NOVEMBER 8, 2022 GENERAL ELECTION
Here are my recommendations for the November 8 Election. Below the list of my endorsements are explanations.
And while I'm at it, let me make one last pitch for your help to keep the House and Senate under Democratic control, and to win key state offices.
Normally contributions this late in the game have minimal effect, but there are a few organizations out there that can really put your funds to excellent use now. I've picked one, Working America. You can contribute to them through my ActBlue page.
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Note: I’m including more local Marin races than are on my own ballot this time primarily because an anti-vax, anti-mask group is trying to sneak candidates onto several school boards and town councils. I want to help sound the alarm.
The group, Marin Freedom Rising, is supporting candidates for Ross Valley School District, Tam High Union School District, San Rafael School Board, Novato Unified School District, Marin County Office of Education, Fairfax Town Council, and Novato City Council.
As usual, I urge you to take my advice with plenty of salt and research the issues and candidates on your own. There are several websites I find particularly helpful:
Voter’s Edge and Ballotpedia both enable you to look up your own ballot and find information about the various candidates and issues on the ballot. Blue Voter Guide lists the candidates and issues on your ballot and tells you which progressive organizations are endorsing them. CALmatters has interviews with many of the candidates and other info. And Indivisible Sonoma County has all kinds of helpful information about the state of key races and how to get involved.
Whatever you do, make sure you vote on or before November 8!
Here are my recommendations for the November 8 Election. Below the list of my endorsements are explanations.
And while I'm at it, let me make one last pitch for your help to keep the House and Senate under Democratic control, and to win key state offices.
Normally contributions this late in the game have minimal effect, but there are a few organizations out there that can really put your funds to excellent use now. I've picked one, Working America. You can contribute to them through my ActBlue page.
============================
Note: I’m including more local Marin races than are on my own ballot this time primarily because an anti-vax, anti-mask group is trying to sneak candidates onto several school boards and town councils. I want to help sound the alarm.
The group, Marin Freedom Rising, is supporting candidates for Ross Valley School District, Tam High Union School District, San Rafael School Board, Novato Unified School District, Marin County Office of Education, Fairfax Town Council, and Novato City Council.
As usual, I urge you to take my advice with plenty of salt and research the issues and candidates on your own. There are several websites I find particularly helpful:
Voter’s Edge and Ballotpedia both enable you to look up your own ballot and find information about the various candidates and issues on the ballot. Blue Voter Guide lists the candidates and issues on your ballot and tells you which progressive organizations are endorsing them. CALmatters has interviews with many of the candidates and other info. And Indivisible Sonoma County has all kinds of helpful information about the state of key races and how to get involved.
Whatever you do, make sure you vote on or before November 8!
Governor: GAVIN NEWSOM
Lieutenant Governor: ELENI KOUNALAKIS
Secretary of State: SHIRLEY N. WEBER
Controller: MALIA M. COHEN
Treasurer: FIONA MA
Attorney General: ROB BONTA
Insurance Commissioner: RICARDO LARA
District 2, Member, State Board of Equalization: SALLY J. LIEBER
United States Senator: ALEX PADILLA (both Full Term and Partial/Unexpired Term)
United States Representative, District 2: JARED HUFFMAN
State Senator, District 2: MIKE MCGUIRE
Member of the State Assembly, District 12: SARA AMINZADEH
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: TONY K. THURMOND
Judicial (a YES or NO vote to retain them or not)
California State Court of Appeals
District 1, Division 2
Therese M. Stewart: YES
District 1, Division 3
Alison M. Tucher: YES
Victor A. Rodríguez: YES
Carin T. Fujisaki: YES
Ioana Petrou: YES
District 1, Division 4
Jeremy M. Goldman: YES
Tracie L. Brown: YES
District 1, Division 5
Gordon B. Burns: YES
Teri L. Jackson: YES
California Supreme Court
Goodwin Liu: YES
Patricia Guerrero: YES
Martin J. Jenkins: YES
Joshua P. Groban: YES
Proposition 1 - Protect Reproductive Choice: YES
Proposition 26 - Sports Betting on Tribal Lands: NO
Proposition 27 - Online Sports Betting: NO
Proposition 28 - Arts and Music K-12 Funding: YES
Proposition 29 - Kidney Dialysis Rule Reforms: NO
Proposition 30 - Wealth Tax to Support Clean Air Programs: YES
Proposition 31 - Flavored Tobacco Ban: YES
Marin County Measure B - Library Funding: YES
Town of Fairfax Measure F - Continue Paramedic Tax: YES
Board Member, Tamalpais Union High School District (vote for 3): Emily Uhlhorn, Cynthia Roenisch, & Kevin Saavedra
Board Member, Ross Valley School District (vote for 2): Chris Landles-Cobb & Ryan O’Neil
Fairfax Town Council (vote for 2): Lisel Blash & Stephanie Hellman
Director, District 3, Marin Municipal Water District: Ranjiv Khush
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1: Li DelPan
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 6: Curtis F. Robinson
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 2: Lucia Martel Dow
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 4: Carolina Martín
Mill Valley School District Board Member (vote for 3): Sharon Nakatani, Yunhee Yoo, & Carol Morganstern
Novato Unified School District Board, Trustee Area 4: Abbey Picus
City of Novato Councilmember, District 2: Rachel Farac
City of Novato Councilmember, District 4: Nicole Gardner
Lieutenant Governor: ELENI KOUNALAKIS
Secretary of State: SHIRLEY N. WEBER
Controller: MALIA M. COHEN
Treasurer: FIONA MA
Attorney General: ROB BONTA
Insurance Commissioner: RICARDO LARA
District 2, Member, State Board of Equalization: SALLY J. LIEBER
United States Senator: ALEX PADILLA (both Full Term and Partial/Unexpired Term)
United States Representative, District 2: JARED HUFFMAN
State Senator, District 2: MIKE MCGUIRE
Member of the State Assembly, District 12: SARA AMINZADEH
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: TONY K. THURMOND
Judicial (a YES or NO vote to retain them or not)
California State Court of Appeals
District 1, Division 2
Therese M. Stewart: YES
District 1, Division 3
Alison M. Tucher: YES
Victor A. Rodríguez: YES
Carin T. Fujisaki: YES
Ioana Petrou: YES
District 1, Division 4
Jeremy M. Goldman: YES
Tracie L. Brown: YES
District 1, Division 5
Gordon B. Burns: YES
Teri L. Jackson: YES
California Supreme Court
Goodwin Liu: YES
Patricia Guerrero: YES
Martin J. Jenkins: YES
Joshua P. Groban: YES
Proposition 1 - Protect Reproductive Choice: YES
Proposition 26 - Sports Betting on Tribal Lands: NO
Proposition 27 - Online Sports Betting: NO
Proposition 28 - Arts and Music K-12 Funding: YES
Proposition 29 - Kidney Dialysis Rule Reforms: NO
Proposition 30 - Wealth Tax to Support Clean Air Programs: YES
Proposition 31 - Flavored Tobacco Ban: YES
Marin County Measure B - Library Funding: YES
Town of Fairfax Measure F - Continue Paramedic Tax: YES
Board Member, Tamalpais Union High School District (vote for 3): Emily Uhlhorn, Cynthia Roenisch, & Kevin Saavedra
Board Member, Ross Valley School District (vote for 2): Chris Landles-Cobb & Ryan O’Neil
Fairfax Town Council (vote for 2): Lisel Blash & Stephanie Hellman
Director, District 3, Marin Municipal Water District: Ranjiv Khush
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1: Li DelPan
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 6: Curtis F. Robinson
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 2: Lucia Martel Dow
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 4: Carolina Martín
Mill Valley School District Board Member (vote for 3): Sharon Nakatani, Yunhee Yoo, & Carol Morganstern
Novato Unified School District Board, Trustee Area 4: Abbey Picus
City of Novato Councilmember, District 2: Rachel Farac
City of Novato Councilmember, District 4: Nicole Gardner
Explanations
Governor: GAVIN NEWSOM
Gavin Newsom is far from perfect, but stacked up against his opponent, Republican State Senator Brian Dahle, this is an easy choice. While Dahle has worked across the aisle on some issues, he is still quite conservative, plus he refuses to refute Trump’s big lie about the 2020 election. To me, that is disqualifying.
Vote for GAVIN NEWSOM
Lieutenant Governor: ELENI KOUNALAKIS
Eleni Kounalakis is well-respected, is doing a good job, and deserves reelection.
Vote for ELENI KOUNALAKIS.
Secretary of State: SHIRLEY N. WEBER
Shirley Weber was appointed Secretary of State in 2021 when her predecessor, Alex Padilla, was named to fill Kamala Harris’ Senate seat.
Her opponent is Republican Rob Bernosky, who, as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention, was “proud to be able to stand front and center and be able to cast a vote” for Donald Trump.
In this age of Republicans trying to suppress voting and overturn legitimate elections, the Secretary of State’s office takes on more importance than ever. It is crucial that we elect someone who is working hard to insure that every eligible voter can easily cast their ballot and have it counted.
Shirley Weber is that person.
Vote for SHIRLEY N. WEBER.
Controller: MALIA M. COHEN
Malia Cohen defeated two other strong Democratic candidates in the primary to advance to the general election. Her opponent is Republican Lanhee Chen.
Chen is trying to have it both ways — not openly praising Trump in an effort to attract moderate voters but also not addressing Trump’s attempts to overturn a legitimate election so as not to alienate the Republican base.
Republican strategist Mike Madrid excoriates Chen for failing to stand up for democracy, “Lanhee… gets an F, candidly, in the leadership and courage departments. Where was he when the country and the party needed him most? He was silent.”
Meanwhile, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, “…Malia Cohen is a fierce champion for social justice who has vowed to attack corporate tax loopholes and to get to the bottom of problems at California’s moribund Employment Development Department.”
And “Cohen… would no doubt be a champion for working Californians and a watchdog against corporate malfeasance.”
That’s what I want in a Controller!
Vote for MALIA M. COHEN.
Treasurer: FIONA MA
This is one of two races in which I wish there was a stronger Democratic candidate (The other is Insurance Commissioner). Fiona Ma is running for reelection. She has done good things as Treasurer and her political philosophy is sound, but her tenure has not been without its problems.
Still I’m supporting the incumbent over her Republican opponent.
Vote for FIONA MA
Attorney General: ROB BONTA
Rob Bonta was appointed Attorney General when President Biden tapped Xavier Becerra to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Bonta's opponent is Republican Nathan Hochman, who has been misrepresenting California’s crime rate in order to scare voters. This Bay Area News Group editorial sets the record straight. (That was written for the primary, so it includes two other candidates.)
Vote for ROB BONTA.
Insurance Commissioner: RICARDO LARA
Ricardo Lara has had some ethical lapses in his first term as Insurance Commissioner, such as accepting money from the insurance industry after pledging not to. As a result, I supported his Democratic opponent in the primary, who missed making it to the general election by only 7,000 votes.
Lara’s opponent in November is self-described “Reagan Republican” Robert Howell, who owns an electronics firm in Silicon Valley. The main things he talks about doing as Insurance Commissioner are things Lara has already done.
I frankly don’t think Howell would serve us better than Lara, despite Lara's failings.
Vote for RICARDO LARA.
District 2, Member, State Board of Equalization: SALLY J. LIEBER
The Board of Equalization lost most of its responsibilities when a newly created agency took those duties over in 2018. I tend to agree with the San Francisco Chronicle that the Board of Equalization should be abolished.
Until that happens, we need to vote for someone. Democratic Former Assembly Member Sally Lieber is up against Republican investment advisor Peter Coe Verbica.
Lieber spent six years on the Assembly’s Committee on Revenue and Taxation. That and her progressive credentials make this an easy choice for me.
Vote for SALLY J. LIEBER
United States Senator: ALEX PADILLA (both Full Term and Partial/Unexpired Term)
Here’s a rare instance where we can legally vote for someone twice!
Former California Secretary of State Alex Padilla was appointed to fill Kamala Harris’ Senate seat when she was elected Vice President. Now he has to stand for election for the final few months of that term at the same time he is running for a new full term. It’s crazy, but them’s the rules.
Padilla’s opponent is hard right Republican Mark Meuser, who is anti-choice, can’t think of any gun control measure he would support, isn’t sure whether climate change caused by human activity is real, and peddles lies about the 2020 election.
Vote for ALEX PADILLA for both terms.
United States Representative, District 2: JARED HUFFMAN
I am proud to have Jared Huffman as my representative in Congress. He is far and away the better choice than his token Republican opponent.
Vote for JARED HUFFMAN.
State Senator, District 2: MIKE MCGUIRE
I’m happy with Mike McGuire, so this is an easy choice for me, made even easier when I looked at his opponent, Republican Gene Yoon, before the primary election in June.
I read Yoon’s candidate statement and read his entire website, and, with the exception of a single campaign finance proposal, I did not learn anything about where he stands on any issue, despite the fact that he has a menu item called “Issues” and another one called “Priorities.”
I followed that up by looking at the first five of his videos, with the same disappointing result. One of his videos was a lengthy response to a question about how he is different from the incumbent, and it did not seem to occur to Yoon to use his answer to outline policy differences.
Either Yoon hasn’t really thought about the issues or he knows his positions are out of sync with the voters of the district.
Vote for MIKE MCGUIRE.
Member of the State Assembly, District 12: SARA AMINZADEH
The two top finishers in the June primary are both Democrats, a sure bet since only Democrats ran in the primary.
Sara Aminzadeh is a longtime environmental defender and climate justice advocate. She’s served on the California Coastal Commission since 2017.
Damon Connolly held a series of local offices in San Rafael before becoming a Marin County Supervisor in 2015.
While I think either of the candidates would provide a progressive voice to represent our district, I’m most impressed with Sara Aminzadeh.
For me, addressing the climate crisis belongs at the top of our government’s agenda. It is an existential crisis in the long and the short term, as it surely plays a major role in increasing fire danger and exacerbating water supply issues, among other things.
While both candidates have similar positions, Aminzadeh lives and breathes this stuff. I feel that her knowledgeability and her experience in drafting laws give her the greatest potential to influence other lawmakers and really get things done.
In addition to her focus on climate change, Aminzadeh has thoughtful positions on a wide range of other issues.
Vote for SARA AMINZADEH.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: TONY K. THURMOND
Incumbent Tony Thurmond is being challenged by charter school advocate Lance Ray Christensen. The San Francisco Chronicle, which did not endorse Thurmond four years ago, has come out for him this time around.
Vote for TONY K. THURMOND.
Judicial
There are several California Appeals Court and Supreme Court justices on the ballot, for whom we have the option of voting yes or no to determine whether or not their terms are extended.
I believe that judges and justices should not be treated like political candidates. They shouldn’t have to campaign. And they should largely be free to rule on the merits of cases without constantly having to look over their shoulders.
As a result, it is my strong opinion that we voters should approve judges and justices unless there is a serious, very compelling reason not to do so. There is not such a reason for any of the justices before us in this election.
I recommend voting YES ON ALL THE JUSTICES.
STATE PROPOSITIONS
Proposition 1 - Protect Reproductive Choice: YES
Prop 1 will add language to California’s constitution protecting abortion and contraception rights. In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s horrible decision striking down Roe v. Wade (and hints from some of the justices that they want to go after contraception next!) this is an important step for our state to take.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 1!
Proposition 26 - Sports Betting on Tribal Lands: NO
Prop. 26 would legalize sports betting at American Indian casinos and licensed racetracks, apply a 10% tax to profits from sports betting at racetracks, and allow roulette and dice games at tribal casinos.
While I’ve supported gaming on tribal lands in the past, I am so disgusted by the obscene amounts of money being spent on Propositions 26 and 27 (more than $550 million combined, as of September 24!) that I’m voting against both measures.
However, if you want to support one of them, I believe Prop. 26 is the far better option. It is more straightforward than the disingenuous Prop. 27, and its potential for harm is less.
I RECOMMEND A NO VOTE ON PROPOSITION 26.
Proposition 27 - Online Sports Betting: NO
Prop. 27 is wrong on so many levels. The out of state gambling interests who are pushing this measure have spent a lot of time, effort, and mostly money trying to make this look like a solution for homelessness rather than what it is, an initiative about online and mobile gambling.
One of their ads criticizes the competing Prop. 26 for not providing any money to address homelessness. This is such a cynical and ridiculous argument; it alone is enough for me to oppose Prop. 27.
The forces behind Prop. 27 clearly chose to require that the bulk of any state revenues go to a homelessness and mental health fund in order to make their measure more attractive to voters.
Prop. 26, on the other hand, designates 70% of revenues to the state’s general fund instead of dictating to the state where its revenue can be spent, a much better approach as far as I’m concerned. I believe we should let the legislature do its job.
Also, legalizing online and mobile betting in California seems to me to be likely to cause big problems. Making it so easy for folks to bet without leaving home could ruin the lives of many people susceptible to gambling addiction. And it’s hard to see how minors can be stopped from gaining access.
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 27.
Proposition 28 - Arts and Music K-12 Funding: YES
Prop. 28 would establish minimum amounts of required annual funding for arts and music education programs in K-12 public schools. Since the money would have to come out of the state’s general fund, it would not affect other school funding mandated by Proposition 98, which was passed in 1988.
While this is another “budgeting by initiative” proposition, it’s also an area that has been largely ignored by the state. Whenever schools have to make budget cuts, it is usually arts and music programs that are the first to go.
There is no organized opposition to this measure.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 28.
Proposition 29 - Kidney Dialysis Rule Reforms: NO
This is the third time in four years that SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has turned to the initiative process to try to change the rules that govern private, for-profit kidney dialysis clinics.
I’m going to draw heavily from my 2020 recommendation, when SEIU United Healthcare Workers West placed a similar measure on the ballot:
What this is really about is that SEIU has been trying for years, so far unsuccessfully, to unionize workers at dialysis clinics owned by DaVita, by far the largest clinic operator in California. This is SEIU’s way of getting back at them.
Much as I support organized labor, this is an abuse of the initiative process.
This should not be taken as an endorsement of DaVita and the other companies that own dialysis centers.
Just a few days before I wrote this, a $135 million settlement was announced between DaVita and its investors, who had filed a class action lawsuit against the company. Investors claimed they were harmed because DaVita pressured patients to enroll in private insurance plans (DaVita and the other clinic owners get much higher reimbursements from private insurance than they do from Medicare or Medicaid).
In 2018, DaVita lost multiple wrongful death lawsuits in Colorado and was ordered to pay $383.5 million in damages.
I found a recent news story in Atlanta about clinic workers who had contracted COVID-19 returning to work before they were fully recovered because DaVita does not offer sick pay benefits.
I sincerely hope SEIU is ultimately successful in unionizing the clinics. It’s clear that the workers need the protections of a union.
But the fight should not be carried out on our ballots.
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 29.
Proposition 30 - Wealth Tax to Support Clean Air Programs: YES
Prop. 30 would increase by 1.75% the tax on incomes of more than $2 million a year. The proceeds would be used for zero-emission vehicle subsidies (at least half of which must be directed toward low-income households and communities), for EV charging stations and other infrastructure, and for wildfire suppression and prevention programs.
While I’m generally not crazy about making budget decisions through the initiative process, we are clearly in a state of emergency here when it comes to climate change and wildfires. Climate change is contributing to more frequent and more severe wildfires, and wildfires are spewing out more carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change.
We need to do everything we can to encourage the transition to zero emission vehicles (including buses and trucks) as quickly as possible, as well as increasing efforts to prevent and minimize wildfires.
That’s the aim of Prop. 30.
I am concerned that the lion’s share of contributions supporting this measure comes from Lyft, which stands to benefit from some of the subsidies. Prop. 30 is definitely not a slam dunk. But I agree with the San Francisco Chronicle that the positives of this initiative outweigh the negatives.
I RECOMMEND A YES VOTE ON PROPOSITION 30.
Proposition 31 - Flavored Tobacco Ban: YES
More than two years ago, the state legislature passed a bill to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and tobacco product flavor enhancers, with a few exceptions.
Now the tobacco companies are trying to repeal the ban.
A YES vote keeps the ban in place. A NO vote repeals it.
“Flavors in tobacco products are uniquely harmful because they mask the unappealingly harsh taste of tobacco and can lure in new and often young users and get them hooked,” according to the Los Angeles Times. “Vote yes on Proposition 31 to allow a good law to go into effect.”
Governor Newsom says, “It’s time for us to stand up and protect our kids and to push back against Big Tobacco, not just in terms of their efforts to go after our kids but their racist marketing. Enough’s enough. This is about as easy a question that we’ll be asked this November."
I agree.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 31.
Marin County Measure B - Library Funding: YES
This measure would renew the county library parcel tax at a higher annual rate, for nine years. It would go from the current $59.30 to $98.
I believe free libraries are essential parts of communities, I admire the work our county library system does, and I happily support this measure.
Like many tax measures, this one has a senior citizen exemption. However if, like me, you’re a senior not facing serious financial constraints, I urge you to forego the exemption.
Either way, VOTE YES ON MEASURE B.
Town of Fairfax Measure F - Continue Paramedic Tax: YES
Measure F would renew the paramedic services parcel tax for four years, raising it by $3 each year. It’s currently $91.50.
VOTE YES ON MEASURE F.
Board Member, Tamalpais Union High School District (vote for 3): Emily Uhlhorn, Cynthia Roenisch, & Kevin Saavedra
There are six candidates for three seats on the board. Five of them showed up for the Marin League of Women Voters candidate forum: incumbents Cynthia Roenisch and Kevin Saavedra, Mill Valley School District trustee Emily Uhlhorn, attorney Renee Marcelle, and Educator/Writer Barbara McVeigh.
The sixth, Damian Morgan, former board chair of the Marin City Community Services District, is also the only one of the six who has not submitted info to the Voter’s Edge California voter guide. He does not appear to have a campaign website, and there is no mention of this race on his Facebook page or LinkedIn profile.
I opposed Barbara McVeigh four years ago when she ran for this board. At the time, just reading her rambling candidate statement convinced me that she was not the right person for the job. If anything, that is more apparent today.
I encourage you to read her statements on Voter’s Edge (Biography and Political Philosophy) and to watch the LWV forum. You’ll see that McVeigh generally ventures far afield from answering the questions at hand.
For instance, while the other candidates discussed issues regarding the district’s budget in response to a question about the budget, McVeigh spoke about the creative talent in Marin and suggested that Carlos Santana perform a benefit concert for the district.
If you only have time for 30 seconds from the forum, listen to her answer to a question about restoring community trust at 36:25.
In other words, even without the support of Marin Freedom Rising, McVeigh provides more than enough evidence that she would not be a good addition to the school board.
That leaves four candidates to seriously consider.
For me, Emily Uhlhorn is the most impressive, with a thorough knowledge of the workings of the board and a strong commitment to promoting anti-racist, inclusive policies.
Cynthia Roenisch is also an easy choice for me. She came across very well in the forum. In her first term she’s done a good job helping to put the district on a much more fiscally stable footing. As a former attorney and current AP English teacher, Roenisch brings a lot to the table.
While Kevin Saavedra didn’t wow me as much as Uhlhorn or Roenisch, he was part of turning the district around in his first term. And he certainly has a good grasp of the issues facing the board.
Meanwhile, Marcelle seemed lost at times during the forum, and her answers tended to be more vague than Saavedra’s.
I recommend votes for EMILY UHLHORN, CYNTHIA C. ROENISCH, and KEVIN SAAVEDRA.
Board Member, Ross Valley School District (vote for 2): Chris Landles-Cobb & Ryan O’Neil
There are three candidates vying for two seats on the school board.
One of them, Valeri Hood, is supported by Marin Freedom Rising, a group formed out of common opposition to vaccines and mask mandates. Even without what I consider a disqualifying endorsement, I already knew enough about Hood to not want to vote for her for any office.
What remained for me was to make sure that the other two candidates were rational, reasonable people.
Fortunately, that is the case, and then some.
Ryan O’Neil is a competent incumbent and parent, with one child still in White Hill Middle School.
Chris Landles-Cobb will be a fantastic addition to the board.
“I have worked with Chris on the RVSD Parent/Guardian Equity Task Force for the past 2 years and have been inspired by her ability to be both direct and compassionate when it comes to difficult issues like equity and inclusion,” says Shelley Hamilton, President of the Ross Valley School Board (and a friend and neighbor of ours).
“Chris is an involved parent with a unique combination of skills. She is a federal bank regulator with a JD from Boston College Law School so she knows finances, public sector regulations, and legal issues. With your help, I look forward to being her colleague on the RVSD Board of Trustees.”
VOTE FOR CHRIS LANDLES-COBB AND RYAN O’NEIL
Fairfax Town Council (vote for 2): LISEL BLASH & STEPHANIE HELLMAN
(Note: after I first posted this, the Marin League of Women Voters held a forum with all the candidates. It reinforced my choices. I encourage you to watch it and see what you think.)
There are two seats up this year and five candidates, one of whom is self-described shaman healer and joyful warrior Holly Baade. She ran for governor during the attempt to recall Gavin Newsom, campaigning on an anti-mask platform and calling COVID vaccines “poison”. Whatever you do in this race, please DO NOT support her.
The other candidates are incumbent Stephanie Hellman; Cindy Swift, who has long been actively involved in the town; Lisel Blash, who hasn’t been here as long as Swift but has still managed to become very involved; and Lynette Shaw, who describes herself as the “godmother of legal cannabis.” In 1997 she opened what may well have been the first medical marijuana dispensary in the nation.
As colorful a character as Shaw is, she does not seem to have nearly the command of the issues facing the town as the other three candidates. For me, the choice really comes down to Hellman, Swift, and Blash.
I did not support Stephanie Hellman for her first run, and I found her defensive and quick to judge without knowing the facts in the early days of her tenure. But she has grown during her time in office. A friend in the know describes her as a person who is “tenacious on climate action who knows how to bring things forward and get things done.”
According to friend and neighbor Shelley Hamilton, Hellman “has put her heart and soul into issues ranging from affordable housing to climate action, youth voice, equity, and public safety. I have worked with Stephanie on updating Fairfax’s Housing Element and have seen up close her dedication and commitment to this community.”
I did support Cindy Swift during her two previous unsuccessful runs. She currently sits on the Planning Commission and has served as a volunteer on numerous other boards and commissions.
As a longtime social science researcher, Lisel Blash is already well versed and deeply immersed in the wide variety of issues facing the town. She will bring a diligent, science-based approach to the job.
According to Blash, “Mandates to create additional affordable housing will push us to balance our commitments to social equity and environmental sustainability.” She is well positioned to do just that.
She has long been passionate about fair housing and currently serves on the town’s Affordable Housing Committee.
Meanwhile Blash’s commitment to the environment was confirmed by the Environmental Forum of Marin in 2017 when they awarded her a scholarship for their Master Class.
In order to be selected, she had to be someone “who already has demonstrated leadership qualities in protecting the lands and ecology of Marin County. Recipients are selected on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to the environment and sustainability, their past experience serving as a role model for other environmental advocates, their collaborative skills, and past accomplishments.”
Shelley Hamilton couldn’t be more effusive about Blash, who, she says, “has a special place in my heart. I have known her since my time on the Planning Commission and have seen her navigate the turbulent waters of affordable housing with grace, grit and persistence.
“From her Town Council gratitude flash-mob to her community organizing for Victory Village, Lisel gets it done. As a social science researcher, Lisel knows the numbers and as a community organizer she knows strategy. Lisel is smart, compassionate and humble and it would be our privilege to have her continue her track record of service to our community as our next Town Council member.”
I like Cindy Swift, but this time around I’m supporting Lisel Blash and Stephanie Hellman.
I RECOMMEND VOTES FOR LISEL BLASH AND STEPHANIE HELLMAN.
Director, District 3, Marin Municipal Water District: Ranjiv Khush
I have supported incumbent Larry Bragman many times in the past, both for the Water District Board and the Fairfax Town Council before that. But I believe there’s a better candidate on the ballot this time, and so I’m switching my allegiance.
As the effects of climate change grow, we’re facing more frequent and more severe droughts, putting our water supply in greater jeopardy.
Ranjiv Khush is a water scientist whose expertise is directly related to climate change. He is sounding the alarm for us to find alternative, drought resistant sources of water that could carry us through a catastrophe, whether it’s a disastrous drought or a watershed fire that contaminates our reservoirs.
There’s a third candidate in the race, Jack Kenney, but I don’t think he’d bring nearly as much to the table as Khush would. Here’s a link to the League of Women Voters’ candidate forum. Note that it also includes candidates for District 1 and District 4.
I think Ranjiv Khush is the best equipped candidate to follow the science and make tough decisions that we know are long overdue.
VOTE FOR RANJIV KHUSH.
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1: Li DelPan
Banker and mother Li DelPan and case manager Philip Wyatt, who is supported by Marin Freedom Rising, are vying for the remaining two years of retiring incumbent Pat Warren's term.
Wyatt only has the bare beginnings of a website -- a photo and a few paragraphs that give little hint to what he would actually do on the board.
He declined to be interviewed by the IJ's editorial board. He also refused an interview request for an August IJ story about Marin Freedom Rising supported candidates, saying he didn't want to be called "anti-vax." He wrote, "If you want to label me, I would much prefer these: ‘pro-choice,’ ‘pro-body-sovereignty,’ and ‘pro-informed consent.'”
At first I had trouble finding out anything about Li DelPan. But as I was finishing up my recommendations, the IJ came out with their endorsement of her (unlike her opponent, she did appear before the editorial board).
And the day after I published my recommendations, I got an email response to the letter I sent her. She gave me her website, which hadn't come up in my search, and explained that she is new to public service. DelPan talks about how important a good education was to her and her daughter. She wants to insure the same for Marin students.
Like Wyatt, DelPan does not have specifics about what she would do in office. But I don't believe she has a hidden agenda.
VOTE FOR LI DELPAN.
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 6: Curtis F. Robinson
Mill Valley physician Curtis Robinson is running for reelection against parent Lori Dali, one of the candidates supported by Marin Freedom Rising.
Robinson has been on the board since 2005 and is well-respected as a board member, a doctor, and a human.
Dali is refusing interviews though she's been quite vocal in the past, railing against vaccines and against mask mandates.
VOTE FOR CURTIS F. ROBINSON.
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 2: Lucia Martel Dow
Marin Freedom Rising backed candidate Lisa Longnecker dropped out of the race in September and endorsed her sole opponent, Lucia Martel Dow. I’m including this race because Longnecker’s name will still appear on the ballot.
VOTE FOR LUCIA MARTEL DOW.
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 4: Carolina Martín
Two people are running for this seat, the Marin Freedom Rising supported candidate, Faye Bourret, and appointed incumbent Carolina Martín.
Bourret’s website has a page with the heading “Faye’s Issues & Solutions.” On only one issue does she actually offer a solution, and that solution is a link to a brief from the University of Chicago.
Martín is an immigrant from Mexico, a former teacher, and has long been involved with nonprofits. She has the support of the Democratic Party, all four of her colleagues on the board, teachers’ organizations, the Marin IJ, and a host of other prominent county officials and organizations.
The only name I recognized on Bourret’s list of endorsers is Janine Pera, a spokesperson for Marin Freedom Rising.
VOTE FOR CAROLINA MARTIN.
Mill Valley School District Board Member (vote for 3): Sharon Nakatani, Yunhee Yoo, & Carol Morganstern
There are five candidates for three open seats on the Mill Valley School Board. Fortunately, none of them is supported by Marin Freedom Rising. (I have my friend Candice to blame for my involvement in this race.)
All five candidates seem intelligent and reasonable. I could see myself voting for any of them.
I’m going with Sharon Nakatani for her breadth of experience — her involvement in schools in various ways and her background as an architect specializing in large public education buildings, something particularly pertinent as the district is about to rebuild its middle school.
I find Yunhee Yoo and Carol Morganstern the most dynamic, which is why I’m endorsing them as well. Morganstern is actually running on a slate with the two other candidates, George Rosenfield and Natalie Katz. I consider the two non-slate candidates to be the strongest.
If you want to see them for yourself, watch the League of Women Voters candidate forum.
I RECOMMEND VOTES FOR SHARON NAKATANI, YUNHEE YOO, & CAROL MORGANSTERN.
Novato Unified School District Board, Trustee Area 4: Abbey Picus
Abbey Picus is a longtime teacher at Tam High, has three children who attend Novato schools, and is very active in the community.
She has a solid grasp of the issues facing the district and a lot of relevant experience, which is why she’s endorsed by teachers, administrators, the Marin IJ, and others.
Tief Gibbs Jensen, the candidate Marin Freedom Rising is supporting, says that she is not part of that group but she shares its values. She opposes mandates for any and all vaccines — not just for COVID.
Jensen’s main campaign website is a Facebook page (the other site is strictly an appeal for donations). There, you can spend way too much time going down rabbit holes.
One thing I did notice on that Facebook page is that Jensen is very selective about which posts she answers. She’s quick to respond to her supporters, particularly when they’re pushing the victim thread accusing Picus, without any evidence, of stealing campaign signs.
Meanwhile, reasonable questions go ignored, such as this one:
Hi - can you please tell me what you mean by "We need to increase enrollment by restoring our curriculum to a solid basic education."? Would this mean getting rid of electives for students?
Jensen appears to be avoiding a debate with her opponent, but you can access written responses from both candidates to questions posed by an organization called School Fuel here.
VOTE FOR ABBEY PICUS.
City of Novato Councilmember, District 2: Rachel Farac
Rachel Farac has served on Novato’s Planning Commission and Marin County’s Mental Health Board, and is very active in the community.
Her opponent is Andy Podshadley, a local vintner who has been President of the Downtown Novato Business Association and a member of the Tourism Commission.
Podshadley has the support of the anti-vax and anti-mask group Marin Freedom Rising, although he says he is not connected to the organization: “I do not align with them, nor would I ever seek an endorsement from them.”
I have no way of knowing why Marin Freedom Rising would support him if that truly is the case. But leaving that aside, as I looked into this race it became clear to me that Rachel Farac is the stronger candidate.
The “Issues” page of her website may be the best of any I’ve seen in this election. Farac lays out the main challenges she sees facing the city and in concrete terms explains what she intends to do to deal with them. Most candidates, Podshadley included, are seriously lacking in proposing actual solutions.
Farac’s ideas make a lot of sense. She has the support of many Marin public officials, Democratic organizations, unions, and other groups… and me.
VOTE FOR RACHEL FARAC.
City of Novato Councilmember, District 4: Nicole Gardner
Longtime incumbent Pat Eklund is being challenged by Marin Freedom Rising supported candidate Chris Carpiniello and small business owner Nicole Gardner.
Here are some direct quotes from Carpiniello’s website:
“Should we sit back and allow mandates to remove us from our God-given rights?”
“Society has done its best to remove God from the social and political landscape. I believe this is a grave mistake and the main cause of all the world’s ills.”
“Schools are teaching children that racial iniquity [sic] is the source of all our problems and that a single race is responsible. Shall we allow this to continue?”
“While the earth has perpetually been in a state of “climate change” since God created it, there is no way of knowing if and if so, how much human activity may or may not be affecting this process.”
The site is full of other quotes and positions that are just as terrible. Carpiniello favors more oil drilling, not less, is a big fan of Donald Trump, and is chair of the Marin GOP Election Integrity Committee, an oxymoron if ever there was one.
OK, enough of the sideshow. The question is should we support Pat Eklund or Nicole Gardner?
Frankly, I could easily support either of them.
Eklund has been on the City Council since 1995. Over a 36 year career with the Environmental Protection Agency, she held a number of important positions. Her two biggest priorities on the council are public safety and the environment. So it’s not surprising that she has the endorsement of the Sierra Club.
Gardner is a single mother of two Novato school kids. She’s been active in the community, serving on the Novato Multicultural Advisory Commission, Marin’s Race Equity Planning Committee, and Moms Demand Action. Echoing Eklund’s priorities, she lists public safety and the environment first on her issues page.
While I’d happily support Eklund if Gardner were not in the race, I feel like she may just be cruising a bit.
There’s a “NEWS” page on Eklund’s campaign website and the latest posting there is from 2017. I suspect her endorsement list is still from her previous election as well. She displays the Marin IJ’s endorsement, but as of this writing, I don’t believe the IJ has weighed in yet on this race. (It’s highly likely they’ll endorse her again, but that’s no excuse for jumping the gun.)
Gardner has been described to me as “a smart, practical, substantial person” who would bring a new voice and perspective to the council.
I think it may be time for a change, but I can’t fault anyone for sticking with Pat Eklund.
I RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR NICOLE GARDNER.
Governor: GAVIN NEWSOM
Gavin Newsom is far from perfect, but stacked up against his opponent, Republican State Senator Brian Dahle, this is an easy choice. While Dahle has worked across the aisle on some issues, he is still quite conservative, plus he refuses to refute Trump’s big lie about the 2020 election. To me, that is disqualifying.
Vote for GAVIN NEWSOM
Lieutenant Governor: ELENI KOUNALAKIS
Eleni Kounalakis is well-respected, is doing a good job, and deserves reelection.
Vote for ELENI KOUNALAKIS.
Secretary of State: SHIRLEY N. WEBER
Shirley Weber was appointed Secretary of State in 2021 when her predecessor, Alex Padilla, was named to fill Kamala Harris’ Senate seat.
Her opponent is Republican Rob Bernosky, who, as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention, was “proud to be able to stand front and center and be able to cast a vote” for Donald Trump.
In this age of Republicans trying to suppress voting and overturn legitimate elections, the Secretary of State’s office takes on more importance than ever. It is crucial that we elect someone who is working hard to insure that every eligible voter can easily cast their ballot and have it counted.
Shirley Weber is that person.
Vote for SHIRLEY N. WEBER.
Controller: MALIA M. COHEN
Malia Cohen defeated two other strong Democratic candidates in the primary to advance to the general election. Her opponent is Republican Lanhee Chen.
Chen is trying to have it both ways — not openly praising Trump in an effort to attract moderate voters but also not addressing Trump’s attempts to overturn a legitimate election so as not to alienate the Republican base.
Republican strategist Mike Madrid excoriates Chen for failing to stand up for democracy, “Lanhee… gets an F, candidly, in the leadership and courage departments. Where was he when the country and the party needed him most? He was silent.”
Meanwhile, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, “…Malia Cohen is a fierce champion for social justice who has vowed to attack corporate tax loopholes and to get to the bottom of problems at California’s moribund Employment Development Department.”
And “Cohen… would no doubt be a champion for working Californians and a watchdog against corporate malfeasance.”
That’s what I want in a Controller!
Vote for MALIA M. COHEN.
Treasurer: FIONA MA
This is one of two races in which I wish there was a stronger Democratic candidate (The other is Insurance Commissioner). Fiona Ma is running for reelection. She has done good things as Treasurer and her political philosophy is sound, but her tenure has not been without its problems.
Still I’m supporting the incumbent over her Republican opponent.
Vote for FIONA MA
Attorney General: ROB BONTA
Rob Bonta was appointed Attorney General when President Biden tapped Xavier Becerra to be his Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Bonta's opponent is Republican Nathan Hochman, who has been misrepresenting California’s crime rate in order to scare voters. This Bay Area News Group editorial sets the record straight. (That was written for the primary, so it includes two other candidates.)
Vote for ROB BONTA.
Insurance Commissioner: RICARDO LARA
Ricardo Lara has had some ethical lapses in his first term as Insurance Commissioner, such as accepting money from the insurance industry after pledging not to. As a result, I supported his Democratic opponent in the primary, who missed making it to the general election by only 7,000 votes.
Lara’s opponent in November is self-described “Reagan Republican” Robert Howell, who owns an electronics firm in Silicon Valley. The main things he talks about doing as Insurance Commissioner are things Lara has already done.
I frankly don’t think Howell would serve us better than Lara, despite Lara's failings.
Vote for RICARDO LARA.
District 2, Member, State Board of Equalization: SALLY J. LIEBER
The Board of Equalization lost most of its responsibilities when a newly created agency took those duties over in 2018. I tend to agree with the San Francisco Chronicle that the Board of Equalization should be abolished.
Until that happens, we need to vote for someone. Democratic Former Assembly Member Sally Lieber is up against Republican investment advisor Peter Coe Verbica.
Lieber spent six years on the Assembly’s Committee on Revenue and Taxation. That and her progressive credentials make this an easy choice for me.
Vote for SALLY J. LIEBER
United States Senator: ALEX PADILLA (both Full Term and Partial/Unexpired Term)
Here’s a rare instance where we can legally vote for someone twice!
Former California Secretary of State Alex Padilla was appointed to fill Kamala Harris’ Senate seat when she was elected Vice President. Now he has to stand for election for the final few months of that term at the same time he is running for a new full term. It’s crazy, but them’s the rules.
Padilla’s opponent is hard right Republican Mark Meuser, who is anti-choice, can’t think of any gun control measure he would support, isn’t sure whether climate change caused by human activity is real, and peddles lies about the 2020 election.
Vote for ALEX PADILLA for both terms.
United States Representative, District 2: JARED HUFFMAN
I am proud to have Jared Huffman as my representative in Congress. He is far and away the better choice than his token Republican opponent.
Vote for JARED HUFFMAN.
State Senator, District 2: MIKE MCGUIRE
I’m happy with Mike McGuire, so this is an easy choice for me, made even easier when I looked at his opponent, Republican Gene Yoon, before the primary election in June.
I read Yoon’s candidate statement and read his entire website, and, with the exception of a single campaign finance proposal, I did not learn anything about where he stands on any issue, despite the fact that he has a menu item called “Issues” and another one called “Priorities.”
I followed that up by looking at the first five of his videos, with the same disappointing result. One of his videos was a lengthy response to a question about how he is different from the incumbent, and it did not seem to occur to Yoon to use his answer to outline policy differences.
Either Yoon hasn’t really thought about the issues or he knows his positions are out of sync with the voters of the district.
Vote for MIKE MCGUIRE.
Member of the State Assembly, District 12: SARA AMINZADEH
The two top finishers in the June primary are both Democrats, a sure bet since only Democrats ran in the primary.
Sara Aminzadeh is a longtime environmental defender and climate justice advocate. She’s served on the California Coastal Commission since 2017.
Damon Connolly held a series of local offices in San Rafael before becoming a Marin County Supervisor in 2015.
While I think either of the candidates would provide a progressive voice to represent our district, I’m most impressed with Sara Aminzadeh.
For me, addressing the climate crisis belongs at the top of our government’s agenda. It is an existential crisis in the long and the short term, as it surely plays a major role in increasing fire danger and exacerbating water supply issues, among other things.
While both candidates have similar positions, Aminzadeh lives and breathes this stuff. I feel that her knowledgeability and her experience in drafting laws give her the greatest potential to influence other lawmakers and really get things done.
In addition to her focus on climate change, Aminzadeh has thoughtful positions on a wide range of other issues.
Vote for SARA AMINZADEH.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction: TONY K. THURMOND
Incumbent Tony Thurmond is being challenged by charter school advocate Lance Ray Christensen. The San Francisco Chronicle, which did not endorse Thurmond four years ago, has come out for him this time around.
Vote for TONY K. THURMOND.
Judicial
There are several California Appeals Court and Supreme Court justices on the ballot, for whom we have the option of voting yes or no to determine whether or not their terms are extended.
I believe that judges and justices should not be treated like political candidates. They shouldn’t have to campaign. And they should largely be free to rule on the merits of cases without constantly having to look over their shoulders.
As a result, it is my strong opinion that we voters should approve judges and justices unless there is a serious, very compelling reason not to do so. There is not such a reason for any of the justices before us in this election.
I recommend voting YES ON ALL THE JUSTICES.
STATE PROPOSITIONS
Proposition 1 - Protect Reproductive Choice: YES
Prop 1 will add language to California’s constitution protecting abortion and contraception rights. In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s horrible decision striking down Roe v. Wade (and hints from some of the justices that they want to go after contraception next!) this is an important step for our state to take.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 1!
Proposition 26 - Sports Betting on Tribal Lands: NO
Prop. 26 would legalize sports betting at American Indian casinos and licensed racetracks, apply a 10% tax to profits from sports betting at racetracks, and allow roulette and dice games at tribal casinos.
While I’ve supported gaming on tribal lands in the past, I am so disgusted by the obscene amounts of money being spent on Propositions 26 and 27 (more than $550 million combined, as of September 24!) that I’m voting against both measures.
However, if you want to support one of them, I believe Prop. 26 is the far better option. It is more straightforward than the disingenuous Prop. 27, and its potential for harm is less.
I RECOMMEND A NO VOTE ON PROPOSITION 26.
Proposition 27 - Online Sports Betting: NO
Prop. 27 is wrong on so many levels. The out of state gambling interests who are pushing this measure have spent a lot of time, effort, and mostly money trying to make this look like a solution for homelessness rather than what it is, an initiative about online and mobile gambling.
One of their ads criticizes the competing Prop. 26 for not providing any money to address homelessness. This is such a cynical and ridiculous argument; it alone is enough for me to oppose Prop. 27.
The forces behind Prop. 27 clearly chose to require that the bulk of any state revenues go to a homelessness and mental health fund in order to make their measure more attractive to voters.
Prop. 26, on the other hand, designates 70% of revenues to the state’s general fund instead of dictating to the state where its revenue can be spent, a much better approach as far as I’m concerned. I believe we should let the legislature do its job.
Also, legalizing online and mobile betting in California seems to me to be likely to cause big problems. Making it so easy for folks to bet without leaving home could ruin the lives of many people susceptible to gambling addiction. And it’s hard to see how minors can be stopped from gaining access.
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 27.
Proposition 28 - Arts and Music K-12 Funding: YES
Prop. 28 would establish minimum amounts of required annual funding for arts and music education programs in K-12 public schools. Since the money would have to come out of the state’s general fund, it would not affect other school funding mandated by Proposition 98, which was passed in 1988.
While this is another “budgeting by initiative” proposition, it’s also an area that has been largely ignored by the state. Whenever schools have to make budget cuts, it is usually arts and music programs that are the first to go.
There is no organized opposition to this measure.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 28.
Proposition 29 - Kidney Dialysis Rule Reforms: NO
This is the third time in four years that SEIU United Healthcare Workers West has turned to the initiative process to try to change the rules that govern private, for-profit kidney dialysis clinics.
I’m going to draw heavily from my 2020 recommendation, when SEIU United Healthcare Workers West placed a similar measure on the ballot:
What this is really about is that SEIU has been trying for years, so far unsuccessfully, to unionize workers at dialysis clinics owned by DaVita, by far the largest clinic operator in California. This is SEIU’s way of getting back at them.
Much as I support organized labor, this is an abuse of the initiative process.
This should not be taken as an endorsement of DaVita and the other companies that own dialysis centers.
Just a few days before I wrote this, a $135 million settlement was announced between DaVita and its investors, who had filed a class action lawsuit against the company. Investors claimed they were harmed because DaVita pressured patients to enroll in private insurance plans (DaVita and the other clinic owners get much higher reimbursements from private insurance than they do from Medicare or Medicaid).
In 2018, DaVita lost multiple wrongful death lawsuits in Colorado and was ordered to pay $383.5 million in damages.
I found a recent news story in Atlanta about clinic workers who had contracted COVID-19 returning to work before they were fully recovered because DaVita does not offer sick pay benefits.
I sincerely hope SEIU is ultimately successful in unionizing the clinics. It’s clear that the workers need the protections of a union.
But the fight should not be carried out on our ballots.
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 29.
Proposition 30 - Wealth Tax to Support Clean Air Programs: YES
Prop. 30 would increase by 1.75% the tax on incomes of more than $2 million a year. The proceeds would be used for zero-emission vehicle subsidies (at least half of which must be directed toward low-income households and communities), for EV charging stations and other infrastructure, and for wildfire suppression and prevention programs.
While I’m generally not crazy about making budget decisions through the initiative process, we are clearly in a state of emergency here when it comes to climate change and wildfires. Climate change is contributing to more frequent and more severe wildfires, and wildfires are spewing out more carbon emissions, exacerbating climate change.
We need to do everything we can to encourage the transition to zero emission vehicles (including buses and trucks) as quickly as possible, as well as increasing efforts to prevent and minimize wildfires.
That’s the aim of Prop. 30.
I am concerned that the lion’s share of contributions supporting this measure comes from Lyft, which stands to benefit from some of the subsidies. Prop. 30 is definitely not a slam dunk. But I agree with the San Francisco Chronicle that the positives of this initiative outweigh the negatives.
I RECOMMEND A YES VOTE ON PROPOSITION 30.
Proposition 31 - Flavored Tobacco Ban: YES
More than two years ago, the state legislature passed a bill to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and tobacco product flavor enhancers, with a few exceptions.
Now the tobacco companies are trying to repeal the ban.
A YES vote keeps the ban in place. A NO vote repeals it.
“Flavors in tobacco products are uniquely harmful because they mask the unappealingly harsh taste of tobacco and can lure in new and often young users and get them hooked,” according to the Los Angeles Times. “Vote yes on Proposition 31 to allow a good law to go into effect.”
Governor Newsom says, “It’s time for us to stand up and protect our kids and to push back against Big Tobacco, not just in terms of their efforts to go after our kids but their racist marketing. Enough’s enough. This is about as easy a question that we’ll be asked this November."
I agree.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 31.
Marin County Measure B - Library Funding: YES
This measure would renew the county library parcel tax at a higher annual rate, for nine years. It would go from the current $59.30 to $98.
I believe free libraries are essential parts of communities, I admire the work our county library system does, and I happily support this measure.
Like many tax measures, this one has a senior citizen exemption. However if, like me, you’re a senior not facing serious financial constraints, I urge you to forego the exemption.
Either way, VOTE YES ON MEASURE B.
Town of Fairfax Measure F - Continue Paramedic Tax: YES
Measure F would renew the paramedic services parcel tax for four years, raising it by $3 each year. It’s currently $91.50.
VOTE YES ON MEASURE F.
Board Member, Tamalpais Union High School District (vote for 3): Emily Uhlhorn, Cynthia Roenisch, & Kevin Saavedra
There are six candidates for three seats on the board. Five of them showed up for the Marin League of Women Voters candidate forum: incumbents Cynthia Roenisch and Kevin Saavedra, Mill Valley School District trustee Emily Uhlhorn, attorney Renee Marcelle, and Educator/Writer Barbara McVeigh.
The sixth, Damian Morgan, former board chair of the Marin City Community Services District, is also the only one of the six who has not submitted info to the Voter’s Edge California voter guide. He does not appear to have a campaign website, and there is no mention of this race on his Facebook page or LinkedIn profile.
I opposed Barbara McVeigh four years ago when she ran for this board. At the time, just reading her rambling candidate statement convinced me that she was not the right person for the job. If anything, that is more apparent today.
I encourage you to read her statements on Voter’s Edge (Biography and Political Philosophy) and to watch the LWV forum. You’ll see that McVeigh generally ventures far afield from answering the questions at hand.
For instance, while the other candidates discussed issues regarding the district’s budget in response to a question about the budget, McVeigh spoke about the creative talent in Marin and suggested that Carlos Santana perform a benefit concert for the district.
If you only have time for 30 seconds from the forum, listen to her answer to a question about restoring community trust at 36:25.
In other words, even without the support of Marin Freedom Rising, McVeigh provides more than enough evidence that she would not be a good addition to the school board.
That leaves four candidates to seriously consider.
For me, Emily Uhlhorn is the most impressive, with a thorough knowledge of the workings of the board and a strong commitment to promoting anti-racist, inclusive policies.
Cynthia Roenisch is also an easy choice for me. She came across very well in the forum. In her first term she’s done a good job helping to put the district on a much more fiscally stable footing. As a former attorney and current AP English teacher, Roenisch brings a lot to the table.
While Kevin Saavedra didn’t wow me as much as Uhlhorn or Roenisch, he was part of turning the district around in his first term. And he certainly has a good grasp of the issues facing the board.
Meanwhile, Marcelle seemed lost at times during the forum, and her answers tended to be more vague than Saavedra’s.
I recommend votes for EMILY UHLHORN, CYNTHIA C. ROENISCH, and KEVIN SAAVEDRA.
Board Member, Ross Valley School District (vote for 2): Chris Landles-Cobb & Ryan O’Neil
There are three candidates vying for two seats on the school board.
One of them, Valeri Hood, is supported by Marin Freedom Rising, a group formed out of common opposition to vaccines and mask mandates. Even without what I consider a disqualifying endorsement, I already knew enough about Hood to not want to vote for her for any office.
What remained for me was to make sure that the other two candidates were rational, reasonable people.
Fortunately, that is the case, and then some.
Ryan O’Neil is a competent incumbent and parent, with one child still in White Hill Middle School.
Chris Landles-Cobb will be a fantastic addition to the board.
“I have worked with Chris on the RVSD Parent/Guardian Equity Task Force for the past 2 years and have been inspired by her ability to be both direct and compassionate when it comes to difficult issues like equity and inclusion,” says Shelley Hamilton, President of the Ross Valley School Board (and a friend and neighbor of ours).
“Chris is an involved parent with a unique combination of skills. She is a federal bank regulator with a JD from Boston College Law School so she knows finances, public sector regulations, and legal issues. With your help, I look forward to being her colleague on the RVSD Board of Trustees.”
VOTE FOR CHRIS LANDLES-COBB AND RYAN O’NEIL
Fairfax Town Council (vote for 2): LISEL BLASH & STEPHANIE HELLMAN
(Note: after I first posted this, the Marin League of Women Voters held a forum with all the candidates. It reinforced my choices. I encourage you to watch it and see what you think.)
There are two seats up this year and five candidates, one of whom is self-described shaman healer and joyful warrior Holly Baade. She ran for governor during the attempt to recall Gavin Newsom, campaigning on an anti-mask platform and calling COVID vaccines “poison”. Whatever you do in this race, please DO NOT support her.
The other candidates are incumbent Stephanie Hellman; Cindy Swift, who has long been actively involved in the town; Lisel Blash, who hasn’t been here as long as Swift but has still managed to become very involved; and Lynette Shaw, who describes herself as the “godmother of legal cannabis.” In 1997 she opened what may well have been the first medical marijuana dispensary in the nation.
As colorful a character as Shaw is, she does not seem to have nearly the command of the issues facing the town as the other three candidates. For me, the choice really comes down to Hellman, Swift, and Blash.
I did not support Stephanie Hellman for her first run, and I found her defensive and quick to judge without knowing the facts in the early days of her tenure. But she has grown during her time in office. A friend in the know describes her as a person who is “tenacious on climate action who knows how to bring things forward and get things done.”
According to friend and neighbor Shelley Hamilton, Hellman “has put her heart and soul into issues ranging from affordable housing to climate action, youth voice, equity, and public safety. I have worked with Stephanie on updating Fairfax’s Housing Element and have seen up close her dedication and commitment to this community.”
I did support Cindy Swift during her two previous unsuccessful runs. She currently sits on the Planning Commission and has served as a volunteer on numerous other boards and commissions.
As a longtime social science researcher, Lisel Blash is already well versed and deeply immersed in the wide variety of issues facing the town. She will bring a diligent, science-based approach to the job.
According to Blash, “Mandates to create additional affordable housing will push us to balance our commitments to social equity and environmental sustainability.” She is well positioned to do just that.
She has long been passionate about fair housing and currently serves on the town’s Affordable Housing Committee.
Meanwhile Blash’s commitment to the environment was confirmed by the Environmental Forum of Marin in 2017 when they awarded her a scholarship for their Master Class.
In order to be selected, she had to be someone “who already has demonstrated leadership qualities in protecting the lands and ecology of Marin County. Recipients are selected on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to the environment and sustainability, their past experience serving as a role model for other environmental advocates, their collaborative skills, and past accomplishments.”
Shelley Hamilton couldn’t be more effusive about Blash, who, she says, “has a special place in my heart. I have known her since my time on the Planning Commission and have seen her navigate the turbulent waters of affordable housing with grace, grit and persistence.
“From her Town Council gratitude flash-mob to her community organizing for Victory Village, Lisel gets it done. As a social science researcher, Lisel knows the numbers and as a community organizer she knows strategy. Lisel is smart, compassionate and humble and it would be our privilege to have her continue her track record of service to our community as our next Town Council member.”
I like Cindy Swift, but this time around I’m supporting Lisel Blash and Stephanie Hellman.
I RECOMMEND VOTES FOR LISEL BLASH AND STEPHANIE HELLMAN.
Director, District 3, Marin Municipal Water District: Ranjiv Khush
I have supported incumbent Larry Bragman many times in the past, both for the Water District Board and the Fairfax Town Council before that. But I believe there’s a better candidate on the ballot this time, and so I’m switching my allegiance.
As the effects of climate change grow, we’re facing more frequent and more severe droughts, putting our water supply in greater jeopardy.
Ranjiv Khush is a water scientist whose expertise is directly related to climate change. He is sounding the alarm for us to find alternative, drought resistant sources of water that could carry us through a catastrophe, whether it’s a disastrous drought or a watershed fire that contaminates our reservoirs.
There’s a third candidate in the race, Jack Kenney, but I don’t think he’d bring nearly as much to the table as Khush would. Here’s a link to the League of Women Voters’ candidate forum. Note that it also includes candidates for District 1 and District 4.
I think Ranjiv Khush is the best equipped candidate to follow the science and make tough decisions that we know are long overdue.
VOTE FOR RANJIV KHUSH.
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1: Li DelPan
Banker and mother Li DelPan and case manager Philip Wyatt, who is supported by Marin Freedom Rising, are vying for the remaining two years of retiring incumbent Pat Warren's term.
Wyatt only has the bare beginnings of a website -- a photo and a few paragraphs that give little hint to what he would actually do on the board.
He declined to be interviewed by the IJ's editorial board. He also refused an interview request for an August IJ story about Marin Freedom Rising supported candidates, saying he didn't want to be called "anti-vax." He wrote, "If you want to label me, I would much prefer these: ‘pro-choice,’ ‘pro-body-sovereignty,’ and ‘pro-informed consent.'”
At first I had trouble finding out anything about Li DelPan. But as I was finishing up my recommendations, the IJ came out with their endorsement of her (unlike her opponent, she did appear before the editorial board).
And the day after I published my recommendations, I got an email response to the letter I sent her. She gave me her website, which hadn't come up in my search, and explained that she is new to public service. DelPan talks about how important a good education was to her and her daughter. She wants to insure the same for Marin students.
Like Wyatt, DelPan does not have specifics about what she would do in office. But I don't believe she has a hidden agenda.
VOTE FOR LI DELPAN.
Marin County Board of Education, Trustee Area 6: Curtis F. Robinson
Mill Valley physician Curtis Robinson is running for reelection against parent Lori Dali, one of the candidates supported by Marin Freedom Rising.
Robinson has been on the board since 2005 and is well-respected as a board member, a doctor, and a human.
Dali is refusing interviews though she's been quite vocal in the past, railing against vaccines and against mask mandates.
VOTE FOR CURTIS F. ROBINSON.
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 2: Lucia Martel Dow
Marin Freedom Rising backed candidate Lisa Longnecker dropped out of the race in September and endorsed her sole opponent, Lucia Martel Dow. I’m including this race because Longnecker’s name will still appear on the ballot.
VOTE FOR LUCIA MARTEL DOW.
San Rafael Board of Education, Trustee Area 4: Carolina Martín
Two people are running for this seat, the Marin Freedom Rising supported candidate, Faye Bourret, and appointed incumbent Carolina Martín.
Bourret’s website has a page with the heading “Faye’s Issues & Solutions.” On only one issue does she actually offer a solution, and that solution is a link to a brief from the University of Chicago.
Martín is an immigrant from Mexico, a former teacher, and has long been involved with nonprofits. She has the support of the Democratic Party, all four of her colleagues on the board, teachers’ organizations, the Marin IJ, and a host of other prominent county officials and organizations.
The only name I recognized on Bourret’s list of endorsers is Janine Pera, a spokesperson for Marin Freedom Rising.
VOTE FOR CAROLINA MARTIN.
Mill Valley School District Board Member (vote for 3): Sharon Nakatani, Yunhee Yoo, & Carol Morganstern
There are five candidates for three open seats on the Mill Valley School Board. Fortunately, none of them is supported by Marin Freedom Rising. (I have my friend Candice to blame for my involvement in this race.)
All five candidates seem intelligent and reasonable. I could see myself voting for any of them.
I’m going with Sharon Nakatani for her breadth of experience — her involvement in schools in various ways and her background as an architect specializing in large public education buildings, something particularly pertinent as the district is about to rebuild its middle school.
I find Yunhee Yoo and Carol Morganstern the most dynamic, which is why I’m endorsing them as well. Morganstern is actually running on a slate with the two other candidates, George Rosenfield and Natalie Katz. I consider the two non-slate candidates to be the strongest.
If you want to see them for yourself, watch the League of Women Voters candidate forum.
I RECOMMEND VOTES FOR SHARON NAKATANI, YUNHEE YOO, & CAROL MORGANSTERN.
Novato Unified School District Board, Trustee Area 4: Abbey Picus
Abbey Picus is a longtime teacher at Tam High, has three children who attend Novato schools, and is very active in the community.
She has a solid grasp of the issues facing the district and a lot of relevant experience, which is why she’s endorsed by teachers, administrators, the Marin IJ, and others.
Tief Gibbs Jensen, the candidate Marin Freedom Rising is supporting, says that she is not part of that group but she shares its values. She opposes mandates for any and all vaccines — not just for COVID.
Jensen’s main campaign website is a Facebook page (the other site is strictly an appeal for donations). There, you can spend way too much time going down rabbit holes.
One thing I did notice on that Facebook page is that Jensen is very selective about which posts she answers. She’s quick to respond to her supporters, particularly when they’re pushing the victim thread accusing Picus, without any evidence, of stealing campaign signs.
Meanwhile, reasonable questions go ignored, such as this one:
Hi - can you please tell me what you mean by "We need to increase enrollment by restoring our curriculum to a solid basic education."? Would this mean getting rid of electives for students?
Jensen appears to be avoiding a debate with her opponent, but you can access written responses from both candidates to questions posed by an organization called School Fuel here.
VOTE FOR ABBEY PICUS.
City of Novato Councilmember, District 2: Rachel Farac
Rachel Farac has served on Novato’s Planning Commission and Marin County’s Mental Health Board, and is very active in the community.
Her opponent is Andy Podshadley, a local vintner who has been President of the Downtown Novato Business Association and a member of the Tourism Commission.
Podshadley has the support of the anti-vax and anti-mask group Marin Freedom Rising, although he says he is not connected to the organization: “I do not align with them, nor would I ever seek an endorsement from them.”
I have no way of knowing why Marin Freedom Rising would support him if that truly is the case. But leaving that aside, as I looked into this race it became clear to me that Rachel Farac is the stronger candidate.
The “Issues” page of her website may be the best of any I’ve seen in this election. Farac lays out the main challenges she sees facing the city and in concrete terms explains what she intends to do to deal with them. Most candidates, Podshadley included, are seriously lacking in proposing actual solutions.
Farac’s ideas make a lot of sense. She has the support of many Marin public officials, Democratic organizations, unions, and other groups… and me.
VOTE FOR RACHEL FARAC.
City of Novato Councilmember, District 4: Nicole Gardner
Longtime incumbent Pat Eklund is being challenged by Marin Freedom Rising supported candidate Chris Carpiniello and small business owner Nicole Gardner.
Here are some direct quotes from Carpiniello’s website:
“Should we sit back and allow mandates to remove us from our God-given rights?”
“Society has done its best to remove God from the social and political landscape. I believe this is a grave mistake and the main cause of all the world’s ills.”
“Schools are teaching children that racial iniquity [sic] is the source of all our problems and that a single race is responsible. Shall we allow this to continue?”
“While the earth has perpetually been in a state of “climate change” since God created it, there is no way of knowing if and if so, how much human activity may or may not be affecting this process.”
The site is full of other quotes and positions that are just as terrible. Carpiniello favors more oil drilling, not less, is a big fan of Donald Trump, and is chair of the Marin GOP Election Integrity Committee, an oxymoron if ever there was one.
OK, enough of the sideshow. The question is should we support Pat Eklund or Nicole Gardner?
Frankly, I could easily support either of them.
Eklund has been on the City Council since 1995. Over a 36 year career with the Environmental Protection Agency, she held a number of important positions. Her two biggest priorities on the council are public safety and the environment. So it’s not surprising that she has the endorsement of the Sierra Club.
Gardner is a single mother of two Novato school kids. She’s been active in the community, serving on the Novato Multicultural Advisory Commission, Marin’s Race Equity Planning Committee, and Moms Demand Action. Echoing Eklund’s priorities, she lists public safety and the environment first on her issues page.
While I’d happily support Eklund if Gardner were not in the race, I feel like she may just be cruising a bit.
There’s a “NEWS” page on Eklund’s campaign website and the latest posting there is from 2017. I suspect her endorsement list is still from her previous election as well. She displays the Marin IJ’s endorsement, but as of this writing, I don’t believe the IJ has weighed in yet on this race. (It’s highly likely they’ll endorse her again, but that’s no excuse for jumping the gun.)
Gardner has been described to me as “a smart, practical, substantial person” who would bring a new voice and perspective to the council.
I think it may be time for a change, but I can’t fault anyone for sticking with Pat Eklund.
I RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR NICOLE GARDNER.
