A welcome voice in politics

Sometimes, there’s little else one can do but throw down the gloves

and fight.

And in the past weeks, that’s just about what Laguna Beach’s Frank

Ricchiazzi has been doing.

Ricchiazzi, an openly gay co-founder of the Log Cabin Republicans

political organization who’s also a notable presence about town, was

thrown unwittingly into a battle between GOP state Senate hopefuls

Assemblymen Ken Maddox, of Garden Grove, and John Campbell, of

Irvine. The two are still in the early stages of their primary

showdown (set for March), but they haven’t shied away from getting

their campaigns off to a head-butting start.

Enter Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols, who has made

national news in the last month with a series of racially charged

comments. Nichols signed on to support Maddox, and when questioned

about it in the Coastline’s sister paper, the Daily Pilot, said: “I

like Campbell, but Campbell has made some endorsements that are

questionable. He appointed a Log Cabin member ... . Ken Maddox

doesn’t have any around-the-back maneuverers.” (Nichols was referring

to Campbell’s appointing Ricchiazzi as a voting delegate to the

California Republican Party in 2000. Maddox has attended Log Cabin

functions, but also said he does not support the group’s political

agenda or “domestic partnerships.”)

Ricchiazzi was quick to respond, sending out an e-mail asking

friends and supporters to tell Maddox what they thought about his

“not speaking up, when his supporters have been attacking John

Campbell for selecting me as his representative.”

He concluded the e-mail by writing: “To Republican activists and

friends, this is democracy, let us give a clear message that we are

not going to tolerate this open bigotry any longer.”

This kind of straight-shooting is what has made Ricchiazzi, or

“Uncle Frank” as he is known, the political powerhouse he is. As

Campbell campaign consultant Chris Wysocki put it: “The only reason

Republicans have a foothold in Laguna Beach is because of the work

Frank Ricchiazzi has done.” His statements decrying bigotry also

represent the welcoming, inclusive attitude of Laguna Beach. “Uncle

Frank” has again proven himself to be a wise voice in an arena,

politics, that is not overfull with wisdom. He deserves credit for

not being afraid to speak out.