Vox Publica

Marga’s Election Choices

Marga’s Election Choices

I’m not going to be in San Leandro during the upcoming elections, so I’ve had to make up my mind and vote a little bit early. The following are the candidates I’ve voted for and the reasons why I've chosen them. Note that these are my personal choices and that Mike may vote differently.

Governor: Barbara Becnel

I don’t think either of the two main candidates would be optimal choices for California, and they are both running negative campaigns that have turned me off. Looking at the other choices, Becnel seems to have the most progressive agenda, and she seems to understand the importance of reforming the justice system in California.

Lieutenant Governor: Jackie Speier

I have reservations about some of the bills she has sponsored (for example one limiting the sale of cold medicines and another mandating that released sex offenders have a GPS devise at all times), but she’s been a leader on the issue of prison reform which I think is one of the most important issues for California. I hope she’ll continue working on that.

Secretary of State: Debra Bowen

She has a strong record on privacy issues, has embraced technology but is very skeptical of electronic voting, recognizing that the potential for fraud and abuse are quite large.

Controller: Joe Dunn

He stood up to Enron and the National Guard spying on protesters. This is probably a hold position on his way to a governor’s race, and he’d probably make a better candidate than the 2 we have now. Plus he seems to be less pro-business than Chiang.

Attorney General: Jerry Brown

He’s predictably unpredictable, and as a matter of course I don’t want prosecutors, with their biased view of their criminal justice system, in office.

Insurance Commissioner: John Kraft

He’s not Bustamante

US Senator: Colleen Fernald

Feinstein should really change parties, as she’s a Republican at heart and in deed. There is no chance someone will unseat her, but I’m not voting for her. Colleen Fernald listed her job as “Mother” which I like.

Representative: Stark

OK, so he’s running unopposed but he’s great

State Senator: Ellen Corbett

I’ve met with both Klehs and Corbett (Dutra is another guy who is in the wrong party), and I liked both of them. I’d be happy with either of them in the Assembly and I’m worried that they will split the liberal vote and Dutra will end up winning. But of the two I’m ultimately going with Corbett. She’s a woman - and we need more women in government -, she is a mother - which means she is personally invested in the future of the state - and she is local (I’ve run into her at the Farmer’s market and seen her at civic events, plus her headquarters are here in San Leandro). Most importantly, early polls showed she was ahead and in this particular race, where the objective is for Dutra to lose, I’d probably back whoever had the greatest chance of winning.

18th Assembly District: Mary Hayashi

I talked to both candidates and was impressed by Mary’s enthusiasm and desire to go and make a difference. She’s an advocate for mental health, so clearly that’s where her priorities are, but it’s also clear that she’s not going to the Assembly just to warm a seat or add something to her resume. She also seems like a very intelligent woman, and I think she’s someone I could work with, or at least lobby, on civil liberties issues in California.

More info on my talk with her here

County Central Committee Members: Everyone BUT Robin Torello

You get to chose 6 out of 7 candidates. Robin Torello is 1)an incumbent and 2)didn’t submit any info to smartvoter.org

Judge Office No. 21: Dennis Hayashi

He seems to be among the most liberal, has experience on civil rights, has Barbara Lee’s endorsement and he went to Hastings ☺

State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Sarah Knopp

I like to vote 3rd party when I can, and Sarah Knopp is a Green running on a very progressive platform. I don’t agree with all of it - I think vouchers may be a good idea - but it’d be nice to see some new, energetic blood dealing with these issues.

County Superintendent of Schools: John Bernard

I like his emphasis on Juvenile Hall education, for which the county is responsible, and on multicultural education (that’s what his PhD is on). Plus his opponent endorses Prop 82, which I have already determined is a very bad idea - and she got a $60K raise. There were questions about John Bernard allowing the teaching of creationism in the schools, but after talking to him I trust that the his views were misrepresented, see here

Member board of education trustee: Esther Holcomb

Her opponent is too chummy with the county superintendent and it does seem he’d rubber stamp whatever she wanted to do.

Supervisor 3rd District: Alice Lai-Bitker

Nardine didn’t offer more than platitudes on her website, Sheila Young’s platform of economic development and neighborhood revitalization seems hollow given San Leandro’s lack on both regards, and Jim Price hasn’t convince me he’s not just ranting.

Treasurer: Donald R. White

Couldn’t find any info on his opponent.

Treasurer: Write In

I don’t like to vote for people who run unopposed (Stark, above, is the exception) so I’ll be writing in somebody’s name.

Member, State Board of Equalization 1st District: Write In

Assessor: Write In

Auditor: Write In

District Attorney: Write In

Sheriff: Write In

Mayor: Marcene Nardine

I’ve talked to OB Badger (see here) but I haven’t talked to Santos, the two major mayoral candidates. For what I’ve been able to find out both of them are pretty much the same. They both have the backing of the Sentinels (the political arm of the Chamber of Commerce) and they are both part of the old-boy network. Badger is black, and it’d be nice to have a black mayor in San Leandro, but he’s received almost $50,000 on contributions to his campaign and that means he owes a lot of political favors. Santos seems more responsive to his district’s needs, but he’s been on city council for over 20 years and I’d like to see new blood (particularly minority blood) in there. I examined their recent voting record, and they both seem to vote the same way on most issues. As I haven’t made up my mind, I’m voting for Nardine hoping that there will be a run-off in November and I’ll have more time to decided on one candidate.

Council, District 1: Michael Gregory

I had a very long talk with Gregory (here) and he impressed me as being intelligent, analytical, a critical thinker and having the commitment and motivation to improve the running of the city and life in San Leandro.

Council, District 3: Diana Souza

I’ve also talked to her (here) and she gave me the impression of being intelligent and committed to San Leandro (i.e. not just there to fill the seat). Polvorosa, her major opponent, said at the mayoral candidates forum he was running just because his friends asked him to, not a good reason in my view. Plus he’s also part of the old-boys network which needs to be broken in San Leandro.

Council, District 5: Write In

‘Cause Bill Stephens is running unopposed

Measures:

81. Public Library Bond: Yes

I think libraries are the centers of many communities in California, and they need to be supported and improved.

82. Preschool Education: No

I support universal preschool education, but I think this bill does it the wrong way. It’s too expensive, it creates a new bureaucracy, it will allow the state to set curriculi and will likely do away with choice in preschool education. For a more detailed analysis see here

I - Increases Business License fee in San Leandro: Yes

Even the Chamber agrees that our business license fee is too low. It will still be too low after this measure passes, significantly lower than in neighboring cities, but it’s a start and our city really needs the money.

Posted by marga at May 27, 2006 3:09 PM | TrackBack