My Voter Information Guide and Sample Ballot for the primary election arrived a couple of weeks ago and my mail-in ballot arrived this week.
Instructions:
- Mark your ballot — follow the directions on the ballot. Well, duh!
- Seal your envelope — put your ballot into the envelope. Well, duh!
- Sign the envelope — again follow directions . . .
- Options for returning your ballot — apply first class postage (my 3 page ballot = 71¢ or two of the stamps I have on hand) and mail in; drop off ballot at polling place on Election Day; drop off ballot at early voting center (ocvote.com/early) in Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana, Mission Viejo and Fullerton May 26 – June 4, 2018.
- If you screw your ballot up, get a replacement: 1.714.567.7600 or ocvote.com/replacement.
- If you mail in your ballot, it must postmarked by Election Day and be received within 3 days after the election.
The Ballot:
Three (3) heavy sheets of paper / five (5) printed sides.
The Offices & Issues
Governor:
Twenty-seven (27) candidates, many, if not most, of whom I’ve never heard. Several of them I . . . well, let us not go there.
Among the candidates we have a:
- Educator/Youth Advocate (professional politician?)
- Marketplace Minister
- Public Policy Advisor (professional politician? and ex-mayor of Los Angeles)
- Entrepreneur/Economist/Father
- California Assemblyman/Businessman (professional politician?)
- Virtual Reality Manager
- California State Treasurer (professional politician?)
- Transhumanist lecturer, Taxpayer advocate, Puppeteer, Artist, etc.
Lieutenant Governor:
Eleven (11) candidates including two named Hernandez (one a Democrat and one a Republican).
Secretary of State:
Eight (8) candidates including the current officeholder.
Controller:
Three (3) candidates including the current officeholder.
Treasurer:
Five (5) candidates including three CPAs.
Attorney General:
Four (4) candidates.
Insurance Commissioner:
Four (4) candidates including one who identifies as a Public School Teacher (not an educator, which usually means someone who was an administrator or who taught at other than the K-12 level).
Member, State Board of Equalization:
Seven (7) candidates, including three Advocates.
United States Senator:
Thirty-two (32) candidates including the current officeholder and a Special Education Teacher (could be desirable given the current group of officeholders and appointees in Washington).
United States Representative, 48th District:
Sixteen (16) candidates including the current officeholder. One of the candidates is a Neuroscientist — see above comment.
Member of the State Assembly, 74th District:
Five (5) candidates.
And the following nonpartisan offices:
- Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 13
- Superintendent of Public Instruction (not a teacher among the candidates)
- County Superintendent of Schools (and guess who the only candidate is)
- Member, County Board of Education, Trustee Area 2
- County Supervisor, 2nd District
- Assessor (candidates: the Assessor, a Deputy Assessor and an attorney)
- Auditor-Controller
- Clerk-Recorder (candidates are the current officeholder and Steve Rocco. Steve Rocco? Yes, Steve Rocco . . . Noooooooooooooooooooooo . . .)
- District Attorney-Public Administrator (candidates include the current DA and a Victims’ Rights Attorney who makes robo-calls to push his agenda — at least, he robo-called me the other day.)
- Sheriff-Coroner
- Treasurer-Tax Collector (and guess who the only candidate is)
There are also five (5) State of California “Measures Submitted to the Voters.” All of these propositions have been “Put on the Ballot by the Legislature,” which, in my mind, means that the Legislature did not have the brains, or, perhaps, the “cojones” to deal with the issue.
One involves the transfer of debt, through the selling of $4 billion of bonds, to our children and grandchildren (without arguing over the merits of the issue).
I just wish the Legislature, through the individuals we elect, would do what it is supposed to do and not wash their hands of their responsibilities by putting propositions on the ballot. A “direct democracy” does not need a legislature.
At any rate, I may, or may not, comment on these at a later date.
Remember:
This election is your best chance to participate in your government. Make your voice count; make your voice heard:
Vote!
And, yes, vote even if you disagree with me.
