Letters to the Editor

Politicians connected to Newport appear to be doing well on the state and national levels

Folks back home do care how their representatives are voting and what they are accomplishing. And Orange County politicians are increasing the power they hold in both the state and federal legislatures.

Diane Dixon from Newport Beach represents our city which is part of the 72nd State Assembly District. She is making her presence known by getting actively involved in promoting legislation for her district and being involved in more than a dozen committees. She has also been keeping in close touch with her constituents. Dixon has introduced several bills, four of which will become law on January 1, 2024.

Assembly Bill 276 which prohibits the use of mobile devices while driving among young adults was extended to include drivers 21 years of age. AB 1025, Dixon’s legislation dealing with county government, was signed by the Governor on October 13 and will become law in the new year, along with AB 1270 dealing with county government. AB 256 will become law giving drivers more time before being penalized for having an expired license.

Readers of Stu News are updated on a regular basis on Dixon’s views and accomplishments for her district. You can count on her being an active representative for our city and her district as a whole. Readers of Stu News will also be regularly updated on her agenda.

Dave Min, who represents Newport Beach in the State Senate, has not been letting any grass grow under his feet either. At the end of his third year as State Senator from District 37, he has had 10 of his bills signed into law.

The most important bill by far that he authored in 2021 (that became law in 2022) prohibited gun sales at the Orange County Fairgrounds (firearms and ammunition sales on state property were banned). That law opened the door for a statewide ban. Most unfortunately, that law was in the news last week (November 3) because a U.S. District Court Judge granted a plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the two laws.

Undoubtedly, the most-in-the-news lawmaker from Orange County,
who happens to represent Newport Beach in the House of Representatives, is Katie Porter. From the moment of her initial introduction into federal politics, she has put Orange County in the front row. Her challenges to corporate profits and her refusal to take any of their money, along with her colorful personality and language, have endeared her to many and no doubt had the opposite effect on those she cornered with her white boards and aggression.

But much to my surprise, (last week’s news) has her running neck-and-neck with Adam Schiff for the seat opened by the death of Senator Diane Feinstein. Schiff has served as a powerful and well-known congressman from Los Angeles for many years. That a first term representative from Orange County is strongly challenging him is big news!

Lynn Lorenz

Newport Beach