Chairman of 'Save the Seal' Expects to Meet Ballot Measure Deadline
Monday, Sept. 26 is the last day for supporters of the original Los Angeles County Seal to turn in 170,606 of the required petition signatures to qualify the initiative for a ballot vote next year.
LOS ANGELES – Only five days remain for supporters of the original Los Angeles County Seal to collect around one-half of the petition signatures needed to qualify for a ballot vote next year. But the chairman of the committee spearheading the drive believes they will be able to meet the Sept. 26 deadline.
David Hernandez, chairman of the Committee to Support the Los Angeles County Seal Ordinance, said they have been "bombarded" with requests for petition forms following the media's run of the issue in news last week.
"We're down to the last two days we can mail (petition forms) to people so that's what we're focusing on right now," Hernandez told The Christian Post Tuesday.
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As of Tuesday, the Committee has gathered 92,616 petition signatures, according to its website, and reported that 77,384 signatures are needed to fulfill the petition quota of 170,606 signatures.
The drive is in response to a 3-2 decision made by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors to remove a cross from the County Seal. The American Civil Liberties Union had threatened suit unless the cross from the seal was removed, alleging that the image was unconstitutional because it represented a government endorsement of religion.
Supporters of the seal have been busy sending petition forms and continuing to get the word out.
Hernandez said that in addition to appearing a several television shows this past week, he took time on Sunday to visit the Crenshaw Christian Center, which turned in 1,300 signatures.
Carlos Ortega is another strong advocate for keeping the version of the seal used since 1957. As a talk-radio host, Ortega has been urging Hispanic listeners to his radio show to support keeping the cross on the seal as representation of their cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Hernandez notes that volunteers are still in the process of opening mail that contain completed petition forms, each averaging 3-5 signatures.
Although there are a lot of signatures, he said, volunteers are counting and examining each one to make sure they belong to registered voters in the Los Angeles County who have completed the form with their names, signatures, and addresses. The County will not count incomplete petition forms toward the total.
Supporters of the original seal hope to get forms out to more people Wednesday night when some churches meet.
On Sunday, churches will make a final call for petition signatures which will later be gathered by volunteers later in the day.
The Committee will also be holding a petition signing event at the Verdugo Park in Glendale, Calif., this Sunday.
Petitions must be submitted to the County's Register Recorder Office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday in order to place a measure to return the cross to the County seal on the June 2006 ballot.
Hernandez said that there are many people participating in the petition drive for many reasons. The initiative was not only about protecting the historical aspect of the seal, he said, but also about people's right to participate.
"People who weren't able to come together on other issues are able to unite on this one," said Hernandez.
Requests for petition forms can be made at: http://savetheseal.net/get-petition.php or by calling visiting the Committee's website, savetheseal.net.
