Voter Guide: Local races, issues dominate ballot Voter Guide: Local races, issues dominate ballot (October 23, 2002)

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

The late Tip O'Neill's axiom, "All politics is local," seems particularly true on this November's local ballot.

South San Mateo County voters will face only one election with national -- and international -- impact. In the 14th Congressional District, five-term Democrat Anna Eshoo is being challenged by Republican businessman Joe Nixon from Bonny Doon and Libertarian Andrew Carver from Menlo Park.

Rep. Eshoo was in the minority voting against the resolution backing the president's policy on invading Iraq.

Otherwise, local voters will decide only state and local races and issues.

Their most important votes may be on ballot measures. Five of the seven state ballot measures would raise money: a total of $18.6 billion through bonds for school construction, housing, and water projects; and $1.6 billion a year allocated for education and transportation.

Locally, the hottest races are for the Menlo Park City Council, and the Sequoia Healthcare District. There are also hotly contested elections for the East Palo Alto City Council and the Ravenswood school board.

The only local ballot measure, Measure G, would allow the Menlo Park Fire Protection District to spend $25 million a year instead of the $15.3 million currently allowed under the formulas established under the Gann Initiative of 1979. No new money would be collected; the district would be able to spend money it already has, proponents note. There is no formal opposition.
Changes this year

The main changes that people will notice this election will be bigger ballots that take longer to fill out.

This year, ballots in San Mateo County are printed in three languages -- English, Spanish and Chinese -- because the 2000 Census showed these populations reached a threshold level in San Mateo County, said Chief Elections Officer Warren Slocum. This requirement under the federal Voting Rights Act will cost the county an extra $500,000 to pay for bigger ballots, processing, and extra poll workers.

The county is hiring about 200 more poll workers who speak Spanish or Chinese, Mr. Slocum said. While polling places in central Menlo Park and its more rural neighbors will probably still have four poll workers, there will probably be Spanish speakers to help voters in precincts in Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and East Palo Alto.

Voters can also expect the bigger ballots will take longer to fill out. "I encourage people to take that time," Mr. Slocum said.

For the sample ballot to make sense, voters have to pull it out from the voter information pamphlet. The three languages are combined on the sample ballot; the voter information pamphlet is divided into three sections, one for each language.

Also new this year: People can apply to be "permanent" absentee voters, which means they will automatically receive an absentee ballot without having to apply for one at each election. Already some 40,000 have applied for this status, Mr. Slocum said.

Voters are less likely to notice the redistricting that has moved boundaries of legislative districts. Woodside and Portola Valley have moved from State Sen. Byron Sher's 11th District to a redrawn 8th Senate District, now represented by Sen. Jackie Speier. That district stretches north to include some 40 percent of San Francisco.
Local races

The ballot starts out with a daunting array of candidates for state office, including six candidates for governor. Buried among some 60 names aspiring for 15 positions are two local candidates for state office.

Democratic leader and eBay vice president Steve Westly of Atherton is listed on the ballot as the first of five people running for state controller.

Republican attorney Greg Conlon of Atherton, formerly a member of the California Public Utilities Commission and Transportation Commission, is one of six aspiring to be state treasurer.

Closer to home is a seven-way, free-for-all race for three seats on the Menlo Park City Council. Majority control of the five-member council is at stake in a divided city.

Lower profile but almost as intense is the race for three seats on the board of the Sequoia Healthcare District, which sold Sequoia Hospital to Catholic Health Care West, but still collects taxes and has a voice in its operation.

At issue is the future of the district and the tax money it still collects. A slate of Libertarians would like to dissolve the district and stop collecting tax money; others want to keep oversight of the hospital, and use extra tax money to meet other critical health needs in the community.

Other races do not appear so competitive. In legislative races for Congress, the state Senate and Assembly, incumbents Anna Eshoo, Jackie Speier and Joe Simitian appear virtually unbeatable.

Voters will be filling seats on several other boards, but elections for the Atherton Town Council and Las Lomitas School Board have been cancelled because there were no opponents. In that case candidates are appointed, and the district saves the cost of an election.

Not so for the Menlo Park City School District, where four candidates filed for three seats. Even though candidate Noria Zasslow is not campaigning, the district must pick up the cost of an election. This year that has soared from about $8,000 to $25,000 or more because of the need to print everything in three languages.

In the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, Libertarian Jack Hickey is challenging appointed incumbent Larry Hassett for the Ward 6 seat representing Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside and Portola Valley.

Two incumbents are facing three challengers in a race for the San Mateo County Harbor District, which operates marinas at Pillar Point on the coast and Oyster Point in South San Francisco.

In conclusion, Mr. Slocum urges everyone to vote. "Don't be put off by the changes," he said. "You have an important right. Exercise it."

Voting information

** For election information, visit shapethefuture.org, or call the San Mateo County Elections Office at 312-5222.

** For more information on races and issues, check the League of Women Voters Web site: www.smartvoter.org.

** Applications for absentee ballots must reach the county elections office by Tuesday, October 29. The application is on the back of the voter information and sample ballot publication mailed to registered voters.