Almanac endorsements in key races Almanac endorsements in key races (February 18, 2004)

State Senate District 11

Two of the Peninsula's most popular Democratic politicians, Ted Lempert and Joe Simitian, have unfortunately wound up in a fight to succeed Byron Sher as the District 11 state senator, creating one of the closest races in the March 2 primary. Given the district's heavy Democratic registration, the primary winner is a virtual shoo-in to win in November.

Both candidates are strong on the environment, education, and legislative skills. A San Carlos resident, Mr. Lempert is attempting to make an issue out of campaign spending limits, and Mr. Simitian, of Palo Alto, is running on his record of getting things done in the Assembly, where he has served for nearly four years. Both candidates have served as county supervisors, and in addition Mr. Simitian spent more than 12 years on the Palo Alto City Council and school board.

It is the additional local government service that, in our view, gives Mr. Simitian the edge in this race. For besides being one of the most effective and forward-looking legislators in Sacramento, Mr. Simitian is also one of the most well-known in his district. His frequent and well-publicized sidewalk office hours, as well as the popular "There oughta be a law" campaign, have made state government more accessible than ever before at the grass-roots level.

But Mr. Simitian does more than pay lip service to the information he gleans from the public. He worked tirelessly and successfully to retain local property tax funding for basic aid school districts in Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Woodside and Palo Alto, thwarting Gov. Gray Davis' attempt to raid this revenue source. And Mr. Simitian is rightfully proud of his 11th hour effort as the Legislature was adjourning to make sure East Palo Alto resident Rick Walker received a fair settlement after serving a 12-year prison term for a crime he did not commit.

Mr. Simitian is highly regarded by many of the industrial groups that keep jobs flowing to Silicon Valley, although he is not afraid to take on big business, as he has through his sponsorship of AB 68, the online privacy protection bill that is opposed by Microsoft and AOL.

On budget matters, Mr. Simitian was one of three Democratic members of the Assembly to vote against Gov. Schwarzenegger's $15 billion bond measure, although he may grudgingly support it on March 2. But he has shown foresight in this area, citing his opposition to spending a boom-year surplus during his service as a supervisor in Santa Clara County, a trait that was woefully lacking in the state Legislature during that era.

Throughout his stair-stepping career in public office, from school board, city council, county supervisor to state Assembly, Mr. Simitian has consistently performed at the highest level. He is committed, and ready to do the work required to fill the shoes of Byron Sher, who authored much of the state's landmark environmental legislation, as well as many other important bills.

We urge readers to elect Joe Simitian to the District 11 state Senate seat.
State Assembly District 21

In the race to replace Joe Simitian in Assembly District 21, Redwood City Councilman Ira Ruskin is a clear standout among the four Democratic candidates in the field that includes Palo Alto Unified School District board member John Barton, West Bay Sanitary District President John Carcione, and Barbara Nesbet, a member of the Monte Sereno City Council.

Since being elected to the council in 1995, Mr. Ruskin has compiled an impressive and broad-based record.

In education, he helped create a partnership between the city and its schools, a joint effort that yielded homework centers in Redwood City libraries and media centers in all the Redwood City School District's elementary schools. He also worked with the local education foundation to find funding for music programs in the second, third and fourth grades.

In addition, Mr. Ruskin's record on the environment has won him the Sierra Club endorsement in this race. His work has included helping start a foundation to fund tree-planting in his city and supporting the Bair Island open space preserve in the Redwood City Baylands.

As a council member, Mr. Ruskin helped his city enact its first budget reserve policy, as well as a multi-year budgeting process that enabled the city to plan ahead fiscally.

On regional issues, Mr. Ruskin was among the organizers of a committee made up of representatives of 28 Bay Area cities that led to an agreement to repair and upgrade much of the Hetch Hetchy water system. He also helped put in place a new countywide emergency response system that is used today.

Mr. Ruskin said he decided several years ago to devote his life to public service. He has certainly made his mark in Redwood City and the region, and now he is ready for higher office. We urge readers to elect Ira Ruskin to the District 21 state Assembly seat.

County Board of Supervisors

Candidates for three seats on the Board of Supervisors go before voters March 2, although none of the races are even close.

East Palo Alto resident and 4th District incumbent Rose Jacobs Gibson seeks re-election, and is facing only token opposition from North Fair Oaks resident Stan Buetens. Ms. Gibson is our choice in this race.

Millbrae resident and incumbent Mark Church, of the 1st District, faces an energetic campaign from Taso Zografos, a newcomer who does not have a history in public affairs. Mr. Church, the current board president, deserves to be re-elected.

And Adrienne Tissier, a Daly City businesswoman who is a member of the City Council and the county Parks and Recreation Commission, is unopposed in District 5.
Regional Measure 2

This measure would raise about $125 million a year for regional transportation projects by adding $1 to the tolls of all Bay Area bridges except the Golden Gate. This pay-as-you-go measure is an excellent way to fund badly needed transportation improvements, even when the state is in a fiscal crisis.

The Dumbarton Rail Bridge is the largest South Bay project that would gain funding if the toll measure passes, although many other smaller benefits would come as well. For example, the measure would fund a comprehensive express bus network over the bridges, a new Transbay Terminal in San Francisco that would extend Caltrain to the downtown area, and safer pedestrian and bicycle access to public transit. We urge readers to support this measure.
Propositions 55, 56, 57 and 58

Area voters face two huge bond propositions and two other critical state budget measures on the March 2 ballot, all of which could have a significant impact on local spending if they fail.

Proposition 57, a $15 billion bail-out bond issue, and its companion measure, Proposition 58, which requires a balanced budget and budget reserve, have been endorsed by the Legislature and are Gov. Schwarzenegger's solution to the state's budget crisis. If Proposition 57 fails, it is likely that the state would need to dramatically reduce spending, which could mean fewer state dollars going to local school districts and local government. And hopefully, Proposition 58 could spell the end of runaway deficit spending in Sacramento. Given the tremendous impact if these measures fail, we urge voters to support both propositions.

Proposition 55 is a $12.3 billion bond issue to repair and rebuild older K-12 schools and provide new classrooms at community colleges, CSU and UC campuses. These funds are badly needed and should be approved.

Proposition 56 would reduce from two-thirds to 55 percent the number of votes needed in both houses of the Legislature to pass the annual state budget. Most local candidates support this measure, which legislators say would alleviate the perennial budget impasses that enable a small group of legislators to block the state budget approval process. We urge a yes vote on this proposition.
Measure C, the Portola Valley parcel tax

This measure would continue the current $195 school parcel tax and increase it by $95 for a total of $290 a year for the next 10 years. The Portola Valley School District serves 691 students in two schools, Ormondale for grades K-3 and Corte Madera for grades 4-8. Without the current tax, the district would lose more than $400,000 a year. The $290 tax would bring in just over $600,000 a year.

Valley schools have benefited from a parcel tax since 1984, and there is no reason to withdraw it now, especially when state support for K-12 education is uncertain. (Property owners 65 and up can apply for an exemption to the tax that extends for the life of the measure.)

Portola Valley teachers and administrators are doing a good job. Both schools have been chosen as California Distinguished Schools, and Corte Madera won the national Blue Ribbon School award in 2002. We urge all Portola Valley voters to turn out and support this modest parcel tax increase, which requires a two-thirds vote to pass.

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