This coming spring expect to find stuffed mailboxes — stuffed with election material solicitations for votes and campaign contributions. June 3 is the statewide Primary date.
Besides the statewide offices such as governor and attorney general, several local races will be on the June Primary and then the November General Election ballot this year.
While the terms of California’s U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein do not expire this year, U.S. Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz faces a challenge from Assemblyman Brian Nestande.
Idyllwild’s State Assemblyman Barry Jones will be up for re-election and may be challenged in the Primary as he was in 2012.
Already, several candidates, including Jeff Stone, Riverside County 3rd District supervisor, have announced their campaigns for the 28th State Senate district seat, in which Idyllwild is located. Due to the 2010 redistricting, this seat was not on the 2012 ballot, so it is currently vacant. Other candidates include former State Assemblyman Bonnie Garcia and Indio City Councilman Glenn Miller.
Countywide offices also will be on the ballot. District Attorney Paul Zellerbach, who unseated incumbent Rod Pacheco in 2010, will face competition from Michael Hestrin, a county deputy district attorney. Other county officers, such as sheriff, auditor and assessor, also will be the ballot.
Of course, propositions will be on both ballots. Two measures are already scheduled for the June Primary.
The first is titled, “Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act of 2014 and Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Act of 2014.” The State Legislature passed AB 639, which amends the Veterans Bond Act of 2008, to reduce the amount of bonds authorized under that act from $900 million to $300 million. The “Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Act of 2014” would authorize another $600 million for expenditure by the State’s Housing Finance Agency, and Departments of Housing and Community Development and Veterans Affairs. The act requires voter approval.
The second is SCA 3, which would amend the state constitution to ensure the public’s right to information. This measure specifies that all local government agencies are required to comply with the California Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act and removes the mandate that the state reimburse local entities for the costs of following these laws.
The proposal’s sponsor, Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said, “The state should not have to provide a fiscal incentive to local governments so that they comply with these important transparency laws.”
J.P. Crumrine can be reached at [email protected].
