I sometimes am reminded that I have too much faith in the state of California–and this is definitely one of those times. Arnold will continue to be governor–which is good and is what I wanted–but my other candidates lost by very small margins…

Election results…

48.47% turnout…which is amazing!!

And…the print-out we got afterwards showed that this precinct voted the way I did!! 🙂 WOO HOO! Now, if only the rest of the state will vote this way…

This will be an exciting evening!

And, by the way–while California elections may not be very important to everyone, they are extremely important to all those who call California home. More importantly, as California has one of the top ten strongest economies in the WORLD, last I heard, the country tends to pay attention to California. Yes, obviously, National politics are important, but don’t discount state/local politics. Local politics are crucial, as I believe they have a great and direct effect on the citizens.

Lesa with her great-grandfather Irvin Rushing.

 

This man could play anything with strings! I have inherited SO much from him, and I miss him dearly… 

Governor: Arnold Schwartzenegger (if you want to know why, ask…)

Lt. Governor: Tom McClintock

Sec. of State: Bruce McPherson

Controller: Tony Strickland

Attorney General: Chuck Poochigian

U.S. Senator: Richard Mountjoy

All but one of these men are men with whom I worked in Sacramento in Summer 2001, and I deeply respect them. These are my picks for the major state offices this election!

Remember to vote on Tuesday!! 🙂

Photos from today…

For California voters: Here are my recommendations for the propositions on our ballot next Tuesday. This is actually from Assemblyman Ray Haynes, but I fully agree with all that he says in this guide. Plus, he shows you who is in support of/who opposes each proposition.

Candidates guide to come…

PROPOSITIONS ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 2006 BALLOT

Prop. 1A: Transportation Investment Fund Protection. Will make it harder for the Government to borrow money from the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF). The State cannot borrow the money more than twice in any 10 year period, and must repay it within 3 years. Prohibits Suspension of Prop 42 if the money from a previous year has not been repaid. Any money borrowed to date must be repaid by June 20, 2016.

SUPPORT: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Democrat Pty; CA Republican Pty

OPPOSE: Los Angeles Times

Prop. 1B: Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, Port Security Bond Act of 2006. Authorizes the issuance of $19.925 billion of general obligation bonds for high priority transportation corridor improvements, port security projects, and mass transit projects, and local street and road improvement, congestion relief, and traffic safety. Part of the Governors Infrastructure Plan.

SUPPORT: Governor; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Democrat Pty; CA Republican Pty

OPPOSE: Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes

Prop 1C: Housing & Emergency Shelter Trust Fund Act of 2006. Authorizes the issuance of $2.85 billion in general obligation bonds for various housing programs for the poor and homeless, infill development, and housing related parks. Part of the Governors Infrastructure Plan.

SUPPORT: Governor; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Democrat Pty

OPPOSE: Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes ; CA Republican Pty

Prop 1D: Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2006. Authorizes the issuance of $10.416 billion in general obligation bonds to provide aid to school districts, county superintendents of schools, county boards of education, the California Community Colleges, the University of California, the Hastings College of the Law, and the California State University to construct and modernize education facilities. Part of the Governors Infrastructure Plan.

SUPPORT: Governor; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Democrat Pty

OPPOSE: Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes

Prop 1E: Disaster Preparedness and Flood Prevention Bond Act of 2006. Authorizes the issuance of $4.09 billion in general obligation bonds for the purposes of financing disaster preparedness and flood prevention projects, such as the levees in Northern California. Part of the Governors Infrastructure Plan

SUPPORT: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Democrat Pty; CA Republican Pty

OPPOSE: Asm. Ray Haynes

Prop. 83: Jessica’s Law – punishments and restrictions on sexually violent predators. . Increases penalties for violent and habitual sex offenders and child molesters. Prohibits registered sex offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of any school or park, and requires lifetime Global Positioning System monitoring of felony registered sex offenders.

SUPPORT: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; CA Republican Pty; CA Democrat Pty

OPPOSE: Los Angeles Times; CA Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Prop. 84: Flood Control. Natural Resource Protection. Park Improvements Bonds. Authorizes the issuance of $5.388 billion in general obligation bonds, for safe drinking water, water quality and supply, flood control, state and local park improvements. Cost of about $10.5 billion over 30 years.

SUPPORT: Governor; CA Democrat Pty; Phil Angelides

OPPOSE: Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; CA Republican Pty

Prop. 85: Waiting Period And Parental Notification Before Termination of Minor’s Pregnancy. Amends the California Constitution to prohibit abortion for un-emancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent or legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver.

SUPPORT: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; CA Republican Pty.

OPPOSE: CA Democrat Pty; Los Angeles Times

Prop. 86: Tax on Cigarettes to fund Emergency Room Services. Imposes an additional tax of $2.60 per pack on cigarettes as well as increasing the taxes on other tobacco products for the purpose of funding emergency services at hospitals, nursing education, and to provide health insurance to eligible children.

SUPPORT: CA Democrat Pty; Phil Angelides; Los Angeles Times; Am Lung Assoc; Latino Issues Forum

OPPOSE: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Republican Pty

Prop. 87: Tax on oil extracted in California. Imposes a tax of 1.5% to 6% (depending on oil price per barrel) on crude oil extracted in California. Establishes the California Energy Alternatives Program Authority, an energy bureaucracy to disperse funds for alternative energy research, alternative energy vehicles, and energy efficient technologies.

SUPPORT: CA Democrat Pty; Phil Angelides; Pres. Bill Clinton; Julia Roberts

OPPOSE: Governor ; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Republican Pty

Prop. 88: Imposes a Parcel Tax for education funding. Imposes a $50 per parcel tax on all property in California, to raise funding for public schools to provide for class size reduction, textbooks, school safety, and computer systems. Will raise about $450 million annually.

SUPPORT: Jack O’Connell, CA Sup of Education; Los Angeles Times

OPPOSE: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; CA Democrat Pty; CA Republican Pty

Prop. 89: Public Financing of Campaigns. Candidate must collect a specified number of $5.00 contributions, (from 750 to 25,000 depending on the office, and money must be turned over to the state), they may receive public campaign funding. The amount of funding would depend on the office sought. For Assembly, they could receive up to $250,000 for the primary, and $400,000 for the general election. It increases the income tax rate on corporations and financial institutions by .2% to fund the program. It imposes new limits on private campaign contributions (For Assembly it would reduce the individual and corporate contributions from $3,300 to $500). Provides for each candidate who choose public funding and won their election, to receive $50,000 annually to pay for campaign expenses..

SUPPORT: Phil Angelides; CA Nurses Assoc; Sierra Club

OPPOSE: Governor; Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; Calif Chamber of Commerce; CA Republican Pty

Prop. 90: Restrictions on the use of eminent domain by government. Amends the Constitution to bar state and local governments from condemning or damaging provide property to promote other private projects or uses. Provides for just compensation for government takings for public use.

SUPPORT: Sen. McClintock; Asm. Ray Haynes; CA Republican Pty

OPPOSE: CA Democrat Pty; Nature Conservancy; Sierra Club; CA Teachers Assoc

It’s been crazy ever since I returned from Oklahoma…we’re getting new carpet on Wednesday, so I painted the living room and hallway on Saturday (with Ananda’s fantastic help). Now, I have to move everything out of my room by Wednesday morning…and I haven’t really started. 🙂

Work is great–tomorrow is going to be fun with all the festivities there. 🙂 Our team has a great theme!

I spent 6 hours at a prison yesterday with my worship team from church. It’s always such an incredible experience to go and lead worship there! These young men are SO young–18-25 yrs…we take dinner to them and fellowship over a meal. Then we have a church service. Our church tries to go twice a year. I had some great conversations with some of the young men, and they have asked me to write to them (granted, it doesn’t hurt that I’m a female and that I’m close to their age! They don’t see many of those!). I said that I would–because they do need to be encouraged by the Word and by Christian brothers and sisters.

So much more going on, but I have to go to bed. 🙂

More soon!

My friend Todd posted a bulletin about this on MySpace tonight, and I had to join…

Fantasy Congress!!

This is so awesome–and so much better than fantasy sports games! 🙂 I’m a nerd…

Jessica, Cindy and I went to a 30th birthday party tonight for a guy at work…so fun! Jessica and I went to four thrift stores today trying to find the perfect outfit. We settled on ’90s business attire. 🙂 Cindy wore an ’80s prom dress 🙂 So cool!