The Club will hold its final endorsement forum on Tuesday, September 23.
The process will be the same as the previous two forums For each race (listed below), we will open with short statements from each candidate, followed by a moderated Q&A from the audience, and concluding with brief (1-2 minutes) closing remarks. The Club members will then vote to endorse according to our endorsement rules (see page 3). If a candidate receives 60% of vote (voting members who are present) then they will receive the Club’s endorsement. If no candidate receives 60% of the vote, then there will be no endorsement. In addition, we will also take a straw poll in each race of any non-members present—the results of the straw poll should not in any way be construed as a replacement or proxy for the Club’s endorsement process.
We have invited all candidates to the endorsement forums however, the Club will only endorse Democrats.
The following races and candidates will be considered on Tuesday:
Kensington Fire Protection (2 seats)
Janice E. Kosel
Nina Harman
Michael Kassarjian
Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District (3 seats)
Alan (Len) Welsh
Steven B. Bates
Simon Brafman
Peter Conrad
Derek Suring
Kim Zvik
Rachelle Sherris-Watt
Vanessa Cordova
The Executive Board recommends the Club will vote to endorse (on consent) the following Democrats in State-wide elections
- Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown-Governor
- Gavin Newsome-Lieutenant Governor
- Alex Padilla-Secretary of State
- John Chiang-Treasurer
- Kamala D. Harris- Attorney General
- Dave Jones-Insurance Commissioner
- Tom Torlakson- Superintendent of Public Instruction (Non-partisan)
Proposition 1-Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.
Authorizes $11.14 billion in general obligation bonds for state water supply infrastructure projects, such as surface and groundwater storage; ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration; Bay-Delta Estuary sustainability; drinking water protection; water recycling and advanced water treatment technology; water supply management and conveyance; drought relief; wastewater treatment; emergency water supplies; and public water system improvements.
Appropriates money from the General Fund to pay off bonds.
Requires certain projects to provide matching funds from non-state sources in order to receive bond funds
Fiscal impact statement
Increased state bond repayment costs averaging $560 million annually over the next 40 years. Increased state costs, possibly in the low tens of millions of dollars annually, to operate and maintain projects built with these bond funds.
Savings to local governments related to water projects, likely averaging a couple hundred million dollars annually over the next few decades.
Proposition 2- Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Fund Act
Require the controller to deposit annually into the rainy day fund: (A) 1.5 percent of general fund revenues and (B) an amount equal to revenues derived from capital gains-related taxes in situations where such tax revenues are in excess of eight percent of general fund revenues. Deposits to the rainy day fund would begin by no later than October 1, 2015. Deposits would be made until the rainy day fund balance reaches an amount equal to 10 percent of general fund revenues.
Require that from the 2015-2016 fiscal year until the 2029-2030 fiscal year, 50 percent of the revenues that would have otherwise been deposited into the rainy day fund must be used to pay for fiscal obligations, such as budgetary loans and unfunded state-level pensions plans. Starting with the 2030-2031 fiscal year, up to 50 percent of revenues that would have otherwise been deposited into the rainy day fund may be used to pay specified fiscal obligations.
Permit the legislature to suspend or reduce deposits to the rainy day fund and withdraw for appropriation from the rainy day fund upon the governor declaring a budget emergency.
Create a distinct budget stabilization fund known as the “Proposition 98 Reserve” or Public School System Stabilization Account (PSSSA). The PSSA would be funded by a transfer of capital gains-related tax revenues in excess of eight percent of general fund revenues. Funds would be appropriated from the PSSSA when state support for K-14 education exceeds the allocation of general fund revenues, allocated property taxes and other available resources.