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November 1998

State and Federal Races

This is easy. Vote a straight Democrat ticket. This is definitely not the year to let radical right erode the possibility of a just society any further.

Although the Green Dan Hamburg might be tempting, I think a vote for him is to the advantage of Dan Lungren, a bonafide asshole who deserves to end his public career this election. Lungren’s hero is Ronald Reagan; he builds jails rather than schools; would trash environmental protections; would reward the rich at the expense of the poor; and is anti-woman. In other words, he’s a Republican. Even scarier is the thought of Dan Lungren appointing judges and redrawing political boundaries after the next Census.

The same holds for the US Senate race. Fong is not moderate—his constuency are the same folks as Lungren. And this year, of all years, we don’t want any more Republicans in the Senate and House.

Judges

Vote Yes for confirming all the California Supreme Court judges in office. There is an ugly shrill anti-choice, anti-minority movement trying to do a Rose Bird number on them, which would really screw up the court if successful.

For Superior Court Judge #3, vote for Allegro. Cena is already a judge and will remain one regardless of the election, and Allegro is getting all the proper endorsements.

Schools

Definitely Delaine Eastin for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Tuchman is Pete Wilson’s shill.

DeAnza-Foothill
Pat Millar has good credentials and reputable endorsements. The others offer stupid statements of qualifications.

Fremont Union District
There are three seats to fill, but only two good candidates. Vote for Rancy Okaura and Kathryn Ho. Don’t vote for Katz (he didn’t even bother to put a statement in the voter handbook, and Boyd is a loose cannon who knows less than he think he does. Boyd was on a City commission two years ago, and was arrogant, ignorant, and divisive. Swell.

Sheriff

Flip a coin. I’ll go for Smith, but I’m not impressed with either candidate.

Propositions

1A

Bonds for schools.
This is OK, though nothing is free. Vote Yes.

1

Another Proposition 13 exemption.
Just goes to show, again, that Prop 13 was stupid. The exemption is OK, for it allows/encourages environmental cleanup, but we really should overhaul Prop 13 altogether. Vote Yes.

2

Keeps revenues targeted for roads and transit locked for that purpose. No arguments against. Vote Yes.

3

Cleans up a stupid measure from last year. Vote Yes.

4

Animal traps.
Interesting dilemma, pits environmental folks against each other. I will vote No, based on the theory that this doesn’t belong on the ballot in the first place, and that trapping animals that don’t belong in habitats (such as the red fox that eats burrowing owls) is unfortunately necessary. Vote No.

5

Indian Gambling.
This pits big money against big money. This isn’t about Indians, it’s about gambling. More gambling is not a good thing—it is mostly a voluntary tax on the poor and on compulsives. Let Nevada have it. Vote No.

6

Horse Meat. Horse shit. Doesn’t belong on ballot. This is another solution looking for a problem—it doesn’t exist. Vote No.

7

Air Quality Tax Credits.
I could go either way on this. Tax credits for businesses who should be cleaning up their air emissions anyway sounds like a bad use of the tax code. On the other hand, reputable environmental folks are behind it to get cleaner air. I’ll vote Yes.

8

Let’s fuck up the schools even more with micromanagment and redundant bureaucracies. This is a Pete Wilson fraud. Vote No.

9

Energy deregulation reregulation. When PG&E and the Environmental Defense Fund agree that Prop 9 is stupid, there’s something to it. As much as Ralph Nader and David Brower have fought the good fight over the decades, this measure will screw things up even more—matters this complex never should be on the ballot anyway. Vote No.

10

Tobacco Tax.
I’ll vote Yes, but reluctantly. Again, why an initiative? But on the other hand, why cigarettes? I’m willing to believe C. Everett Koop on this one. Vote Yes.

11

Revenue Sharing.
This is a technical measure that gives more flexibility to local goverment. That is a good thing. Vote Yes.

Santa Clara County Measures

A

This would help create a little more affordable housing. Not a big deal, and supported across the whole spectrum of politics. (The only arguments against most of the County measures is some nut who is clearly parnoid.) Vote Yes.

B

Technical clean up. Vote Yes

C

Technical clean up and added flexibility. Vote Yes

D

Loosening County residence requirements for advisory boards. I could go either way on this, but I think Yes is OK —the County Taxpayer Association has a history of being loonytoons. Vote Yes.

E

Change term limits from 2 to 3 for Supervisors. Term limits are anti-democratic. Vote Yes.

F

Instant run-off. This is would be an experiment, and currently is not possible technically. It would simplify elections by shortening an expensive campaign cycle. Vote Yes.

Sunnyvale Measures

S

Would require an election if an arbitrator’s decision would mess up the City’s budget. This was the City Council’s response to the public safety officers’ initiative Measure T. Vote Yes.

T

Another stupid, unnecessary measure. This would change the rules of the game in favor of public safety officers. They complain of lack of fairness, lack of respect—yet they have always gotten what they wanted from negotiations. Vote No.