. So now you may be armed and ready next time and get more people pre-dues paid more than 30 days prior and get more people who really live in Malibu involved in the political process. Good luck!

It was a very well run and informative meeting. Torie capture our hearts because she so thoroughly resonates with our concerns. Betsy displayed a fine record in the legislature and we can only hope that she will be more open to Malibu issues from a Malibu, not a Sacramento perspective. There was an indication that this might be so. Richard, while engaging, seemed to live on another planet.
carol moss

Betsy Butler's first comment was about how Malibu is slow to develop, she shot herself in the foot with that statement. Doesn't she know that Malibu wants to retain its mountain and seascape charm?

I went to the event with glazed eyes, thinking that this would be politics as usual. It turns out there are people who really do want to change the world for the better! Thank you Torie for giving me hope.

Even if this wasn't a true Malibu vote, I was very impressed with the candidates. The democratic party is lucky to have dedicated people like Torie, Betsey and Richard, who are willing to serve and sacrifice for others to make Malibu, our district and California better. Thank you for taking the time to share your views and vision with us today. I wish you all the very best. You are all winners regardless of the outcome of the election.

For some reason, my comments are not being posted. Ted Vaill

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