We take a break from our blog series to post this Christian voter’s guide for the state of California. Recomendations are based upon research and from the perspective of the Christian worldview. Grateful for Election Forum.
Candidate Ratings:
Every candidate is considered after thorough research; we also have a questionnaire for candidates to complete.
: Strongest endorsement for values voters- : Above average
- : Better than opponent. Some races are between candidates that you will disagree with. You may not want to vote for any of them, but at least a 1 thumbs up makes one candidate as better than the other. It’s the lesser of the two evils. 1 thumbs up is not really an endorsement.
- No Endorsement: We either oppose the candidates or have found no reason to support a candidate. If you don’t vote for a candidate or issue, all your other votes you make for other offices still count.
March 3rd, 2015 Election Recommendations: LA City Council, LA Unified School District, LA Community College District, and local measures.
City Council; City of La Mirada (3 Elected)
- Larry Mowles
- Steve De Ruse
- Michael “Mok” Saenz
- Tony Aiello
- John Sarega
- Edward Eng
- Dale Nowicki
Council Member; City of Azusa (2 Elected)
- Uriel Edward Macias
- Angel A. Carrillo
- Diana Reyes Williams
- Jeri Bibles Vogel
Council Member; City of Gardena (2 Elected)
- Mark E. Henderson
- Harout “Art” Kaskanian
- Ron Ross 1
- Dan Medina
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 2
- David Hernandez (write-in)
- Paul Krekorian
- Eric Preven
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 6
- Cindy Montanez
- Nury Martinez
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 8
- Bobbie Jean Anderson
- Marqueece Harris-Dawson
- Forescee Hogan-Rowles
- Robert L. Cole, Jr.
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 10
- Grace Yoo
- Herb J. Wesson, Jr.
- Melvin R. Snell (write-in)
- Delaney “Doc” Smith
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 12
- Daniel Garcia (write-in)
- Mitchell Englander
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 14
- John O’Neill
- JosÉ Huizar
- Nadine Momoyo Diaz
- Mario Chavez
- Gloria Molina
Council Member; City of Cerritos (3 elected)
- Jim Edwards
- Grace Hu
- Naresh Solanki
- Sam Sultan Ahmad
- Chuong Vo
- James Kang
- Manny Maninder Sethi
- Mark E. Pulido
- Sophia Tse
- Frank Aurelio Yokoyama
Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 2
- Eric Preven
- David Hernandez
- Paul Krekorian
Council Member; City of Rolling Hills (3 elected)
- Terry Ronald Reiter
- James H. Aichele
- Patrick Wilson
- Arun K. Bhumitra
- Spencer L. Karpf
- Clint Patterson
- Leah Mirsch
- James Black
Council Member; City of San Dimas (2 elected)
- Casey Higgins
- Emmett G. Bader
- Tyler Fischella
- Dina Higgins
- John Ebiner
Council Member; City of Los Angeles District 4
- Charles Craig Jackson (write-in)
- Fred Mariscal
- Step Jones
- Rostom “Ross” Sarkissian
- Joan Pelico
- Carolyn Ramsay
- David Ryu
- Steve Veres
- Wally Knox
- Teddy Davis
- Tara Bannister
- Sheila Irani
- Tomás O’Grady
- Jay Beeber
- Mike Schaefer
Board Member; Los Angeles Unified School District; District 7
- Lydia A. Gutiérrez
- Richard A. Vladovic
- Euna Anderson
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 1
- Mark Isler
- Francesca Vega
- Andra Hoffman
- Maria “Sokie” Quintero
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 3
- Jozef Thomas “Joe” Essavi
- Sam Kbushyan
- Glenn Bailey
- Sydney Kamlager
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 5
- Steve Schulte
- Scott Svonkin
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 7
- Joyce Burrell Garcia
- John C. Burke
- Mike Fong
Board Member; Los Angeles Unified School District; District 3
- Tamar Galatzan
- Carl J. Petersen
- Filiberto Gonzalez
- Scott Mark Schmerelson
- Elizabeth Badger Bartels
- Ankur Patel
Mayor; City of Pasadena
- Don Morgan
- Jason Hardin
- Terry Tornek
- Bill Thomson
- Jacque Robinson
- Allen Shay
Board Member; Pasadena Unified School District; District 6
- Lawrence Torres
- Sandra Siraganian
Local Measures
Charter Amendment 1. New City Election Dates and Schedules;
One-Time Adjustment to Align Terms With New Election Dates by 2020 — City of Los Angeles (Charter Amendment – Majority Approval Required)
Shall the City Charter be amended to: 1) change the City’s primary and general election dates to June and November of even-numbered years beginning in 2020 so that City elections are held on the same dates as Federal and State elections; 2) provide that, in 2015 and 2017 only, candidates be elected for a term of 5/12 years to transition to the new election dates; 3) adjust vacancy election schedules and allow temporary appointments to fill vacant offices until an election is held; 4) enable initiative and referendum elections to be scheduled at either the next City or next State election; and 5) allow initiative proponents to withdraw their measure prior to scheduling an election?
Charter Amendment 2. New Election Dates and Schedules for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD);
One-Time Adjustment to Align Terms With New Election Dates By 2020 — City of Los Angeles (Charter Amendment – Majority Approval Required)
Shall the City Charter be amended to: 1) change the City’s primary and general election dates to June and November of even-numbered years beginning in 2020 so that City elections are held on the same dates as Federal and State elections; 2) provide that, in 2015 and 2017 only, candidates be elected for a term of 51A years to transition to the new election dates; 3) adjust vacancy election schedules and allow temporary appointments to fill vacant offices until an election is held; 4) enable initiative and referendum elections to be scheduled at either the next City or next State election; and 5) allow initiative proponents to withdraw their measure prior to scheduling an election?
Measure B. Harbor Village Plan — City of Redondo Beach (Initiative – Majority Approval Required)
Shall Redondo Beach phase-out power generation from a 50-acre Site currently occupied by the Redondo Beach Generating Plant and establish new land use and development standards for the Site by amending the General Plan, Coastal Land Use Plan, Harbor/Civic Center Specific Plan, Coastal Zoning, Zoning, and City Charter; with the new land use allowing 600 residential units; 85,000 square feet of commercial development; 250 hotel rooms and requiring 10 acres of public open space?
Measure O. Oil Drilling/Production Project — City of Hermosa Beach (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)
Shall E&B Corporation’s 34 well oil and gas drilling/production project at the City’s 555 Sixth Street maintenance yard be approved by 1) amending the General Plan and Municipal Code to exempt the project from the City’s oil drilling ban and repeal the restriction on City’s use of project royalties, 2) awarding a pipeline franchise to transport oil/gas underground, 3) approving a 34 year development agreement, and 4) determining that project financial benefits outweigh its unavoidable environmental impacts?
Measure P. Essential City Services and Public Safety Protection Measure — City of Paramount (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)
To preserve youth afterschool educational programs; 9-1-1 emergency response; neighborhood/school sheriff patrols and Sheriff’s station; drug/gang prevention; street repairs; seniors programs; parks and general services, shall the City of Paramount adopt an ordinance to update its utility users tax and increase the rate by two and a half percent; with all funds used only in Paramount, subject to independent financial audits, and requiring equal treatment of taxpayers regardless of technology?
Measure A-Carson. Extension of Utility Users’ Tax — City of Carson (Majority Approval Required)
Shall Ordinance 14-1544 be adopted extending the 2% Utility Users’ Tax on electricity & gas, and adding water, cable, telephone & cellular utilities to continue essential services, including police, park enforcement teams, gang intervention, youth recreation programs, graffiti removal, Meals on Wheels, senior programs & stroke recovery, sidewalk & street repair, city special events, staffing parks, and addressing blight caused by loss of redevelopment revenue, while exempting senior and low-income households?
Measure Azusa-A. Transient Occupancy Tax Increase — City of Azusa (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)
Shall an ordinance amending the Azusa Municipal Code be YES adopted to increase the rate of the Transient Occupancy (Room) Tax from 7.5% to 10%, and to apply the Tax to all rent charged by hotel operators, including online travel companies, for the transient occupancy of any hotel room, to help maintain general City services such as police and fire protection, street operations and maintenance, and library, parks and recreation services?
Measure Cerritos. Transient Occupancy Tax Increase — City of Cerritos (Ordinance – Majority Approval Required)
To assist in the recovery of expenses for providing general city services, including police, library and park services, shall the City of Cerritos adopt an ordinance increasing the existing Transient Occupancy Tax (which is a hotel bed tax) from a rate of six percent (6%) to twelve percent (12%), which is a rate closer to the average for other Southern California cities?
