by PeteB2 [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Yes, you read me right.  There is a candidate for Superior Court judge named Bill Johnson who is literally a white supremacist and he's on your ballot if you vote in Los Angeles County.

The thing is, he actually has a shot at winning.  He's got a following with Ron Paul people even though officially Ron Paul has disavowed him and has a shot at sneaking through if his followers are the only ones who vote in this low turnout, non-primary election.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

California voters thought they would bring fiscal constraint and open politicking to election season when they passed Proposition 34 limiting individual contributions to campaigns. Major interest groups however have skirted the limits by making “independent expenditures” for or against candidates. In most instances these expenditures are benign, simply amplifying the messages of the candidate controlled campaigns. On occasion, however, the “IE” becomes a hiding place for below-the-belt attacks. The EdVoice fusillade against Democratic candidate Mariko Yamada in the 8th Assembly District primary election is a prime example.

EdVoice is mounting an attack that says, essentially, that Yamada is the kind of politician who thinks first about feathering her nest – siphoning off tax dollars for her private use. Specifically, they accuse Yamada of voting herself an increase in pay as a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.

by eph89 [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Lost in all the presidential primary news is the fact that California has another important primary coming up on June 3rd. Many of us are boning up on Prop 98 and 99 and understanding the importance of our votes on those measures.

But most of us are woefully unprepared for decisions in other contests, especially those for the office of Superior Court judge. And with turnout expected to be light, we could wind up with some very scary judges if people don't pay attention and vote.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Lloyd Levine
Member
California State Assembly

It’s becoming predictable every election season. California’s anti-gay groups are attempting to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the November ballot. They presume Californians will agree with them and flock to the polls, erasing years of progress.

My hope is this November California voters will be galvanized and electrified by a sense of hope for the future, not limiting it. That’s why I am STRONGLY supporting the “Decline to Sign” campaign fighting to keep the same-sex marriage initiative off the ballot. Whether or not they succeed, California voters will be put on notice that this potential ban would write discrimination into the state’s Constitution.

It’s certainly not lost on most voters that the anti-gay marriage initiative is also a shameless tactic used by Republicans before to get voters to the polls. Recently, Arizona voters saw they were being played for fools by the Republicans and defeated a similar same-sex marriage ban.

The proposed constitutional amendment specifies that only marriage between a man and a woman be valid or recognized in California. The arguments by anti-gay groups are glaringly weak.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

A few weeks ago, Lucas wrote about a lawsuit filed by San Diego to block a more thorough random hand-count of ballots for the February 5 primary election.  Well, Debra Won!  Goooooooo Bowen!

Basically, our incredible SoS told registrars that they needed to hand count 10% of the ballot when the vote was close, instead of the standard 1%. San Diego really, really didn't like the idea of doing all that work just for the sake of a clean election. Of course, it doesn't help that they are still mad about Bowen decertifying some of Diebold's machines, either.

San Diego had argued Bowen overstepped her authority in deciding that county elections officials will have to recount 10 percent of the precincts in close elections battles this year. San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cowett disagreed.

"She felt the Secretary of State had the authority to impose the requirement," said Kern County attorney Steve Sanders.

***

"In June and November things could be much more difficult," Barnett said. "We anticipate that we could be hit really hard."(Bakersfield California 1.29.08)

read more »

by CarlsbadDem [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

KPBS is reporting that a Superior court judge has tentatively ruled against a lawsuit by the San Diego country registrar of voters. As reported here on Calitics, the SD registrar had sued California Secretary of State Debra Bowen because, basically, San Diego county doesn't like the idea of being forced to have clean elections. The larger issue at stake is how much authority Bowen has in assuring clean, fair elections for all Californians.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Experts warned members of the state Senate Education Committee that more school districts are heading into financial trouble as their enrollment and state funding decline.

Marilyn Dudley-Flores, CEO of OPS-Alaska, warns of the great American brain drain in the California Progress Report.

California's youth prisons are shrinking, but Alameda Superior Court Judge Jon S. Tigar hasworries about how the state is managing the remaining population. Tigarhas filed court papers indicating his intention to have a receivermanage the entire division.

There's more...