By Jim Porter, Special to THE SIERRA SUN (Lake Tahoe, CA)
Many of us just received our Sample Ballots for the upcoming June 8 statewide primary election. As usual, the accompanying Voter Information Pamphlet is close to 100 pages. The text of the proposed laws is at times indecipherable.
And with that explanation, I humbly offer my suggestions, for what they are worth, for the statewide Propositions and Nevada and Placer County candidates. Chuck this if you want, but do vote on the 8th.
Statewide ballot initiatives
Prop 13: Yes. This Proposition, recommended unanimously by the California Legislature, encourages property owners to retrofit buildings for earthquakes, especially brick buildings, which are most vulnerable.
Prop 14: Yes. Yes. Yes. This Legislature-proposed bill deserves your support. This law will allow voters to choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s political party for elections for congressional, legislative and statewide offices. Rather than Republicans nominating conservatives in their primaries and Democrats nominating liberals in their primaries, often resulting in politicians at the extreme ends of the spectrum, voters may choose any candidate regardless of the candidate’s party, which will result in more moderate candidates being elected — much needed in Sacramento.
Prop 15: A soft No. This so-called California Fair Elections Act is a well-intended pilot program for public financing of campaigns which also repeals the ban on public funding of political campaigns. If you are a diehard public funding advocate, vote Yes. I am leaning No for the reasons identified in the Official Voter Information Guide.
Prop 16: No, No, No. PG&E has spent nearly $35 million misleading voters on this PG&E-proposed monopoly-protecting measure to require a two-thirds vote for local public electricity providers. There is nothing good in Prop 16 — except for utility companies.
Prop 17: No. This is another misleading bill proposed by Mercury Insurance which would add surcharges to auto insurance customers who previously didn’t have insurance. Any measure proposed by a special interest makes me suspect, and in this case deservedly so.
Nevada County
Assessor: Rolf Kleinhans, for an extremely critical reason: only Kleinhans is qualified for this position.
Clerk-Recorder: Gregory J. Diaz. Again, Diaz is the only qualified candidate and believe me, he is well qualified. He was unanimously appointed by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.
Auditor-Controller: Marcia L. Salter. Unopposed and a “rock star” as described to me. All of the “Unopposeds” deserve your vote.
District Attorney: Clifford H. Newell, unopposed.
Sheriff-Coroner: Keith W. Royal, unopposed.
Superintendent of Schools: Holly A. Hermansen, unopposed.
Treasurer/Tax Collector. Your choice.
Placer County
Superior Court Judge, Office One: Larry D. Gaddis, the incumbent, deserves your vote.
Superintendent of Schools: Gayle Garbolino-Mojica, unopposed. Like the other “Unopposeds”, deserves your support.
Assessor: Kristen B. Spears, unopposed.
Auditor-Controller: Katherine Jean Martinis. The best choice.
Clerk-Recorder-Registrar: Jim McCauley, unopposed.
District Attorney: Ronald Scott Owens, unopposed.
Sherriff-Coroner-Marshall: Edward N. Bonner, unopposed.
Treasurer-Tax Collector: Jenine Wideshausen, unopposed.
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Jim Porter is an attorney with Porter Simon, with offices in Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village and Reno. He is a mediator and was the Governor’s appointee to the Fair Political Practices Commission and McPherson Commission, both involving election law and the Political Reform Act. He may be reached at porter@portersimon.com or at the firm’s web site www.portersimon.com.
Tags: big corporations, deceptive, Mercury, Prop 17, voters
