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| Brinton,
Clickner Deliver Arcata Upsets |
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Schwarzenegger-driven state
initiatives trounced
By Charles Douglas
HUMBOLDT SENTINEL
|  ARCATA
- Results for California’s Nov. 8 special election
are final, and with a turnout of nearly half of registered
voters, they spell an abrupt end to Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s “Year of Reform”
with the defeat of all four of his measures to weaken
his opponents in organized labor and increase his powers
over spending -- while progressive candidates in Arcata
scored unexpected wins in elementary and high school
board races. |
Local conservatives downplayed the impact of the election
on their overall fortunes.
“Not that it would of made that much difference if
any of the reform propositions actually won,” Libertarian
activist Fred Mangels stated on his on-line journal, humboldtlib.blogspot.com
after the election. “Some are saying the results of
the election are a repudiation of the Governor in some way,
shape or form. Well, maybe.”
Humboldt County’s response to the Governor’s
plan was even more of a resounding rejection, with 53.7% of
voters appearing to deliver two-to-one thrashings to his measures.
On Prop. 74 to limit teacher tenure, 65.5% were against, compared
to 55.2% statewide; on Prop. 75 to restrain the use of public
union dues, 64.6% were against, compared to 53.6% statewide;
on Prop. 76 to allow the Governor to unilaterally reduce state
spending, 75.2% were against, compared to 62.4% statewide;
on Prop. 77 to establish judicial control over reapportionment,
74% were against compared to 59.8% statewide.
“People just rejected the whole idea of the election,
which was the most ridiculous thing about it all,” petition
gatherer and independent Mark Konkler said on Friday.
Initiatives accompanying Schwarzenegger’s fare suffered
a similar fate, with the closest call coming with Prop. 73
to require parental notification and waiting periods before
minors could obtain abortion services. While 65.5% of Humboldt’s
voters said no, only 52.9% did so across the state. Prop.
78, the pharmaceutical company-backed drug discount plan,
failed with 66.4% in Humboldt and 58.6% statewide; Prop. 79,
the labor-backed drug rebate plan, failed with 55% in Humboldt
and 60.7% statewide; Prop. 80 to re-regulate the electric
industry went down to defeat with 61.7% in Humboldt and 65.6%
statewide.
Mangels suggested a general reaction against the special
election as well, regardless of efforts by Democrats in favor
of Prop. 79 and Prop. 80.
“If it was an indication of some lefty uprising then
the two initiatives backed by the Left wouldn't have fared
so poorly,” he stated. “For the most part, people
just went and voted no on everything, choosing to bite off
their nose to spite their face.”
Representatives of the Green Party of Humboldt County nonetheless
celebrated the results as a victory and looked forward to
supporting local and state initiatives of their own in 2006.
 “It’s
no coincidence, the counties like Humboldt, Mendocino, San
Francisco, Santa Cruz and Alameda with highest proportions
of Green registration also delivered the most votes against
Propositions 73 through 77,” GPHC Acting Spokesperson
Heidi Calton stated in a press release. “Greens are
already organizing statewide to support the living wage initiative
and locally to implement police review, medical marijuana
and election reform.”
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Leftist candidates fare mostly well
 Across
California, three Green incumbents held their seats and Hilary Bradburg-Huang
defeated a long-time Republican to win a Pasadena City College seat.
While Greens declined to contest local special districts, their
endorsement appeared to help 18-year-old Shane Brinton win a seat
on the Northern Humboldt Union High School District, with 5,455
votes to take a third and final seat from developer Dan Johnson,
who picked up 4,953 votes. Ahead of him were incumbent and fellow
Democrat Sarie Toste with 6,555 votes and Republican realtor Mike
Pigg, also of McKinleyville, with 7,314. On the losing side, besides
Republican business owner Tim Lorenzo rounding out the field at
1,244 votes was the slate of Democrats backed by Local Solutions
Political Action Committee, with retired health administrator Don
Avant receiving 3,930 votes, Rebecca Kurwitz receiving 3,375 votes
and business owner Stephen Cole receiving 2,404 votes.
An e-mail sent out by Local Solutions after the election admitted
to an error in not backing the “new progressive force”
represented by Brinton and his supporters.
“We hope to avoid similar mistakes in the future by listening
to our constituencies more carefully, and by opening our endorsement
process to be more transparent,” the e-mail stated.
Greens saw the outcome as proof of their lack of involvement in
the PAC.
“Anyone who thinks Greens are pulling the strings of Local
Solutions PAC has to think twice after they look at the high school
race,” GPHC Acting Spokesperson David Giarrizzo stated. “Our
solo support of Shane turned out to be more influential than their
attempt to run a slate.”
The support from the Arcata Greens seemed persuasive in the race
for a two-year seat on the Arcata School District, which governs
primary and secondary education in a large part of the city. Day
care provider Sarah Clickner unseated appointed incumbent Mary Cuhna
1,697-1,606, while for the three four-year seats, incumbent Mary
Wells with 2,226 votes was joined by fellow Democrats Steven Steinberg
with 2,196 votes and Elisabeth Pajara with 1,878 votes. Ed Musgrave
was left out in last place with 849 votes.
Mike Wilson, a water resource engineer and politically nonaligned,
also posted a win in Arcata’s Harbor District seat, unseating
longtime incumbent Democrat Ron Fritzsche by nearly 20%, 4,996-3,992.
Democrat and bay activist Maggy Herbelin fared less well in the
Eureka Harbor District seat, posting only 2,597 votes to incumbent
Republican Dennis Hunter’s 3,452.
“I only wish Maggy and her team had involved Greens in Eureka
more in her campaign,” Giarrizzo stated, referring to her
campaign team led by Local Solutions.
Greens and right-wingers alike celebrated the repudiation of Humboldt
County’s redevelopment plan in advisory votes administered
by community service districts for Manila and Redway, two of the
communities targeted due to blight. 54.4% opposed redevelopment
in Manila, while Redway contributed a lopsided 85.5% opposed.
Also contested in Manila were two seats on the typically contentious
community service district board. Appointed incumbent Charles McDaniels
made his first successful defense of his seat with 120 votes, while
recreation coordinator Tara Petti landed first place with 132 votes.
Wilathi Weaver placed third with 83 votes while Olivia Wilder received
68 votes.
 In
McKinleyville, Local Solutions faired better, with Democrats Jeff
Dunk and Javan Reid taking 2,277 and 1,869 votes, respectively as
they defeated conservative Democrat Dennis Mayo with 1,822 votes.
Libertarian incumbent Bill Wennerholm finished between the two with
2,104, while Jim Fritz and Jamie Christopher rounded out the field
with 1,130 votes and 417 votes, respectively. Local politicos saw
this as a sign of an emerging progressive community in a traditionally
more right-wing climate.
“This will be the last election where we don’t have
Green candidates running in some of these critical local races,”
GPHC Spokesperson Greg Allen stated. “Now that our Elections
Committee is meeting on a regular basis, we can lay the groundwork
for strong bids for harbor, school and service districts in 2007.”
For the Humboldt Community Services District covering unincorporated
areas near Eureka, incumbent Republicans Alan Bongio and Verne Frost
easily defended their seats with 4,061 votes and 3,242 votes, respectively,
versus 1,137 votes for business owner Charles Day.
For results from outlying districts in Humboldt County, visit http://www.co.humboldt.ca.us/election. |
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Vol.
I No. 6
Friday,
December 2, 2005
From all corners of the
county:
NewStory
A Crisis of Confidence
Doubt cast on security of local elections
Pulp
Mill Approaches Showdown
Monday public hearing at Eureka City Hall may force monitoring
Valley West Critical of
Service Center
Arcata narrows location list to Samoa Boulevard and South
G Street
Feds to Fund Controversial
School Surveillance
Department of justice funds programs that
track students
EPD Critical of Critical
Mass
Chief Douglas defends use of force against
bicyclists, protesters
Brinton, Clickner
Deliver Arcata Upsets
Schwarzenegger-driven state initiatives trounced
In the Know
What's the Buzz?:
Has Beans on the Yellow
Brick Road
Saturday Open Mic a goldmine of talent
Lost Coast Cuisine:
An Oasis for Your Taste Buds
La Chaparrita a hidden treasure on 4th Street
Artistic License:
Bauhaus Exorcizes the Filmore
Halloween night spent with legendary spirits
Artistic License
DV Indeed:
Fighting the Onslaught
Catch, Club join a re-edited Apocalypse
in realm of classics
Film in Focus:
Goblet of Fire Runneth Over
Masterful sorcery in Harry Potter, Volume IV
Opinion
Editorial:
Eco-Hostel Trumps Strip Hotel
Eureka shouldn't pass up long-range success for short-term infusion
of cash
Guest Opinion:
Save Tookie
Life offers something that death never could: Hope
Guest Opinion:
Like Undermining Motherhood and Apple Pie
Why are California Dems in local government embracing eminent domain
abuse?
Perspective on Globalization:
Let’s Talk About Iraq
Republican-Iranian connections renewed
Brick Burner:
The Tempest Cometh
Jack Abramoff’s Bipartisan Sleeze
Media Review:
Lipstick on a Pig
The folly of media reform
Getting Graphic:
Torturing the Torturers
How does official policy reflect personal pecadillos?
Calendar: 12/2-12/9
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