SLO County’s far right has a new target: The League of Women Voters. Who’s next?

Far-right conservatives in San Luis Obispo County have found a new enemy: the local chapter of the League of Women Voters.

At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, a parade of speakers stepped to the podium to thank the conservative board majority for choosing a new district map that upends decades-old boundaries. The map gives Republicans a voter advantage in three of five districts even though they trail Democrats in countywide registration.

But the right-wing contingent didn’t stop there.

Some called for the punishment of Supervisor Bruce Gibson, who voted against the map; accused Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg of not knowing her job; and alleged that, because the other side is considering a lawsuit over what it sees as a clear case of gerrymandering, that must mean it’s plotting an insurrection.

In the silliest insult of all, they attacked the League of Women voters for being too partisan and not representing conservative women — even though the group is open to everyone.

Here’s what prompted the outrage: The local chapter of the league opposes the new redistricting map because, in its words, “it does not ensure fair representation for the residents and citizens of our county.”

In a recent statement, the league wrote that it’s considering whether to play a role in an effort to overturn the board’s decision, either through a lawsuit or a referendum that would put the map on the ballot.

For that, it’s being characterized as a partisan organization in cahoots with liberals plotting that insurrection.

Hard to believe, right?

After all, this is the same organization that encourages voter registration, celebrates historic milestones like the 100th anniversary of the passage of the women’s suffrage amendment, and even developed a code of civil discourse that was adopted by various local government bodies, including the Board of Supervisors.

Makes you wonder who’s next.

The Sierra Club? The Rotary? Maybe the Red Cross?

One speaker faulted the league for its membership roster.

“I have looked at the leadership of the SLO League of Women Voters and believe all are either Democrats or progressives, yet they claim to be nonpartisan. How can this be?” she asked.

Another read a Wikipedia page that includes this statement: “.... the LWV supports a variety of progressive public policy positions, including campaign finance reform, universal health care, abortion rights, climate change action and environmental regulation and gun control.”

She went on to accuse the league of having a “clear bias against Republicans ... specifically Trump supporters.”

“It’s a little disingenuous to approach this board as a nonpartisan organization,” she added.

Yet the League of Women Voters is the closest thing we have in this county — and in many counties — to a nonpartisan political organization.

Though it does take positions on some issues, it does not endorse political candidates.

While the name implies otherwise, there are no restrictions on gender. Membership is open to everyone 16 and older, “regardless of race, religion, or political persuasion.”

Members scrupulously avoid partisan rhetoric; they stick closely to their code of civil discourse.

What’s more, the League of Women Voters has provided a huge public service to generations of San Luis Obispo County residents.

It helps with voter registration, partners with chambers of commerce and service clubs in moderating candidate forums in some of the most contentious of races, provides information on ballot measures, staffs polling places and conducts elections for local advisory councils.

Over our many years of watching league members in action, they’ve never been anything but professional, courteous and even-handed — behavior we would all do well to follow.

If leaders of the League of Women Voters ultimately decide to join an effort to overturn the new county redistricting map, they will do so only after careful consideration and only if they sincerely believe it is in the best interests of the voters — not as part of some campaign to incite a revolt.

That’s just ludicrous.

The San Luis Obispo County League of Women Voters has consistently treated everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of party affiliation.

They deserve nothing less than that same level of decency.

This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 5:30 AM.