Voter Guide 2004: Below the hubbub, lots of choices that matter Voter Guide 2004: Below the hubbub, lots of choices that matter (October 13, 2004)

By Marion Softky
Almanac Staff Writer

OK, so you probably made up your mind long ago who you will vote for at the top of the ticket. And maybe you've made your pick for U.S. senator and a few favorite candidates and issues.

But what about the other 30-odd questions on the ballot?

The choices that voters make on questions ranging from candidates for state and local offices to 22 ballot measures will make a major difference in how California is governed, and whether we put money into transportation, local high schools, Atherton, and even stem cell research.

To help voters wend their way through voter information that might challenge a Ph.D. candidate, the Almanac is presenting this special section highlighting key races and ballot measures in South San Mateo County.

More information is available in voter information guides put out by the county and state, and on the League of Women Voters' Web site: www.smartvoter.org.

Local candidates

By far the liveliest local election is the contest between political newcomer Steve Poizner and veteran Redwood City Councilman Ira Ruskin for the 21st Assembly District seat being vacated by Joe Simitian.

Republican Poizner is attempting to use his Silicon Valley credentials, moderate views, and rafts of money to beat Democrat Ruskin, who has a long record in local government, in a heavily Democratic district.

Another lively race is for two seats on the board of the obscure Sequoia Healthcare District, where two Libertarians want to unseat two incumbents so they can join Libertarian and current board member Jack Hickey in voting to close down the district.

The board shares management of Sequoia Hospital with Catholic Healthcare West, and collects property taxes that go to the hospital and to other health projects in South San Mateo County in the form of grants.

Less exciting are the races for Congress and the state Senate, where strong Democrats face Republican and Libertarian opponents who are not widely known.

Democratic Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, running for a seventh term in the 14th Congressional District, is being challenged by Republican teacher Chris Haugen and Libertarian software engineer Brian Holtz.

Democratic Assemblyman Joe Simitian of Palo Alto is frontrunner in the race to replace outgoing Sen. Byron Sher in the 11th Senate District. He faces challenges by Republican businessman Jon Zellhoefer and Libertarian engineer Allen M. Rice.

Local ballots also feature races for three districts of the San Mateo County Board of Education, and for the San Mateo County Harbor District, which operates harbors at Pillar Point near Half Moon Bay, and Oyster Point in South San Francisco.

Ballot measures

Ballot measures can be the most confusing things on the ballot; there are so many, and they cover such diverse topics.

Besides 16 state propositions, this year's crop includes five measures in San Mateo County, a parcel tax in Atherton, and a bond measure for the Sequoia Union High School District.

The biggest and most important county question on the ballot is Measure A, which would extend the county's half-cent transportation sales tax for another 25 years. If approved by two-thirds of county voters, Measure A would raise some $1.5 billion for transportation projects that involve streets, highways, buses, trains, shuttles, bicycles, transportation for the disabled, BART, and even new ferry terminals.

Atherton voters will decide whether they want to renew a parcel tax to maintain police and other services in a town that prides itself on no commercial enterprises. The tax, which needs two-thirds voter approval to pass, will cost most homeowners about $750 per year.

Voters in the Sequoia Union High School District will decide whether to approve Measure H, which would raise an estimated $70 million to upgrade facilities at its school sites. A vote of 55 percent is needed to pass the measure.

On the state's 16 propositions, anybody who takes the time to study them is likely to find measures to support, and measures to oppose.

There are so many choices: softening the "Three Strikes" law; $3 billion for stem cell research; a couple of measures about tribal gambling; reorganizing state-local government finances; money for mental health, children's hospitals and emergency medical services; open primary and open meetings; expanding the state's DNA database with samples from criminals; requirements that owners of large- and medium-size businesses provide health care coverage. And so on.

Fortunately the state has sent registered voters information on all the ballot measures. There are still some candidate forums and pro and con discussions. Good luck.

INFORMATION

For more election information, check the League of Women Voters' Web site, www.smartvoter.org, and the San Mateo County Elections Division's Web site, www.shapethefuture.org.

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