California GOP Primary and Propositions Recommendations: Part One

Tuesday, June 8 is Primary Election Day in California. There are a number of candidates to choose from in the GOP Primary.

If you are confused on whom to vote for and what ballot propositions to support or oppose, here's some recommendations for the GOP Primary. More recommendations will be posted at a later date.

For Governor: Meg Whitman. Whitman is a strong fiscal conservative who may be able to straighten out California's financial mess. Steve Poizner is no conservative, despite what his ads say. Whitman also would have the financial means to conduct a winning general election campaign against former Governor Jerry Brown (a.k.a. Governor Moonbeam).

For Attorney General: Tom Harman.

United States Senator: Carly Fiorina. Carly Fiorina would be a strong voice in the U.S. Senate for gun owners. So would Chuck DeVore. But Fiorina would have the financial means to wage a vigorous campaign against Barbara Boxer. Boxer has shown what she would fight from the gutter in past campaigns. Fiorina would be able to overcome that. Tom Campbell has cast many anti-gun votes during his political career. So he's no friend to gun owners.

U.S. Representative, 27th District (San Fernando Valley): Mark Reed. Navaraj Singh was the GOP nominee for congress two years ago and did not mount much of a campaign. Mark Reed has entertainment industry ties and may be able to raise the funds to mount a campaign against Brad Sherman. Although the district is heavily Democrat, there may be enough angry Democrats over the socialist votes Sherman cast since Obama took office to vote Republican. Let's give Reed a chance and see how he performs.

The Propositions:

Proposition 14: No. This is just a scheme to rig California elections so that the top two vote-getters square off in the general election. The top two could be Democrats, thus leaving Republicans with no candidate!

Proposition 15: No. Public financing of candidates for California Secretary of State. The state is already broke, need I say more?

Proposition 13: Yes. Limits on property tax assessment. Prevents reassessment of existing properties (i.e., higher taxes) that are retrofitted to meet seismic regulations. This will prevent seismic improvements to cause existing properties to be reassessed at a higher value, causing higher taxes.

Proposition 16: Yes. Imposes new two-thirds voter approval requirement before local municipalities can get into the electricity provider business. Definitely one to vote for!

Proposition 17: Yes. Allows auto insurance companies to base their prices on a driver's history of insurance coverage.

Los Angeles Unified School District Special Election:

Measure E: No. Another tax increase scheme. If this passes, and if you are a renter, your landlord would be pressed to raise your rent to pay the tax. Over the past 13 years, the LAUSD lived high on the hog with voter-approved bond measures. Now they want even more money!

There are other offices where there is a contested primary campaign. Those will be covered in a future post.