Primary election roundup
Gordon Clanton
Fun facts about your June 5 ballot. Roseanne Barr is running for president, seeking the nomination of the Green Party. One candidate for the American-Independent nomination is named “Mad Max.” The Libertarians have NINE presidential candidates. Brian Bilbray’s daughter Briana, who supports medical marijuana, is a candidate for Republican County Committee.
The Republican presidential ballot lists six contenders, including Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum. Remember them? Once again, California’s late primary leaves the state with no meaningful voice in a presidential nomination. This frees my Republican friends to indulge in whimsy and vote from their hearts, perhaps to write in Grover Norquist.
I really miss Newt.
Yes on 28. I oppose legislative term limits. They rob state legislatures of institutional memory and needed expertise — and they empower corporate lobbyists.
This ballot measure does not undo term limits. It simply allows someone elected to the Assembly or the state Senate to serve all of his or her term-limited years in one house, thus reducing the number of Assembly members who run for the Senate. And it would encourage the development of skill and expertise in the workings of one house or the other — something sadly missing in Sacramento. Prop 28 also would reduce the total number of years one could serve in either or both houses from 14 to 12. The measure applies only to newly elected legislators. It would not extend the term of anyone currently serving.
Yes on 29. The only opposition to this sensible public health measure comes from Big Tobacco ($30M) and some of the small businesses that sell cigarettes. Prop 29 raises the tax on cigarettes and spends the money on cancer research.
No on A. San Diego voters should reject this anti-labor initiative. Even anti-tax advocate Scott Barnett opposes it, because if it passes, San Diego will lose out on millions in state construction funds.
No on B. This San Diego measure is part of Carl DeMaio’s campaign for mayor. It proposes to “fix” the pension crisis by ending fixed-benefit pensions and forcing future city employees, without the cushion of Social Security, into riskier 401-k retirement accounts. Independent analysis shows that this switch will cost the city money, not save money. Of the four mayoral candidates, only Bob Filner opposes this scape-goating plan to blame and punish city employees for a financial crisis they did not cause.
Judges. After consultation with attorney friends, I am voting for Terrie Eileen Roberts, George Schaeffer, and Garland Peed.
Gordon Clanton teaches Sociology at San Diego State University.
He welcomes comments at gclanton@mail.sdsu.edu.
Related posts:
- Primary election post-mortem
- Primary election kaleidoscope, II
- Primary election kaleidoscope
- Election picture comes into focus as filing deadline hits
- Election shows some anti-bias progress
Short URL: http://www.delmartimes.net/?p=35504
Posted by Staff
on May 24, 2012. Filed under Editorial Columns, One View.
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