Captain Future's Log

Captain Future's California Election Guide

In the Democratic Party Primary, Phil Angelides is neck and neck in the polls with Steve Westly. Both are acceptable candidates going up against Ahrnold in the fall, and both have strengths and weaknesses for that fight. Westly may have more independent and Republican appeal, but Angelides has stronger loyalties among Democrats.

I'm voting for Angelides. He's stronger and clearer on issues, he's got the better and stronger party and union endorsements--and it was the angry teachers and state employee unions that provided the energy behind the defeat of Ahrnold's proposition. I didn't like Westly's negative ads which distorted Angelides' record. Neither of these guys made much of an impression in the campaign, at least up here. But what I've heard of Angelides and his positions, I've liked. He's more passionate and committed and has a track record for getting things done, and he's more passionate in opposition to Bush and the Iraq war, and probably more progressive in general.

For Lieutenant Governor, John Garamendi. As state insurance comissioner, he stood up against the insurance industry, which has poured money into this campaign to defeat him. Voting for him sends a message that officeholders can do their jobs for the people and be rewarded.

For Secretary of State, a strong endorsement for Debra Bowen. As we've all become aware in recent years, the Secretary of State handles elections, and Bowen has made herself an expert on electronic voting machines. She'll revisit the decision to award contracts to Diebold made by the Republican Secretary. This makes her probably the most important candidate on the ballot.

For Controller, John Chiang. He's got the strongest record as a progressive on the state level, and endorsements from environmental groups. His job will involve regulating corporations so it is important to the environment.

The Attorney General election sounds like a fight card: Rocky Delgadillo v. Jerry Brown. Yes, that Jerry Brown--mayor of Oakland, former governor and presidential candidate. He seems to shake things up wherever he goes, and for an active intelligence and entertainment value alone I'm voting for him.

I'm still deciding about Proposition 82, which taxes higher incomes to establish preschool programs for four year olds. There seems to be enough wrong with the proposition itself, rather than its intent. But I'm voting yes on Proposition 81 to create a bond issue to support the state's wilting public libraries. It may be the most satisfying vote I cast.

Dianne Feinstein has no real opposition for the U.S. Senate. Barbara Boxer is more my kind of Senator, but I respect Feinstein on a number of issues, especially on nuclear weapons and the bankruptcy bill.

For Humboldt readers, I'm voting for Paul Gallegos for District Attorney. Frankly I don't know what to make of what's going on within the District Attorney's office, but I do know this: I don't trust Worth Dikeman (his opponent) who has run a campaign of hit and run distortion and lies, and only belatedly returned to real issues. And I agree completely with Gallegos that the DA has to be independent of the police, and they have no business getting involved in a political fight. Several recent incidents involving police violence against protestors suggest that the police need more scrutiny, not less. With the fiscal constraints in a county that's getting poorer, nobody is going to do much with the D.A.'s office without outside help, and Gallegos is endorsed by the current state Attorney General and other statewide officeholders, which tells me Gallegos has cred beyond the county.

We have a county Measure T on the ballot, which restricts county political contributions to corporations residing in the county. It's more fallout from the Gallegos recall, forced and paid for by Pacific Lumber/Maxxam, retaliating for Gallegos attempting to take them to court for illegal logging. I'm voting Yes. I assume it will be challenged in court, and I assume national organizations will be interested in helping to defend it. I'd like to see the issues of campaign financing aired in a trial. Corporate money is so powerful now in electoral politics that any attempt to limit it is worth trying.