Venice For Change Voter Guide For The November 4th Election

Before I get to the endorsements, a bit of housekeeping. NEXT TUESDAY, November 4th is election day. The polls are open from 7am-8pm. If you don't know where your polling place is, go to this link: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/find-polling-place.htm,  type in your address, and the site will tell you where it is.

If you have an absentee ballot and have not yet mailed it in, PUT IT IN THE MAIL BY FRIDAY TO HAVE YOUR VOTE COUNT. If you miss the mailman on Friday, then you can just fill it out and drop it off at any polling place in your county. It does not need to be dropped off at your local polling place.
 
Got that? Great! Now on to the endorsements!

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR
SHEILA KUEHL

If politics were a meritocracy, Sheila Kuehl would win this seat in a landslide. Her opponent doesn't come close to the depth of expertise or experience she would bring to the role of County Supervisor. After serving fourteen years in the California Senate and Assembly, she's already dealt effectively with the vast challenges an LA County Supervisor will have to face every day: overburdened healthcare and juvenile justice systems, navigating state, federal and local budgets, and dealing with ongoing issues involving social services, housing, child care, civil rights, employment, public safety and environmental protection.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 33
TED LIEU

After serving our area for years in the CA State Assembly and State Senate, Ted Lieu has proven himself both the best progressive choice to represent us in Congress and the one who truly understands the unique needs of our community. Whether it's in regards to LAX (modernization, not expansion), effective public transportation, protecting renters or our special coastal environment, Ted Lieu will be an effective partner for us in Congress. It's why President Barack Obama went out of his way to visit Ted in his Venice campaign office on his last trip to Los Angeles and why local leaders from Mayor Eric Garcetti to Councilman Mike Bonin have enthusiastically thrown their support behind him.

CA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 26
SANDRA FLUKE

When it comes to the CA State Senate, district voters are blessed with an embarrassment of riches. There are two great, qualified candidates running for this seat - Activist Sandra Fluke and Santa Monica-Malibu School Board Member Ben Allen.

I've chosen to endorse Sandra Fluke.

I want be crystal clear about why. I never vote identity politics alone, but with all things being equal - and I think that's the case with Sandra Fluke and Ben Allen in this race - then I believe voting for the qualified woman, person of color and/or LGBTQ candidate is the best choice. Look, white males make up only a third of our population, yet hold two-thirds of elected office in this country. This won't change unless we support and elect qualified women, people of color and LGBTQ candidates running for local, state and national office. They are out there and they run every election cycle. We have a great one running for California state senate right now.

When she first announced her intentions to run, some questioned Fluke's qualifications, saying being attacked by Rush Limbaugh and the resulting "celebrity" was not enough. What differentiates Fluke is not that she was attacked by Rush Limbaugh. What differentiates her is what she she did once she was attacked by Limbaugh. She didn't give in and she didn't give up. She didn't hide. She kept the conversation going. She kept it on point. She expanded her activism and with it the conversation about women's reproductive rights, their health and their equal role in society. And she did it with equanimity, intelligence, grace and most importantly, effectiveness. She was tested in a way very few electeds are ever tested. Since then, she's done the deep work she's needed to do to understand the district's needs.

In my book, that earns her a seat at the table, and serious regard as a candidate for State Senate.

CA ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 62 
AUTUMN BURKE

Of the two candidates running for this open Assembly seat, Autumn is the only one who's shown any interest in really digging down into the thorny issues that affect Venice and other Westside communities in the district - overdevelopment, homelessness, traffic, public transportation and coastal access.

She earned the endorsement of many local leaders including the one she'll have to work mostly closely with, Councilman Mike Bonin. "Autumn's leadership in the community, helping small businesses grow and mentoring young people gives her the experience she needs to standup for our neighborhoods in Sacramento," said Bonin. "I look forward to working with Autumn to improve access to affordable housing, prioritize protecting our environment and to put neighborhoods first." 

OTHER LOCAL RACES 

COUNTY ASSESSOR: JEFFREY PRANG

COUNTY SHERIFF: JIM McDONNELL

WATER BASIN DISTRICT DIRECTOR: SCOTT HOUSTON

STATE-WIDE RACES

GOVERNOR: JERRY BROWN

LT. GOVERNOR: GAVIN NEWSOM

SECRETARY OF STATE: ALEX PADILLA 

CONTROLLER: BETTY T. YEE

TREASURER: JOHN CHAING

ATTORNEY GENERAL: KAMALA HARRIS

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: DAVE JONES

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION: TOM TORLAKSON 

 

STATE BALLOT MEASURES

PROP 1 (CALIFORNIA'S $7.12 BILLION WATER BOND)

 NO

The Sierra Club, which is taking a "no endorsement" position, actually makes the best arguments I've seen against Prop 1 - namely that it throws a $2.7 billion bone to Central Valley Republicans by mandating three very expensive, antiquated and environmentally damaging dam projects.   

PROP 2 (GOV. BROWN'S RAINY DAY FUND)   

NO

PROP 45 (INITIATIVE TO REGULATE INSURANCE RATES)   

YES

PROP 46 (HIGHER PENALTIES/DRUG TESTING FOR DOCTORS)  

NO ENDORSEMENT

Read competing arguments for (Consumer Watchdog) and against (ACLU)

PROP 47 (SMARTER SENTENCING FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES)    

YES

PROP 48 (REFERENDUM ON INDIAN GAMING CASINO)

  NO ENDORSEMENT

Santa Monica City Councilmember Launches Blistering Attack on Former Colleague Bobby Shriver

Current Santa Monica Council Member Gleam Davis today launched a blistering attack on her former colleague, Bobby Shriver.

That Davis, a supporter of Sheila Kuehl - Shriver's rival for the LA County Supervisor seat being vacated by Zev Yarovslowsky - is critical of Shriver is hardly news. What is notable, however, is the specificity and fierceness of her criticism in a town where few have the stomach to go up against Maria Shriver and the rest of the still-powerful Kennedy clan.

Among other things, Davis accuses Shriver of showing little interest in local issues before City Code enforcement made him trim the hedges around his home. She also claims he was absent from or late to most of the council meetings held during his tenure.

"Bobby ran on a platform of collaboration and respect for residents," said Davis.  "Once Bobby was elected, it became clear that this was just campaign rhetoric."

Davis' entire statement below: 

Bobby Shriver and his supporters are touting his experience on the Santa Monica City Council as a reason to vote for him for County Supervisor.  For more than three years, I served on the City Council with Bobby Shriver and I am supporting Sheila Kuehl.  Let me tell you why:

Bobby decided to run for City Council because he was angry that the City’s enforcement of its hedge ordinance would require him to trim the hedge around his home.  Before the hedge issue came up, he never had shown any interest in local politics or local issues. 

Bobby was sufficiently upset about the hedge issue that he decided to run for City Council.  He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money on his campaign.  No one in our small city had ever seen that kind of personal wealth spent on a City Council race. 

Bobby ran on a platform of collaboration and respect for residents.  Once Bobby was elected, it became clear that this was just campaign rhetoric. 

After he was elected, Bobby was difficult to reach.  When he was willing to speak with residents, he often seemed impatient and distracted.  On the dais, he was rude to his colleagues, city employees and members of the public.  He frequently interrupted members of the public and other councilmembers when they were speaking.  Bobby didn’t work well with others so he did not get very much done.

Soon after he was elected, Bobby’s lack of interest in local politics resurfaced.  Except for a very few issues, Bobby seemed unprepared for meetings and unconcerned about the matters on the Council’s agenda.  The City Council only meets twice a month, but Shriver completely missed 46 meetings -- 1 out of every 5 meetings.  He was late, some times as much as two hours late, to 102 meetings.  In fact, Shriver was present and on-time for only 39% of the Council’s meetings.  And he often left meetings early before the public comment portion of the meeting.

I want a County Supervisor who listens to the public, treats everyone with respect, and can collaborate with her colleagues.  I want a County Supervisor who shows up on time and is ready to work.  I want a County Supervisor who stays as late as necessary to make sure all voices are heard.  That’s why I am supporting Sheila Kuehl.

Why I'm Standing With Sandra Fluke For SD26 In One Easy Info-Graphic

Let me be crystal clear about this - I NEVER vote along the lines of identity politics alone, but with all things being equal - and I believe that's the case with Sandra Fluke and Ben Allen in the SD-26 race - then I will vote for the qualified woman and/or person of color. Every. Single. Time.

If you want to know why, look no farther than this info-graphic below.

White males make up only a third of our population, yet hold two-thirds of elected office in this country.

This won't change unless we support and elect qualified women and people of color to local, state and national office.

They are out there and they run every election cycle. We have a great one running for California state senate right now.


When she first announced her intentions to run, some questioned Fluke's qualifications, saying being attacked by Rush Limbaugh and the resulting "celebrity" was not enough. What differentiates Fluke is not that she was attacked by Rush Limbaugh. What differentiates her is what she she did once she was attacked by Limbaugh.

She didn't give in and she didn't give up. She didn't hide. She kept the conversation going. She kept it on point. She expanded her activism and with it the conversation about women's reproductive rights, their health and their equal role in society. And she did it with equanimity, intelligence, grace and most importantly, effectiveness. She was tested in a way very few electeds are ever tested. Since then, she's done the deep work she's needed to do to understand the district's needs.

In my book, that earns her a seat at the table, and serious regard as a candidate for State Senate.

So I'm standing - and voting - for Sandra Fluke November 4th. I ask you to do the same.