I spend a lot of time deciding how I will vote. The major offices and races are easy. It’s the ones that don’t make the news, or are confusing, that take the most time. I try to sort these out based on endorsements from people and organizations I trust, like Kevin Jenkins, our City Councilmember, and SEIU Local 1021. If I’m still not sure, I read the arguments more carefully. I found KQED and CapRadio particularly helpful.I make the best choices I can with the information available. I exercise my own biases. It’s my vote.
I offer this to my readers not to tell you how to vote, but,
if you’re curious and for your own consideration as you mark your ballot.
Statewide Offices
Governor: Xavier Becerra
Lieutenant Governor: Fiona Ma
Secretary of State: Shirley Weber
Controller: Malia Cohen
Treasurer: Eleni Kounalakis
Attorney General: Rob Bonta
Insurance Commissioner: Jane Kim
State Board of Equalization, District 2: Sally Lieber
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Richard Barrera
Federal and State Legislative Offices
U.S. Congress, District 12: Lateefah Simon
State Assembly, District 18: Mia Bonta
Judicial Offices
California Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal: Yes on all
judicial retention questions.
Transit Districts
AC Transit Director, Ward 4: Sarah Syed
BART Director, District 4: Robert Raburn
California Propositions
Proposition 1: Yes
Housing affordability bonds.
Proposition 2: Yes
Increases the state’s rainy day fund.
Proposition 3: Yes
Extends the existing high-income tax to provide permanent funding for schools
and health care.
Proposition 4: Yes
Allows public financing of election campaigns.
Proposition 5: Yes
Changes the statewide recall election process.
Proposition 37: Yes
Creates a new home loan program for middle-income buyers.
Proposition 38: No
Bonds for immunology and immunotherapy research.
Proposition 39: No
Requires government-issued identification to vote.
Proposition 40: Yes
A one-time tax on billionaires.
Proposition 41: No
Restricts certain new state taxes and requires additional audits.
Proposition 42: No
Prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive taxes.
Proposition 43: No
Limits voters’ ability to raise revenues for local government services.
Proposition 44: Yes
Requires certain community health clinics to spend at least 90 percent of
revenue on program services.
Proposition 45: No
Changes environmental review procedures for certain projects.
Regional and Local Measures
Measure RTM: Yes
Regional transit funding, including BART.
Measure EE: Yes
Changes Oakland’s city government to a stronger-mayor system.
Measure FF: Yes
Changes the real estate transfer tax to eliminate certain foreclosure-related
exemptions.
City of Oakland
Mayor: No vote
City Council, District 6: Kevin Jenkins
City Auditor: Michael Houston
School Board Director, District 6: Valarie Bachelor
My Notes
A word about age and public office
I am not voting for anyone over 75 for any office, even our
amazing Barbara Lee. She’s an amazing person, a good mayor, and I think she
should retire rather than stay in office until she’s too old. Make room for the
people coming up. We have a great bench. Thank you for your service.
Jane Kim, Insurance Commissioner
I voted for Jane Kim based on her endorsements and
experience.
Sally Lieber, State Board of Equalization
I voted for Sally Lieber based on her experience and
reputation.
Richard Barrera, Superintendent of Public Instruction
I voted for Richard Barrera because of his experience and my
doubts about Sonja Shaw.
Judges
I like that judges are not political. If they’re not
controversial, they haven’t been targeted rightfully or wrongfully, and judged
competent by their peers, I’m content to confirm them in office.
Sarah Syed, AC Transit
I voted for Sarah Syed because I think she does a good job
for us and because of her experience.
Robert Raburn, BART
I voted for Robert Raburn because of his experience and good
work, and because Luis Reynoso is a former Republican candidate for Congress
and a political gadfly.
Proposition 37: Housing
Anything that makes housing more affordable is a step in the
right direction.
Proposition 38: Medical Research Bonds
This strikes me as a personal proposition of Gary K.
Michelson, with a substantial share of the funds going to a foundation
associated with him. I don’t believe private citizens, even wealthy ones, even
good guys, should be able to decide how we issue public bonds.
Proposition 39: Voting Restrictions
This one’s easy for me. It’s the Trump voting restrictions
proposition.
Proposition 40: Billionaire Tax
I think this is bad legislation, poorly written. But I find
the money being spent in opposition to it disgusting. The advertisements are
filled with what I regard as lies and deception. I’m voting for it in spite of
my reservations about the legislation itself. Because the opposition stinks.
Propositions 41, 42 and 43: Tax Restrictions
I see Propositions 41, 42 and 43 as poison pills that would
undermine Proposition 40 if it passes.
Proposition 44: Community Health Clinics
Again, I don’t like special-interest propositions, but this
is a step in the right direction. Let’s spend the money on the programs. I’ve
seen too many foundations where the officers make outrageous salaries.
Proposition 45: Environmental Reviews
I see this as developers and the California Chamber of
Commerce trying to weaken our environmental laws. I think we need to take
another look at CEQA, the California Environmental Quality Act, but this isn’t
the way to do it.
Measure RTM: Regional Transit Funding
I don’t like sales taxes, and I don’t like adding to them.
They’re regressive taxes that fall disproportionately on the poor. But until we
revise our taxing policies, I see this as the way to keep BART and other
transit services operating.
Measure EE: Stronger Mayor
I’m not entirely sure about this measure. But Kevin Jenkins
endorses it, and I trust Kevin.
Measure FF: Real Property Transfer Tax
This eliminates loopholes in Oakland’s real property
transfer tax. Tax the rich.
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