Political news and views from the Idyllwild perspective.
Assembly District 71 stretches from Idyllwild in Riverside County to the California border. Consisting mostly of rural mountain country or desert, much of the population is clustered in the southwestern suburban part of the district near San Diego. The voting population of the district is skewed heavily Republican with nearly a 9-point registration edge (37…
By Marshall Smith Correspondent Proposition 72, on the June ballot as a constitutional amendment, proposes to exclude rain-water capture systems added after Jan. 1, 2019, from property-tax assessments as new construction. The California Constitution permits the Legislature to exempt some construction on existing property from property tax reassessment requirements. California voters have a history of…
By Marshall Smith Correspondent Proposition 68, titled the “Parks, Environment and Water Bond,” would allow the state to sell $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to pay for improvements in water and park infrastructure — specifically for creating and rehabilitating state and local parks, natural resources protection projects and climate-adaptation projects. It appropriates money from…
Proposition 64 proposes to legalize growing, possession and use of recreational marijuana for persons 21 years or older, subject to certain restrictions. A “yes” vote would authorize new sales and cultivation taxes, and require licenses for businesses selling and dispensing marijuana for recreational use. A “yes” vote would also affect how use of currently legal…
On Oct. 6, Supervisor Chuck Washington and Hemet Council member Shellie Mine, candidates for the Riverside County 3rd District supervisor’s seat, were in Idyllwild to share their views and vision for the Hill and the county. The members of the audience posed all of the questions to the candidates. The questions were Idyllwild-centric. The candidates…
State Sen. Jeff Stone (R-28) is concerned about national security and homeland security threats facing our country. He believes these threats are imminent and that too little is being done to address them. He also is frustrated that the current California tax structure prevents California from being a business-friendly state, and interferes with job creation…
Proposition 59, the “California Overturn of Citizens United Act Advisory Question,” if passed, would support encouraging the state’s elected officials to use their authority to overturn the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission 558 U.S. 310 (2010), potentially through a constitutional amendment or other means. Furthermore, the initiative asks officials to “allow…
Proposition 58, titled “California Education for a Global Economy Initiative,” seeks to provide California students bilingual education in English, and one or more other languages in order to equip them to function more productively in an increasingly multilingual and multilateral world economy. The authors of the proposition posit that students for whom English is not…
As the race for Riverside County’s 3rd District supervisor seat winds down, current incumbent Chuck Washington holds a significant cash advantage over challenger Shellie Milne, a member of the Hemet City Council. At the end of September, Washington had more than three times the cash available for the final five weeks of the campaign as…
About 940,000 sample ballots and information pamphlets have started going out to Riverside County voters for the general election on Nov. 8. The initial sample-ballot mailing process began late last week and will be complete by Oct. 11. The Registrar of Voters recommends that voters review the materials before casting an official ballot. These will…
