Letter: Gallagher shows disregard for law

I read with interest, and I admit some amusement, the letter by Sutter County Supervisor-elect James Gallagher (June 17). I found it interesting because this is an early taste of the issues Mr. Gallagher might find important enough to warrant an address to his constituency. I was amused to find early in his piece a denial of a conclusion that even a casual reader of his letter would almost certainly have reached. That is, Mr. Gallagher appears to not care much for the gay and lesbian lifestyle.

But that is not what prompted me to write this letter. It was Mr. Gallagher's final conclusion that I find so troubling. Mr. Gallagher states, "surely our county officials can disregard the fallacious decision of the California Supreme Court."

Indeed, Mr. Gallagher, an attorney and soon-to-be county supervisor, can suggest the county should simply disregard the rule of law! It is true, after all, that a decision of the California Supreme Court in this matter amounts to a rule of law.

Mr. Gallagher's message, which is so wrapped in rhetoric, including such phrases as "Judeo-Christian cultural tradition," may be moving to some, but certainly does not rise to the level of trumping our laws.

And, as a practicing attorney in California, hasn't Mr. Gallagher sworn to uphold the laws of California? Isn't the oath he swore upon based in some Judeo-Christian cultural tradition as well? Apparently, Mr. Gallagher thinks he knows best which of these expressions of cultural traditions we should all adhere to. Wow!

While the position stated in his letter might be a great attention-grabber for some in the Republican Party and even further personal goals he may have, it should also be a very revealing and disturbing glimpse into the person who will be representing those in Sutter County. Let's hope Mr. Gallagher gains some maturity early in his term as supervisor since such a reckless disregard for the law by an elected county official can certainly lead to both costly litigation and a general lack of respect for our laws.

But I'm not hopeful. After all, Mr. Gallagher is an attorney, so he should already know better, shouldn't he?

Dave Morrison

Yuba City