PD Editorial: November election recommendations

Here are our recommendations to date for Tuesday’s election.

Polls are open unti 8 p.m. Go to pressdemocrat.com for the latest results.

To find a voting center, go to sonomacounty.ca.gov/wheretovote

FEDERAL

President — Joe Biden

Joe Biden is the antidote the United States needs after this poisonous presidency. Biden is the antithesis of Trump: polite, empathetic, a man who believes in government and puts other people ahead of himself. He brings a deep reservoir of contacts and experience from 36 years in the Senate and eight as Barack Obama’s vice president.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here.

U.S. Congress, 2nd District — Jared Huffman

Jared Huffman does a good job representing a vast district, stretching from the Golden Gate to the Oregon border. He is one of the most liberal members of the House, and he represents one of the bluest districts in the nation's bluest state.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

U.S. Congress, 5th District — Mike Thompson

Mike Thompson has ably served Wine Country for nearly three decades, first in the state Senate and now in the U.S. House of Representatives. His moderate to progressive voting record aligns well with his North Bay district.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

CALIFORNIA

Senate, 3rd District — Bill Dodd

In this unprecedented moment, the state needs experienced, solutions-oriented legislators like state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa. Dodd, a former Republican, is a genuine centrist who puts results first. He has a deep reservoir of experience as a Napa County business owner and an elected official.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Assembly, 2nd District — Jim Wood

Sacramento, says Assemblyman Jim Wood, is filled with people dedicated to maintaining the status quo. Name a problem, he says, and entrenched interests endeavor to derail practically any solution. Wood, D-Santa Rosa, speaks from experience, having tackled some of California's most intractable issues during his three terms in the Legislature: health care, housing, insurance, utilities, water.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Assembly, 4th District — Cecilia Aguiar-Curry

Issues in this sprawling district run the gamut from student housing at Sonoma State University and UC Davis to homelessness in Napa and Woodland, from wildfire recovery in Lake County to the threat that rising sea levels will swamp Highway 37, and the future of PG&E and the Sonoma Developmental Center. Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry is well-versed in all of them.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Assembly, 10th District — Marc Levine

An upstart Marc Levine unseated a well-known and heavily funded incumbent in the 2012 election. Over four Assembly terms, he has emphasized his independence while demonstrating a knack for introducing bills that make big headlines but not much impact. His experience and seasoning set him apart in this year's election.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 14 — Stem cell bonds — No

After 16 years, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is well established, and its successes should allow it to secure other sources of funding, including federal funding as the Bush-era restrictions on stem cell research have been lifted

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 15 — Property taxes — No

Proposition 15 would raise property taxes by an estimated $12.5 billion a year by taking Proposition 13 protections away from some commercial and industrial properties. The chief advocates say small businesses would be protected. That may have been their intention, but it almost certainly wouldn’t be the result.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 16 — Affirmative action — Yes

We have a diverse society, but it isn’t colorblind or merit-based. Women, on average, are paid 80 cents for every dollar paid to men. Women of color are paid even less than white women. African Americans and Latinos are still unrepresented in the state’s universities and overrepresented among the unemployed and in California’s vast prison system.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 17 — Voting rights for parolees — Yes

Parolees work and pay taxes and, as supporters note, a Florida study concluded that parolees whose voting rights were restored were less likely to return to prison. Everyone benefits from reducing recidivism. Felons on probation already are allowed to vote.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 18 — Voting rights for 17-year-olds — No

More than a dozen state allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries if they turn 18 prior to the general election. There is a logical nexus: general election candidates are nominated in the primary. Proposition 18 goes further. It also would allow 17-year-olds to vote in low-turnout special elections, which frequently are called by small school districts for bonds and parcel taxes.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 19 — Property taxes — No

Proposition 19 would allow people to buy more expensive homes anywhere in the state, while capping their property taxes. Moreover, they could repeat the maneuver three times. That might provide lots of business for real estate agents, but it would undercut school districts and local governments, the beneficiaries of property taxes.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 20 — Prison sentences — No

California was on the front end of a national trend in reducing sentences for drug offenses and nonviolent crimes. What’s happened to the state’s crime rate? It has declined to levels last seen in the 1960s, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. This isn’t the time to reverse course.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 21 — Rent control — No

California voters soundly rejected rent control in the November 2018 election for a good reason: It won’t alleviate the state’s housing problems. State lawmakers voted in 2019 to cap rent increases anyway. Yet here we are again, asked to decide another rent control initiative.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 22 — App-based delivery services — Yes

Proposition 22 would allow app-based transportation and delivery companies to continue using independent contractors — drivers who set their own work hours and determine which assignments they accept and reject.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 23 — Dialysis clinics — No

Don’t be fooled. This initiative is ostensibly about protecting kidney dialysis patients, but it’s actually a cynical attempt to punish clinic operators for resisting a union organizing campaign. Sound familiar? It should. Proposition 23 is a reprise of a 2018 initiative battle.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Proposition 24 — Online privacy — No

California’s online privacy law took effect on Jan. 1 to national acclaim, but the final regulations didn’t come out until mid-August. Many people and businesses are still trying to figure it out, yet there’s already a substantial revision on the ballot, and even online privacy advocates and experts are divided about whether it’s a step forward or a step back.

To read The Press Democrat editorial, click here.

Proposition 25 — Bail reform — Yes

The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of the American justice system. Yet many people get stuck in jail for months without being convicted of anything. Proposition 25 would replace cash bail with evaluations to determine whether people can be expected to show up for court hearings and assess the risk that someone would commit crimes if they were granted pretrial release.

To read The Press Democrat editorial, click here.

SONOMA COUNTY

Measure O — Mental health sales tax — Yes

Measure O isn’t a panacea. It won’t fix all the problems with mental health care, which has been underfunded for too long at all levels of government. It will provide revenue that can’t be diverted to other programs.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure P — Law enforcement oversight — Yes

Measure P can be boiled down to a single word: accountability. Elected officials, government agencies and public employees must be accountable to the taxpayers. Sheriffs and their deputies are no exception

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure Q — Santa Rosa sales tax — No

Santa Rosa’s fiscal challenges are real, but there are cost-cutting avenues the city needs to explore before asking voters for more taxes. And there is time to dig deeper.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure R — Cloverdale utility users tax — No

Right now, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, with the economy reeling, and the presidential election sucking the air out of the room, permanent taxes should wait.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure S — Cotati sales tax — No

Right now, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, with the economy reeling, and the presidential election sucking the air out of the room, permanent taxes should wait.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure T — Healdsburg sales tax — No

Right now, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, with the economy reeling, and the presidential election sucking the air out of the room, permanent taxes should wait.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure U — Petaluma sales tax — No

Right now, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, with the economy reeling, and the presidential election sucking the air out of the room, permanent taxes should wait.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure V — Sonoma sales tax — No

Right now, in the midst of a deadly pandemic, with the economy reeling, and the presidential election sucking the air out of the room, permanent taxes should wait.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure BB — Healdsburg District Hospital sale — Yes

Without the proposed sale, North Sonoma County Healthcare District officials say Healdsburg District Hospital’s survival would be in question. NorCal Health Connect promises to maintain existing services for at least 20 years.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure CC — Petaluma Valley Hospital sale — Yes

Petaluma Valley Hospital has been leased by St. Joseph since 1997. After renewal talks collapsed, the Petaluma Health Care District tried and failed to find a new partner. NorCal Health Connect, a secular subsidiary of Providence St. Joseph, offered to buy the hospital and preserve existing services for at least 20 years.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Measure DD — Transportation sales tax — Yes

Sonoma County delivered on their promise to widen Highway 101. Renewing the transportation sales tax would provide funding to fill potholes, improve local streets, upgrade bike paths and transit service and compete for state and federal funding.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

SANTA ROSA

City Council District 1 — Jorge Inocencio

With firsthand experience finding housing in Santa Rosa’s tight market, Jorge Inocencio has creative ideas about designing for affordability, promoting development of granny units and microloan programs.

City Council District 3 — Jack Tibbetts

Jack Tibbetts missed too many votes in his first term, but he is a capable council member with a solid understanding of housing and business needs

City Council District 5 — Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers distinguished himself in his first term as hardworking and well-informed, with a thorough understanding of municipal finances.

City Council District 7 — Natalie Rogers

Natalie Rogers wants to develop tools to assist potential home owners, promote patronage of local businesses and services for the homeless.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

School Board Trustee Area 1 — Jenni Klose

Jenni Klose has proven over two terms that she’s open-minded, independent and committed to solving the fiscal, cultural and academic problems confronting Sonoma County’s largest school district. Just as important, Klose is a forceful advocate for the 16,000  students attending Santa Rosa City Schools.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

Junior College Trustee Area 3, 4, 5 — Caroline Bañuelos, Kerry Rego

Caroline Bañuelos focuses on equity issues and wants the Southwest Center upgraded to better match other SRJC facilities. Kerry Rego has a businesswoman’s eye for managing money, including proposals for data-based reviews to identify programs that could be combined or eliminated to free resources for higher priorities.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

PETALUMA

City Council — Mike Healey, Gabe Kearney, Kathy Miller

Three candidates for Petaluma City Council stand out for their ability to see the middle ground. Incumbents Mike Healy, Kathy Miller and Gabe Kearney have effectively represented the interests of a broad majority of residents and deserve to be reelected.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

ROHNERT PARK

City Council District 1 — Willy Linares

Willy Linares is a relative newcomer, but he has devoted himself to learning the needs of his adopted hometown.

City Council District 3 — Gerard Giudice

Gerard Giudice’s depth of knowledge, network of contacts and understanding of the local business landscape are unusual for a challenger, and his enthusiasm for Rohnert Park is infectious.

City Council District 4 — Jake Mackenzie

Jake Mackenzie, running for a seventh term, is an authority on development, transportation and climate issues facing Rohnert Park and the North Bay.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

WINDSOR

Mayor — Dominic Foppli

Town Council — Debora Fudge

Dominic Foppoli has actively promoted Windsor while working closely with elected officials from other communities on fire prevention, economic development and pandemic response. Debora Fudge is an experience leader who has a record of crafting sensible expansion limits to keep the small town feel residents want without choking off economic development.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

HEALDSBURG

City Council — David Hagele, Ariel Kelley and Skylaer Palacios

All six candidates have something to contribute and should stay active in city affairs. For the three council seats, we recommend David Hagele, based on his first-term record; Ariel Kelley, for her expertise and experience, and Skylaer Palacios, as a voice for youth and diversity.

To read the Press Democrat editorial, click here

You can send letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.