I try to do a post here for every election. This time, I'm actually on top of things enough to not have to do it ipso facto. So, without further ado, here's how I'm voting for the Statewide issues in California. If you really want to know who I'm voting for Mayor of Alameda, you can ask. As always, I am using my scoring method of scouring websites and using the excellent follow the money site (especially useful for ballot propositions. If I can't decide based on those materials, the tie breaker is to do the opposite of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association's recommendation.Governor – I won't vote for Jerry Brown. Not after what he did to Oakland. I can't vote for Meg Whitman, given that she rarely votes herself. So, third party it is. It came down to Peace & Freedom candidate Carlos Alvarez who has some nice ideas and is currently a member of the working poor (he's a retail worker) which appeals to me, or Laura Wells the Green Party candidate. In the end I'm voting for Ms. Wells. She has a little more substantive ideas, and was arrested for just trying to attend one of the Brown Whitman debates (with a ticket!). This is really more a vote against Jerry Brown than anything else.

Senator – Barbara Boxer. I actually like her. Now, in 2 years, I will be happy to help get Di-Fi out of office, but Boxer should stay.

Congress – I'm not a huge Pelosi fan, but I am worried enough about the challenge from Carly Fiorina that I will vote for Pelosi instead of a third party candidate. Look at me, I'm part of the problem! Whee!

Lt. Governor – Gavin Newsom? No thank you. He is the worst sort of big money Democrat. Ugh. My vote is for Jimi Castillo, a native american who has a total campaign warchest of $1,500. He bought brochures and 10 lawn signs with it. I might be the only person to vote for him.

Secretary of State – As I've mentioned before, candidates that don't vote irk me, and Damon Dunn gives Meg Whitman a run in that category. So, he's out. I briefly met Debra Bowen at an Alameda event and quite liked her, so she get's my vote.

Attorney General – Kamala Harris is probably going to lose because she is against the death penalty. I'm voting for her because of her stand. I agree that the death penalty is a ridiculous and costly measure.

Let's skip over exciting things like Controller, and get right to the ballot initiatives.

Prop 19 - Legalizes Marijuana Under California But Not Federal Law. Permits Local Governments to Regulate and Tax Commercial Production, Distribution, and Sale of Marijuana The legalize marijuana act. OK, I've never really admitted this before, but yet another way that I am a bad liberal is that I am really anti-drug. Now, not in a Nancy Reagan war on drugs sort of way, really on a more visceral level. However, I don't let my hangups effect other people. If you want to smoke pot, and are respectful of my desire to not do it (or have it done around me) go ahead. So, I'll vote yes on 19. As a side note, Oakland is already trying to corner the market on the new pot industry that will grow out of this initiative. There are several stores downtown run by an umbrella group called Oaksterdam. Yes

Prop 20 – Redistricting of Congressional Districts A few years ago California voted to create a Commission to handle redistricting instead of letting the politicians do it. Now, it at least puts a veneer of democracy in the mix (although the Commission is probably just as partisan as the state legislators) This measure would do away with that if it fails. It would also allow the Commission to redistrict for our Congressional Districts. I'm all for it. Yes

Prop 21 – Establishes $18 Annual Vehicle License Surcharge to Help Fund State Parks and Wildlife Programs. Grants Surcharged Vehicles Free Admission to All State Parks This would establish an $18 license surcharge to every California driver to help fund our State Parks. It would also give every charged vehicle free admission to the Parks. As a non-car owner and fan of our State Parks, I am all for this. I'm not a huge fan of earmarks, but the State Park budget has been the go to sacrifice for the last 20 years, and that needs to stop. Yes

Prop 22 – Prohibits the State From Borrowing Or Taking Funds Used for Transportation, Redevelopment, Or Local Government Projects and Service And so the hypocrisy continues. I just voted for an earmark (of sorts) and now I am voting against Prop 22. It doesn't undo the damage that Prop 13 did to local budgets, and even creates more problems. NO

Prop 23 – Suspends Implementation Of Air Pollution Control Law (AB 32) Requiring Major Sources Of Emissions To Report And Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming, Until Unemployment Drops To 5.5 Percent Or Less For Full Year Whew. That's quite a title. Really what this boils down to is several energy companies trying to undo the environmental safeguards that Californians already approved. Needless to say, I'm not a fan of this measure. Doesn't help that most of the money for this scummy campaign is coming from oil companies. NO

Prop 24 – Repeals Recent Legislation That Would Allow Businesses to Lower Their Tax Liability OK, we all know that I think we as a nation are undertaxed. Prop 24 is an attempt to remove three Corporate tax breaks. Strangely for me, I am slightly conflicted. One of the tax breaks is not really a break. It's more about aligning CA tax rates with other states. I can sort of see that. However, I consider the other 2 changes (allowing  industries to "carry back loses" and allowing transfer of unused tax credits between affiliates) to be too large of corporate loopholes (and I know they are already allowed on the Federal level, but is that really the model of good corporate tax structure? I think not.) Despite my misgivings about the first tax break, I'm voting for this measure. YES

Prop 25 – Changes Legislative Vote Requirement to Pass Budget and Budget-Related Legislation From Two-Thirds to A Simple Majority. Retains Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Taxes Yes. Yes! A thousand times yes! This would remove the ridiculous 2/3 majority rule for approval of a budget in California. YES

Prop 26 – Requires That Certain State and Local Fees Be Approved By Two-Thirds Vote. Fees Include Those That Address Adverse Impacts on Society Or the Environment Caused By the Fee-Payer's Business This measure (funded mainly by alcohol, oil and tobacco companies) would take the 2/3 majority rule that worked so poorly for our budget process and impose it on most fees the State tries to collect (mysteriously, mainly in areas affecting those three industries! Q'elle gran suprise!) This is an easy vote. NO

Prop 27 – Eliminates State Commission on Redistricting. Consolidates Authority for Redistricting With Elected Representatives One of those sad attempts to confuse voters by sounding somewhat like Prop 20. This would essentially undo Prop 20 and get rid of the Citizen's Commission. Not a great idea. NO

No matter which party or candidate you support, please get out & vote tomorrow. It's an important election, and there are fears that turnout will once again be super low. Vote, it's the most important right we have!

Last 5 posts by Ezra

• Yogi Berra for Governor - December 7th, 2010
• BGGCon 2010 - Day 0 - December 6th, 2010
• Your Friday Afternoon is Happy to See the Name World B. Free - December 3rd, 2010
• Boardgamegeek Con - Year 2 - November 15th, 2010
• The Games We Played: Alexander Hamilton - AntiFederalist - November 12th, 2010