Election 1998: Open primary gives voters lots of choices on June ballot

By MARION SOFTKY

Primary elections have often been frustrating for California voters who wanted to vote for a candidate outside their party, but couldn't.
No longer. For the first time, voters all over the state will have lots of choices in the primary election June 2.
Thanks to Proposition 198, the Open Primary Initiative passed in 1996, voters can pick among 17 candidates for governor and 13 for lieutenant governor.
Locally, voters will have six choices for member of Congress; they can vote for incumbent Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Atherton, or any other candidate regardless of their party registration. However, only the top vote-getter in each party will move forward to the November election.
"Independent or non-partisan voters can now vote in the primary for the first time in county's history," noted San Mateo County elections director Bill Jackson.
Most local elections are non-controversial, with incumbents running unopposed. The main excitement in the June elections will be the selection of party candidates for governor, and several ballot initiatives dealing with hot-button topics such as bi-lingual education and political use of union dues.
Congress, Assembly

Three-term Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, D-Atherton, faces an unusual challenge from a fellow Democrat. Airline pilot George Kiehle of Los Altos has thrown his hat in the ring as a Democratic candidate in the 14th Congressional District.

Republicans also are fielding two candidates for Congress: Palo Alto teacher John C. "Chris" Haugen, and Henry E. "Bud" Manzler, a small business owner from Cupertino.

Other candidates on the June ballot are Joseph W. Dehn, Libertarian, of Palo Alto; and Anna Currivan from Los Altos, Natural Law.

There are no challenges within any party in this year's only local race for the California Legislature. Incumbent Ted Lempert is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination for the 19th Assembly District. Also unopposed in the primary are Republican LaVerne F. Atherly, an employer benefits specialist from Redwood City; and Palo Alto writer and editor Marilyn M. Bryant of Palo Alto for the Natural Law Party.

County races

Out of nine offices to be filled in San Mateo County government, only two are contested: controller and treasurer/tax collector.

Two positions on the county Board of Supervisors will be filled without opposition. Supervisor Rich Gordon, who was elected to replace Ted Lempert when he went to the Assembly two years ago, faces no runoff in November. He will start a new term representing the Third District next Jan. 1

The new face on the board next year will be San Mateo City Councilman Jerry Hill, who will replace Supervisor Tom Huening, who is leaving the board after serving the maximum three terms. Mr. Hill, who owns a swimming pool company, started campaigning and lining up support so early that no one has come forward to challenge him.

The fireworks in the county's two contested elections have already started. Outgoing Supervisor Huening is challenging incumbent Controller Gerry Trias for the right to handle the county's money.

And Burlingame investment advisor Richard Guilbault has launched a re-match campaign against Lee Buffington, the county's incumbent treasurer and tax collector. Mr. Guilbault lost to Mr. Buffington in 1994 after clashing over the tax collector's independent style and his conservative management of county funds.

Running unopposed are five other county elected officers: Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder Warren Slocum; Coroner Adrian "Bud" Moorman; County Superintendent of Schools Floyd Gonella; District Attorney James P. Fox; and Sheriff Don Horsley.