| Vol. VIII, No. 7 | Editor: Robert Giedt | September 1998 |
Of the six measures for which the LPSM made a recommendation (see the May 1998 issue), a majority of the voting public agreed with us in 3 cases, including both of the measures where the issue at stake was the choice between private and government provision of services (i.e. 223 and 224).
Majorities of voters in Atherton, Hillsborough, Portola Valley, and Woodside dissented from the rest of the county, voting in favor of 226, and thereby agreeing with 4 of 6 LPSM recommendations. In East Palo Alto, a majority of voters parted with the rest of the county w.r.t. 220 and 222; siding with us in 5 out of 6 cases!
|
San Mateo County |
Statewide | ||||||||
|
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No | ||||||
|
219 |
Ending "Ballot Box Blackmail" |
93,846 |
62% |
31,419 |
21% |
3,500,828 |
57% |
1,705,470 |
28% |
|
220 |
Superior/Municipal Courts Consolidation |
92,525 |
61% |
38,233 |
25% |
3,441,355 |
56% |
1,897,310 |
31% |
|
221 |
Subordinate Judicial Officer Discipline |
105,152 |
70% |
22,404 |
15% |
4,240,596 |
69% |
995,376 |
16% |
|
222 |
Special Treatment of "Cop Killers" |
102,619 |
68% |
35,399 |
23% |
4,253,887 |
69% |
1,266,294 |
21% |
|
223 |
5% Limit: "Brokered Services", |
62,802 |
42% |
77,396 |
51% |
2,551,123 |
41% |
3,050,474 |
50% |
|
224 |
State Design & Engineering Bid Formulas |
38,779 |
26% |
92,915 |
62% |
2,066,925 |
34% |
3,351,322 |
54% |
|
225 |
Congressional Term Limits Advisories |
64,707 |
43% |
70,693 |
47% |
2,871,975 |
47% |
2,561,382 |
42% |
|
226 |
Individual Control of Political Contributions |
63,478 |
42% |
80,735 |
53% |
2,688,033 |
44% |
3,073,943 |
50% |
|
227 |
State Bilingual Education Rule Changes |
82,381 |
55% |
64,438 |
43% |
3,570,193 |
58% |
2,296,578 |
37% |
I scrutinized the returns for the propositions and several races and concluded that there are no cities that have either significantly greater or lesser libertarian leanings than the others. Some of our candidates did sweep the vote in precincts with only 1 or 2 voters, though!
In Woodside, Atherton, and Hillsborough, Libertarian State Board of Equalization candidate Kennita Watson received over 30% of the votes cast! District-wide, Kennita received 274,540 votes. Although Kennita is regularly one of our highest polling candidates, her totals were clearly helped this time around by the absence of a Republican in the race. The significance of this result is the observation that the Republican rank and file have no compunction about crossing party lines to endorse a Libertarian candidate in an uncontested primary (when such a vote can't be totally explained as merely anti-Democrat). I mean, most Republicans must understand what a primary is, right? 26% of the voters abstained from voting in these uncontested primaries so it will be interesting to compare what happens in the general election.
Many of us were disappointed that Mike didn't draw more crossover votes in his congressional primary and concluded that this resulted from strong "tribal" party loyalty. From Kennita's totals I conclude, however, that such loyalty is merely a "default" behavior and not reflective of anti-libertarian sentiment. If the (shrinking) Republican minority in San Mateo County ever realizes that they'll probably never win another partisan race here, we may stand to gain a lot of voters!
In a bizarre outcome, voters in two of the towns with the highest assessed property valuations in the United States (according to Worth magazine) swallowed the Portola Valley School District's claim that existing property tax revenues are inadequate to their needs and passed Measure A. Pro-debt forces making up only 39% of the district's voters (primarily in the town of Portola Valley) were able to mobilize and saddle their neighbors in Woodside (where 2/3 support did not exist) and unincorporated areas with a bond issue that nominally required two-thirds' support to pass. Obviously the high abstention rates in the latter areas (30% and 31% versus 3% for the Town of Portola Valley) indicate voters didn't realize the tax under consideration applied to them. Although it is plausible that this bond might have passed even if all the registrants had voted, it shows how important the 2/3 threshold is. 39% (presumably those who believed they had something to gain at the expense of their neighbors) were able to pass this bond despite the 2/3 threshold, but only 696 interested voters (or 12% of the registered voters) could have approved this indebtedness if Governor Wilson had succeeded in his attempts to lower the threshold to 1/2 of the votes. This is why I support the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Association and their defense of the 2/3 threshold.
|
Measure A School Bonds |
Votes |
Voted |
Registered | ||||||||
|
|
registered |
ballots |
turnout |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
abstain |
Yes |
No |
abstain |
|
Town of Portola Valley |
3283 |
2219 |
68% |
1746 |
416 |
79% |
19% |
3% |
53% |
13% |
34% |
|
Town of Woodside |
1297 |
594 |
46% |
262 |
156 |
44% |
26% |
30% |
20% |
12% |
68% |
|
Unincorporated |
1503 |
707 |
47% |
365 |
123 |
52% |
17% |
31% |
24% |
8% |
68% |
|
total |
6083 |
3520 |
|
2373 |
695 |
67% |
20% |
13% |
39% |
11% |
50% |
Following is Libertarian candidate for Governor Steve Kubby's tentative schedule in the Bay Area. If you know of other important events Steve can attend where he'll be able to speak to a large group or meet hundreds of voters, please let us know. Tell us as many specifics as possible, including date, time, exact location, contact information, and how we can reach you for questions. If you can organize your own event for Steve to attend, please tell us what you can do by way of getting Steve in front of lots of voters or raise money so that we can launch advertising. Let's take advantage of every minute between now and November 3!
E-mail suggestions or ideas to operationsmanager@kubby.com. Thanks!
Visit http://www.kubby.com for more campaign information.
On August 31, Federal Judge Charles Breyer thwarted another valiant attempt by the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative to stay within the "federal law" and remain open by becoming part of the city government. Previously, in an unprecedented action on August 13, Oakland city council members authorized club officials as city agents, granting them permission to distribute marijuana to patients on the city's behalf. Breyer threw out this argument, yet again defying California voters' convincing November 1996 passage of the medical marijuana initiative, Proposition 205.
In May, Breyer issued an injunction that prohibited six Northern California clubs from distributing marijuana pending the federal and state governments' lawsuits against those clubs. Currently, three medical marijuana clubs (in Oakland, Ukiah and Fairfax) remain open despite Breyer's injunction. Once again, the federal government rears its meddling headthis time infringing states' rights to govern their own peopleall in the name of the "War on Drugs."
During the court hearing, the club attempted to invoke a federal law that shields local and state government officers from legal action while they enforce drug-related laws. The city argued that this law, primarily designed for undercover police to execute drug sting operations, applied to Proposition 205.
"This is a careful and good-faith effort to implement the will of the people, consistent with federal law," stated Gerald Uelmen, the Santa Clara law professor representing the Oakland club. Jeff Jones, the club's director, added "We're going to remain open. We feel what we're doing is necessary to these patients." The club plans to appeal the ruling.
Some good news to come out of the ruling was that Judge Breyer rejected government lawyers' arguments stating that the clubs were violating the Judge's injunctionthereby allowing the three clubs to remain open until the next hearing. This next hearing on September 28 may include a jury trial on the need of "medical necessity." The marijuana clubs claim the violation of the federal law was the only way to ease the life-threatening pain some patients suffer.
Major San Francisco morning conservative talk show host, Lee Rodgers, plans to vote Libertarian in the California Gubernatorial election in November. August 24, on the Lee Rodgers Program, Lee and his co-host Melanie Morgan interviewed a Republican spokesman. During the interview Melanie stated: "Neither Lee nor I are voting for Lungren. I'm voting Independent and Lee's voting Libertarian."
Like July's, the August meeting was well attended (for a business session), and we hustled through the agenda with such efficiency that we had time to discuss anti-smoking laws and still adjourn early!
Barbara Less (Activities Chair) announced that anyone who wants to bring a snack or dessert or beverage to the September social is invited to do so (though not required). Of course, that's one way to guarantee that something on the sideboard suits you to a "T"!
Mike Moloney reported that we can meet at the Prime Time Athletic Club through the end of the year, but it's time to find a new location. In the past we've met at restaurants in San Mateo; in offices in Palo Alto and South San Francisco; and at homes in Menlo Park and Redwood City. Now it's your chance to help pick our new location! Please contact Barbara (or any officer) with suggestions.
Bernie and Steve shared the observation that Steve's campaign literature has been well received when made available in small stands in people's shops and offices. If you have a good location for some literature, please contact Bernie.
Steve announced he had written a new speech for neighborhood "candidate coffees" (of which one has been scheduled already). Steve said he'd be happy to speak to any group of a dozen friends and neighbors. If you can serve as a host, please contact him.
We voted without dissent to appoint Steve (the only volunteer) to audit (as required by the bylaws) the past year's treasurer's reports.
Finally, we talked a little about anti-smoking laws; the bad science behind them (concerning secondhand smoke); and the inappropriate urge to control other people's lives and businesses with legislation.
The next business meeting will focus on discussing the November propositions. Regional members in good standing will vote on our recommendations for the 10 propositions (subject to 2/3 agreement). Prepare for some lively discussions!
You can pick up a Voter Information Guide/Ballot Pamphlet at the County Election Office or you can read the entire text online at http://vote98.ss.ca.gov/VoterGuide/home.htm. A terrific source of other material can be found at the California Secretary of State's Web site at http://www.ss.ca.gov.
By the way, the Libertarian Party of California's Executive Committee had the following recommendations:
Wednesday, September 16
Prime Time Athletic Club
1730 Rollins Road, Burlingame (between Broadway and Millbrae Avenue)
Informal
chat/dinner: 6:30--7:30pm in the café
Business meeting: 7:30--9:00pm in the multipurpose room.
Business
agenda:
|