Daly’s Ideas, Not Ties in Question

I found the article on Mayor Tom Daly (“Mayor Daly’s Partisan Tie to Political Boss,” May 7) quite amusing and somewhat hypocritical.

To suggest that Daly’s Democratic party affiliation and his direct ties to new Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will affect his decision-making capacity as mayor is just plain nonsense. What I see is just the same good-old-boy politics using Bob Dornan’s challenge and continued media circus as a way to gain some media visibility and posture for future office seekers. One only needs to look at all public offices held in Orange County and see the variety of multiple officeholders and the ties they each have with their respective partisan parties, business affiliates and other elected representatives.

I wonder about all the deal-making that goes on that we the general public are not aware of? I wonder how much of this is really for the public good? And, I wonder how much taxpayer money is being wasted? What I expect you will find is that these officeholders have strong ties and networks that allow, some of them, to be responsive to their constituents, you and me. Others, however, use it for political maneuvering and posturing.

Rather than to criticize the mayor, one should evaluate him based on whether he has been effective as mayor. What I have seen and read about Anaheim and what Mayor Daly has been able to accomplish, I would venture to say he has been very successful and will continue to be.

F. REYES

Trabuco Canyon

* Your article did not mention what could turn out to be Daly’s biggest political blunder: his unreasoned and meddlesome statements advocating the construction of a commercial airport at El Toro, and his refusal to participate in the dialogue concerning nonaviation uses.

This has led many South County residents to boycott Anaheim’s tourist attractions and other businesses and to begin work on a nonaviation reuse plan that could include a professional sports stadium, an amusement park and other features that will compete directly with facilities that currently operate in Anaheim.

One can only hope that as a county supervisor Daly would exercise greater discretion and forethought regarding matters that adversely impact people outside of his immediate constituency; what goes around comes around.

WILLIAM TOLIN GAY

Costa Mesa