Here's What the Mayor & Chamber of Commerce VP Say...
What do you call a resident of Lompoc?
Recently, I posed this question to our mayor, Dick DeWees. Mayor DeWees said he believes "Lompocian" is the correct term.
"It kind of flows off the tongue," he reasoned.
The mayor suggested that I ask Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Denny Anderson, which I did. Mr. Anderson assured me that "Lompocan" is the preferred term. To bolster his position, he cited the use of "Lompocan" by The Lompoc Record newspaper.
Texas native, Anne Elliot, notes that Lompocan, like Texan, has a no-nonsense ring to it. Lompocian, on the other hand, is softer, even lyrical! Meanwhile, our informal poll shows (as of June 7th) "Lompocian" leading "Lompocan" by twelve percentage points. Still, the definitive term eludes us.
Is someone reading this right now, an English teacher perhaps, who can crack this conundrum once and for all? Or, is this one mystery that we are doomed never to solve???!!!
(Take our "What's in a Name" poll, at left.)
Here's What The Lompoc Record's Bob Wiener Says...
Lompoc Online received the following email from Mr. Wiener:
Good morning,
As a former English teacher and as a Lompoc Record writer, I have already voted for the term that I have heard the most (almost solely)
until the recent debate started --- "Lompocan." I have lived here since 1971. As for "Lompocian," it makes me think the place of origin
must be "Lompocia," which of course it isn't.
For analogies to back up the simpler -an ending, people from Europe have that suffix added, as do people from Hawaii. In dealing with
Spanish place names, an original -o is replaced with -an as in San Franciscan and San Diegan, while those place names that already end
in -a just add the -n (Santa Marian and Venturan).
Inasmuch as the Chamber of Commerce and the local newspaper have been inclined to use "Lompocan" over so many more years than
the mayor has lived here (no offense intended), why are we debating this? Shouldn't our focus be on matters of greater long-term
importance to this town's quality of life?
By the way, congratulations on a fine website.
Respectfully,
Bob Wiener
Lompoc Online Responds...
Thanks to Bob Wiener for clarifying this point. His analogies make sense and I defer to his superior credentials and knowledge!
Still, clarification was needed, I think. Why else would "Lompocian" have led in our poll for these many months? And, why else would people have so many different opinions about the answer?
I must take issue, however, with Mr. Wiener's assertion that our focus should be on "matters of greater long-term importance to this town's quality of life." To me, the lighthearted exchange of views is a very real part of any town's quality of life!
The serious work of reporting the news is better left up to our capable, hometown newspaper, The Lompoc Record. The Lompoc Online website, on the other hand, is just a lighthearted place for Lompocans and former Lompocans to spend some time, online.
I sincerely thank Mr. Wiener for taking the time to write, and for his kind words about this website.
-- Bonny Shilton
Lompoc Online
Another Choice?
Thanks to Dennis Headrick for the following suggestion :-)
As a second generation LOMPOCAN....and former pres. of the Lompoc Valley Historical Society, I got a kick out of the debate over what a citizen of Lompoc should be called! I've always maintained a warped sense of humor (and why not?) so I always tell people I'm a LOMPUTIAN!
Keep up the good work. Your website has been added to my favorites.
-- Dennis Headrick
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