My recommendations below are purely my own. Take what you like and leave the rest. I am no political expert, but I do take the time to research as much as I can on the ballot and make informed decisions. If you want more impartial information please check out the smart voter guide posted by the League of Women Voters http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/la/ and look up your ballot on the right hand side of the screen.
State assembly district 51: Luis Lopez
As many of you know, I am a very big supporter of Luis Lopez. Luis is a fantastic candidate with a strong commitment to the communities of northeast LA. His values are fantastic, but beyond being able to answer all the progressive questions correctly (healthcare, education, environment, jobs, women's rights, etc.) Luis has the experience and depth to vote his conscience. He is one of the few candidates I know
who is not drunk with dreams of being the next president. He is in this race to serve people, not his own self interest. It is rare to have the opportunity to elect a leader who will do right.
State assembly district 50: Torie Osborn
While I do not live in the 50th district, I am also a big supporter of Torie's. I have known Torie for close to a decade. I worked for her when she was the Executive Director of the Liberty Hill Foundation. I also worked with her when she worked for Mayor Villaraigosa. I have seen Torie up close, under pressure and know that she is driven by her commitment to social justice.
LA District Attorney: Danette E. Meyers
First off, anyone other than Trutanich. I am so ready for Trutanich to be gone from political life. The good news is that there are very qualified DA candidates running against Trutanich. I was a bit torn between candidates Jackie Lacey and Danette Meyers for DA, but after quite a bit of research I am throwing my hat behind Danette. Danette is by far the most progressive candidate for DA. Her campaign is focused on equal access to the justice system and alternative sentencing - two areas that can both improve justice served and save tax payer dollars. She is also supporting the November ballot initiative to end executions under the death penalty, which she says is too broken to be fixed. I agree.
Prop 28: Yes
Prop 28 would change term limit law to allow state assemblymembers and senators to serve up to 12 years in either house. Currently state legislators can serve 6 years in the assembly and 8 years in the state senate for a combination of 14 years if they serve in both. This proposition would limit the total time in the state legislature to 12 years, but allow them to serve that 12 years in either house. This is important because legislators who clearly understand the rules of the body they serve in can govern more effectively.
Prop 29: No
I am not a fan of “sin taxes” and definitely not a fan of sin taxes that then mandate the creation of a wasteful new government entity. Prop 29 would increase the state tax on cigarettes from $.87 per pack to $1.87 per pack and use the revenue to create a new state-run cancer research infrastructure. I am anti-cancer, but our state has a lot of pressing needs right now and this is not a good source of revenue or a good use of tax revenue.
LA County Measure H: Yes
This is a simple ratification of an existing tax on hotels at Marina Del Rey because of a law suit challenging county taxes voted on after 1990. This does not change anything, but protects this revenue source from future legal challenges.
LA County Measure L: Yes
Like Measure H, this is a simple ratification of an existing tax on landfill operators.
Superior Court Judge office 114: Eric Harmon
Making well informed choices about electing judges is virtually
impossible, but I do believe that this is one race when Eric Harmon is
clearly the best candidate. Endorsed by the LA Times and close
friends, I have heard nothing but praise for this candidate.
I have not researched all the other judicial candidates well, but here is the LA Times recommendations for the other judges:
Office No. 3: Sean Coen. Coen is a deputy district attorney whose courtroom experience, integrity and demeanor put him ahead of the other three candidates. He's an experienced felony trial prosecutor who knows his way around the courtroom.
Office No. 10: Sanjay T. Kumar. Kumar is an outstanding incumbent judge who is on the ballot only because he has been challenged by a lawyer who in a previous judicial race received a "not qualified" rating from the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. Kumar, rated "exceptionally well qualified," is by far the better choice.
Office No. 38: Lynn D. Olson. Olson wasn't qualified for the job when voters elected her six years ago, but she has worked hard to get up to speed and now does competent and credible work on the bench. The clincher is that her only opponent is a perennial candidate who is not fit to be a judge.
Office No. 65: Andrea Thompson. In a race among three skilled prosecutors, Thompson is the best choice for judge because she combines her first-rate courtroom skills and years of experience with the impressive air of calm that has made her so effective working with children who have allegedly been sexually abused.
Office No. 78: James D. Otto. Like Kumar, Otto is a well-regarded and experienced judge who deserves to remain on the bench.
