Vote Early and Often

Stymied on who to vote for?
By Kelvin Wade
June 03, 2010

Several readers have asked me for my picks on next Tuesday's election. While voters need to make up their own minds, I'll tell you what I'm thinking.

For the partisan offices, everyone has his or her own ideology and criteria. You'll get no help from me there as I'll be using a nonpartisan ballot.

As for the rest, the country may be in an anti-incumbent mood but I always ask myself if the incumbent has done something worth firing them over. If they've done a good, competent job, they deserve to stay. That's why I'd keep Solano County Supervisor John Vasquez, as well as Assessor/Recorder Marc Tonnesen.

Given criminal defense attorney Dan Healy's experience as well as the respect and endorsements of sitting and former judges, he's the best choice for Superior Court Judge.

Solano County Superintendent's job seems like a good fit for the well-credentialed Jay Speck. But education is such a problem that I'd buck the conventional wisdom and seriously consider Joe Jones. No, the teachers' unions do not endorse him, but I like his focus on fundraising for schools, more parental involvement and vocational education. I like the idea of electing someone who started out as a custodian and rose to be an administrator.

As for the propositions, Proposition 13 is an easy yes vote. This measure would allow all buildings that are retrofitted with earthquake safety upgrades to be exempt from property tax reassessment until they're sold. Don't wrack your brain. It's really a matter of changing a statute that should have been changed long ago. There is no formal opposition to this measure. When do you see that?

Proposition 14 would allow open primaries but then only permit the top two vote getters to appear on the November ballot. This measure will effectively kill third parties and drive down voter participation in the fall. Not only would I vote no, I think maybe I'll scrawl a 'Heck no' on my ballot.

Proposition 15 would repeal the ban on public financing of campaigns and allow a pilot program of public financing of the secretary of state race for 2014 and 2018. The goal is to have clean elections devoid of big special interest money. The financing would come from higher fees paid by lobbyists, qualified contributions and voluntary tax check-off donations. The pilot program would end in 2019 and we can evaluate how it worked. Why not vote yes for a pilot program?

Proposition 16 is the so-called Taxpayers Right To Vote measure. Basically, some local governments want to go into the power business and PG&E doesn't want the competition. So PG&E is backing this initiative to require these local governments to get a two-thirds voter approval in order to do this. I'm saying no to this 'PG&E Profit Protection Initiative.'

Proposition 17 allows auto insurance companies to base their rates in part on drivers' history of insurance coverage in California. So Mercury Insurance is spending millions on a measure in order to give people discounts? Really? If this wasn't designed to line corporate pockets, they wouldn't be doing it. That's why it deserves a no.

So that's how I see it. Even if you disagree with my picks, it doesn't matter unless you vote Tuesday. Peace.

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ADDITIONAL NOTES: To be honest I don't really enjoy these types of columns. Several readers asked for my take on the June 8th election. I feel it's presumptuous to go down the line and tell people who and what to vote for. But if there are undecided voters out there who need prodding and really want my take, who am I to stand in their way? Clip the column, attach it to your shirt as a cheatsheet and take it to the polls.

One of the more difficult picks was Superintendent. Jay Speck has all the right qualifications to do a good job. But education is a real wild card. We've got a high drop out rate. We have kids struggling with the STAR test. We're in bad shape. And I think in education, it's okay to throw the Hail Mary. It's okay to cut against the grain. Though I think Speck will win, I think his opponent Joe Jones is a more interesting choice.

On the propositions, it's not often that we have a proposition that has no formal opposition like Proposition 13. That's weird.

Proposition 14 would be great if it just allowed open primaries. The truth is while some voters are staunch this or staunch that, an increasing number of voters are floaters. They're people who think the Democrats go too far with Nanny Government and think the Republicans are in the tank for corporations and too close to radical religion. There are people who believe in government regulation, a social safety net but also are fiscally conservative. There are people out there who would vote for a moderate Democrat or a moderate Republican. But what prop. 14 does by whittling the November ballot down to two names totally wipes out third parties. It basically tells third party voters to stay away from the polls.

I can support Proposition 15 because it sets up a pilot program to see how public financing would work in the Secretary of State race. Wouldn't it be great for average people to be able to run for office and not be scared away by having to raise tons of cash? And I like the fact that the proposition sunsets. Now, the repeal of public financing doesn't sunset so I know that worries some people. But I like how the money is raised primarily from lobbyists. Still, the thing that bothers me about it is I generally dislike new revenue streams being used for anything other than closing our budget gap. So that was a toughie for me. But if this can help get big money out of politics and bring in quality people who aren't beholden to special interests, than it's worth it.

Proposition 16 is a joke. If a corporation puts something on the ballot and pours millions into it, I'm voting against it. Corporations have one goal and that's to make a profit. Nothing wrong with making some serious coin. But if a corporation is backing a measure telling me that the measure is for my own good, then they're just blowing smoke and I don't trust them.

Proposition 17? See Proposition 16 above.

I hope people vote. We're being given an opportunity to let our voice be heard. How can you forego it? People have died for this right. Died. How can you not cast a vote?