Legislative dynasties become more common – Orange County Register

Authoritarian regimes evolved into oligarchic regimes in which those in command would inherit their positions to family members.

A good example is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, which is a democratic country. Three generations of the same family have ruled the country for more than seven decades, since the Korean peninsula was split into two countries in 1948 after decades of Japanese control.

Kim Il-sung was the dictator of the country until his death in 1994, and the scepter was later passed to his son, Kim Jong-il and later to his grandson, Kim Jong-un .

One of the most important results of the American revolt against the British Empire was the eradication of hereditary conceptions. George Washington, in fact, turned down suggestions that he would become king of the new nation.

This historical compendium comes as the California Legislature is increasingly inclined to pass seats to confidants, essentially effectively denying voters the opportunity to choose their representative.

Kate Karpilov, former director of the California Center for Women and Family Studies, has researched the phenomenon and written about it for CalMatters, focusing on what’s happening in a state Senate district. in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California.

Bob Hertzberg, a former speaker of the state Congress who returned to the Legislature eight years ago after a stint in private business, is being forced out of the Senate under term limits and hopes to drag Extend her political career this year by becoming the County Sheriff of Los Angeles. supervisor.

Hertzberg wants her son, Daniel, who works for a hotel as a tourism business executive, to succeed him in the Senate and is tapping into his network of staunch supporters to make things happen. that becomes a reality.

Karpilov writes of the younger Hertzberg: “There is no board or committee service or locally elected tenure. “Without the expertise of building or managing a business, leading a local nonprofit, or championing a neighborhood issue.

“Lack of relevant experience, Young Hertzberg’s campaign markets his enthusiasm and commitment to ‘fight day and night on behalf of working families.’ His campaign website as well as Twitter and Instagram accounts have a pile of legislative and labor endorsements, secured in many cases, my sources tell me, by his father.

“How else could an untested first-time candidate raise over $500,000?”

Really how? As Karpilov notes, having an influential politician as a father gives Daniel Hertzberg a chance to compete with his Democratic counterpart, Caroline Menjivar, for the seat.

The embryonic Hertzberg dynasty is not an isolated example, as Karpilov has pointed out.

“Arambulas, Burkes, Calderons, Canellas, Lowenthals, Mullins and Ridley-Thomases also gave political batons to a family member.

Last year, Congresswoman Mia Bonta won the seat previously held by her husband, Attorney General Rob Bonta; Representative Akilah Weber prevailed in a special election after Governor Gavin Newsom appointed her mother, Shirley Weber, Secretary of State. ”