Whichever aspirant is elected governor of California today -- and the odds favor Democratic Gov. Gray Davis over Republican rival Bill Simon -- he will immediately stare into a budgetary abyss of incalculable depth.
The state's budget crisis is so severe and so endemic that it will dominate the next governorship and perhaps the next decade. However it is resolved -- if, in fact, it is -- will alter the fiscal politics of California for a generation. It culminates a quarter-century of fiscal denial, born of Proposition 13's passage in 1978s, capped by what happened in the late 1990s, under Davis and his Republican predecessor, Pete Wilson.
I understand the current budget still includes a whole lot of ghost employees, funded positions with no one drawing the salary. I don't really want to be paying good money for this kind of excess, guess I'll go vote now.
The ghost employees are total BS. That is somewhere Simon could make some cuts. Thanks for voting and bring a bunch of like minded friends with you...
It never ceases to amaze me how people will vote for fiscal policies that they would NEVER follow in their own personal finances. I guess its the magic of OtherPeople'sMoney that causes people to forget that it's really their, and their children's and grandchildren's, money.
It is an illness and it's name is socialism. It is neither compassionate nor caring in its purest form.
Never for get that Walters is a tax and spend rat who pretends to be conservative for readership.
He was against prop 13 before it became law and has taken shots at it ever since.
This is just a renewal of his decades old battle to destroy prop 13 and to raise our property taxes.
Wake-Up the Heck Up, California ... The socialists in the state legislature AND Davi$ want ALL your money!!
WRONG!! They only want to steal from the rich* to give to the poor (while lining they're own pockets as they deserve for being so noble).
*Note: "Rich" = Annual Income > $28,000.
Let's see. California is on the edge of a budget abyss, but if you re-elect the man who caused the problem, maybe he will fix it. But don't vote for Simon, because he's a meanie who falsely accused Davis of corruption.
I hear ya, but I'll sleep a little easier knowing Simon is in charge irregardless of the troubles we encounter as we move forward sans GraYout and his corrupt gang of buffoons.
This in today's Fresno Bee (WILL WE PUT SIMON OVER THE TOP)? HERE'S HOPING:
County predicts a higher turnout
Fresno measures and races are expected to reel in voters.
By John Ellis
The Fresno Bee
(Published Tuesday, November 5, 2002, 6:27 AM)
As California faces the possibility of a record-low turnout in today's election, Fresno County officials are hopeful that some hotly contested area races will increase turnout locally.
Using the 1998 gubernatorial election as a yardstick, Fresno County Clerk Victor Salazar is predicting 56% of the county's registered voters will cast ballots.
Election 2002
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today.
Absentee ballots must be received by election officials before polls close -- any ballot received after 8 p.m. will not be counted.
MADERA COUNTY
Main office: Government Center, 209 W. Yosemite Ave., Madera
Telephone: (559) 675-7720
Web site: www.madera-county.com
FRESNO COUNTY
Main office: County Clerk/ Registrar of Voters, 2221 Kern St., Fresno
Telephone: (559) 488-3246
Web site: www.fresno.ca.gov
Precincts: 730, including 252 mail-only
Registered voters: 339,998
KINGS COUNTY Main office: 1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Hanford
Telephone: (559) 582-3211, ext. 4401
Web site: www.countyofkings.com/elections
Precincts: 141
MARIPOSA COUNTY
Main office: Hall of Records, 4982 10th St., Mariposa
Telephone: (209) 966-2007
Web site: www.mariposacounty.org
MERCED COUNTY
Main office: 2222 M St., Room 14, Merced
Telephone: (209) 385-7541
Web site: www.co.merced.ca.us/elections
Precincts: 111
TULARE COUNTY
Main office: 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Suite G28, Visalia
Telephone: (559) 733-6275
Web site: www.tularecoauditor.org/elections
Precincts: 302
Registered voters: 127,022
"I understand many people have expressed dissatisfaction with the top two individuals on the ticket," Salazar said, referring to the governor's race between Gray Davis, the Democratic incumbent, and Bill Simon Jr., his Republican challenger.
"But there are very important local races that are highly competitive. [These races] have been well-financed and have done considerable media."
Among those Fresno County contests are the district attorney's race, the District 1 Supervisor race and District 3 and District 7 Fresno City Council races. Other contests include the typically low-key battles for coroner, auditor/controller, and Fresno Unified school board and two Fresno County Superior Court judge contests.
County voters also will be asked to determine the fate of two important local ballot measures: Measure E, a facilities bond for the State Center Community College District, and an extension of Measure C, the half-cent sales tax that funds transportation projects.
It's a similar view in Kings County, where Elections Manager Ed Rose believes several local issues will lure some of the county's 46,000 voters to the booths, including numerous seats on school boards and one on the county Board of Supervisors.
Kings County election officials expect voter turnout will be 48%, up from 43% in the 1998 gubernatorial election.
"We've got some races of extreme interest," said Rose, a 26-year elections veteran. "I'm probably being optimistic, but I am an optimist."
In Tulare County, however, elections officials expect a dip from the most recent gubernatorial election, with turnout projected to slip from 61% to about 57% of the 127,000 currently registered voters.
Kern County elections officials also expect voter turnout to drop -- from 51% four years ago to about 45% of the 259,700 voters.
Statewide, Secretary of State Bill Jones predicts 58% of voters will cast ballots. Many political observers, however, doubt the turnout will be that high.
"I think Jones is being optimistic," said John J. Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College. "I would not be surprised if less than half of registered voters turned out."
A Field Poll released this past week used a different measuring stick: the total population eligible to vote, or 21.4 million, rather than the voter registration total, which Jones used in his calculation. Based on that, the Field Poll predicts an all-time low voter turnout of 39.2%.
Using that method, Jones' turnout prediction would translate to 41%.
"When people look at their ballots, they don't see anything that draws their attention," Pitney said. "This is an election of repulsion, not attraction."
Indeed, 57% of voters in a recent Public Policy Institute of California survey said they were unsatisfied with the choice of candidates for governor.
Political experts say Davis and Simon are not energizing voters and may end up driving down turnout as people stay home. In addition, very few state Assembly, state Senate or congressional races are competitive.
That leaves local races or issues to boost turnout. Los Angeles has the issue of whether the San Fernando Valley and Hollywood can secede from the city. Likewise, Fresno and Kings counties have multiple contested races.
"All of those candidates [in Fresno County] have strong campaigns who are reaching out to voters," Salazar said. "It is expected that they'll have a get-out-the-vote effort. I'm of the opinion that's going to encourage local turnout."
The most intense areas are some west Fresno precincts where voters live in the District 3 City Council area, the District 1 county supervisorial area and within Fresno Unified's boundaries. These voters also will also weigh in on the county races such as that for district attorney.
In addition, participation may be up because there's been a registration war locally between Republicans and Democrats. Both parties say they intend to follow through by encouraging these new members to get out and vote.
David L. Schecter, a political science professor at California State University, Fresno, said every vote will count locally. He said, for example, that a few votes may decide whether the Measure C extension gets the needed 67%.
"It's really at the local races where every vote counts," he said.
Bee staff writer Javier Erik Olvera contributed to this report. The reporter can be reached at
jellis@fresnobee.com or 441-6320.
GO, SIMON! For victory & freedom!!!
Bill Simon is special. California can;t afford to deny him a chance to lead. He has a good heart and DOES connect with people!
This is gonna be a long day, and hopefully, a not too late night.. We wish 8-!
