Santa Monicans to Help Decide Key Races

By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer

June 6 -- Which Democrat will likely represent Santa Monica’s assembly district? Will Steve Westly or Phil Angelides face-off with Republican Governor Schwarzenegger in November’s elections. Does California need new and better libraries and should the rich be taxed to help pay for preschool?

These and other questions will be decided Tuesday, June 6, in voting booths across California, including Santa Monica, as voters head to the polls to help weigh in on several statewide primary elections and propositions 81 and 82.

In the hotly contested race for Fran Pavley’s 41st Assembly District seat – representing residents along the coast from Santa Monica to Oxnard and into the valley – political analysts aren’t making any predictions.

Traditionally considered a safe seat for Democrats, Tuesday’s election will likely decide which of five candidates – Julia Brownley, Jonathan Levey, Barry Groveman, Kelly Hayes-Raitt, or Shawn Casey O'Brien – will replace the termed-out Assembly member and Democrat, Fran Pavley. (see story)

While not all the campaigns are on equal footing in their chances to capture the lion’s share of ballots for the district, many of the candidates are considered serious contenders in a race featuring lawyers and activists, a city council member and a local school board president.

And several candidates are betting they can win as the money continues to pour in.

With nearly $2 million already spent by the campaigns, the local assembly race could be the most expensive ever, with many of the camps focusing on issues such as the environment and education.

Whether the Assembly member will be a Santa Monican will also be answered. All the candidates -- except Calabasas Council member Barry Groveman -- are from Santa Monica.

Another close race Santa Monica voters will help decide Tuesday will determine the Democratic Party candidate in November’s race for Governor.

Both Phil Angelides, the State treasurer, and Steve Westly, the State controller, have been hammering each other hard in negative political spots, which experts say may further drive down election turnout Tuesday. Some analysts predict only 38 percent of registered voters will go to the polls.

Nearly $70 million has been spent by both campaigns, according to news reports, and it is estimated that almost a quarter or all Democratic voters have not made up their minds.

The winner of the race, which has been too close to call, will look to knock out incumbent California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in this fall’s general elections.

Santa Monica voters will cast their ballots for other elections Tuesday, although many of those races – including those for the seats held currently by County Supervisor Zev Yarovslavsky and U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein – are expected to easily go to the incumbents, election watchers say.

Voters Tuesday are also faced with Propositions 81 and 82.

If approved, proposition 81 would authorize the selling of $600 million in bonds to for grant money to construct and renovate libraries.

Proposition 82 would create a voluntary preschool program for four-year-olds through a 1.7 percent tax on individual incomes higher than $400,000 and couple incomes above $800,000. (see column)

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Visit Lavote.net for election details.