This may be the first year I have ever voted a straight
Republican ticket for partisan offices. True: it has been years
since I voted for a Democrat, but usually I vote for at least one
third-party candidate.
This may be the first year I have ever voted a straight Republican ticket for partisan offices. True: it has been years since I voted for a Democrat, but usually I vote for at least one third-party candidate.
This year, if the Democrats regain control of congress, they will pull out of Iraq, condemning all those purple-fingered people to the paper shredder and opening the way for more 9/11’s. They will also raise taxes, and I happen to think our economy has responded rather nicely to the tax cuts of the last six years.
So I do not feel I personally have the luxury of throwing away my vote on a third-party candidate.
But since this is the Far Right Voter’s Guide, I will let you, dear reader, know if the person I am recommending is a conservative (marked with an *), or a RINO (a Republican in Name Only, designated with an H, meaning “Hold your nose and vote for this guy anyway, because the Democrat is worse.”)
In the latter case, you could vote for the Libertarian (often amoral and anti-war, but pro-business) or the American Independent (will not beat the Democrat, but his heart is pure.)
Candidates:
n Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger (H). The political pundits say the Governator has a lock on this election, which, considering Angelides’s positions, is a very good thing.
n Lieutenant Governor: Tom McClintock (*****) Life, liberty, and property; experienced, smart, and articulate: my favorite politician, period.
n Secretary of State: Bruce McPherson (H).
n Controller: Tony Strickland (****) Successfully sued Gray Davis over wasting our tax dollars on his secret contracts with the energy companies. Sound fiscal conservative.
n Treasurer: Claude Parrish I don’t know if he qualifies as a conservative, but he wants to decrease our state bond debt.
n Attorney General: Chuck Poochigian (***)
n Insurance Commissioner: Steve Poizner (H).
n Member, State Board of Equalization District 1: David Neighbors. At least he is a CPA. He should understand a balance sheet.
n Member, State Board of Equalization, District 2: Bill Leonard (*)
n U.S. Senator: Dick Mountjoy (****)
n U.S. Representative Raymond Chukwu : An interesting guy: half American, half Nigerian; born here, raised there. Made his way back here to become an engineer despite overwhelming obstacles. By the way, if any liberals are reading this to see who not to vote for, you should vote for this guy because he is black.
n State Assembly: Ignacio Velasquez: successful business owner. His campaign literature is good, his opponent is bad. By the way, if any liberals are reading this to see who not to vote for, you should vote for this guy because he is brown.
n Judicial: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court: Joyce Kennard: NO.
n Gavilan College Board Member: Kent Child. I have no idea what his politics are, but he was a competent and kind administrator at Gavilan.
n District Attorney: Dolores Carr. Will prosecute criminals, as stated in the job description.
n Water District: Ram Singh: We need at least one person on that board with more technical knowledge than political aspirations.
n GUSD School Board: We can vote for four. I am semi-bullet voting for only two. First: Tom Bundros, who does his homework and keeps his focus on improving academics. Secondly, Denise Baer Apuzzo.
Mrs. Apuzzo and I differ on many issues. But she attends every board meeting and is committed to improving academics in the district. Her three children attend district schools. She pulls no punches. She may be a Democrat, but if more Democrats were like her, I might not be voting a straight Republican ticket.
There are six more justices to vote yes or no on plus county board of education, but I have to do some more homework before I can make informed recommendations.
I addressed propositions and measures last week. The column may be viewed at www.gilroydispatch.com.
Cynthia Anne Walker is a
homeschooling mother of three and former engineer. She is a published independent author. Her column is published in
The Dispatch every Friday.
