YOUR COMPLETE VOTER GUIDE FOR SANTA MONICA - VOTE Local
2012 ELECTION GUIDE
Getting out the vote or any democracy to function properly there must be an informed electorate. Simply establishing the machinery for access to decision makers is not enough. But combing through the various measures and candidate statements to make sense of all the advertisements paid for by special interest groups can be difficult as we navigate our already demanding lives. That’s where the Santa Monica Daily Press comes in. As the fourth estate charged with holding those in power accountable, it is our responsibility and honor to provide accurate, unbiased information on the issues that impact Santa Monicans the most. With that in mind, we have created the 2012 Vote Local Election Guide. Mailed to every residence in the city, this comprehensive guide features questionnaires from candidates in all local races; a primer on how to register to vote, locate a polling place and vote by mail; and a concise review of Santa Monica-centric and statewide ballot measures. Everything you need all in one place. This election is critical. Voters will be tasked with deciding who should lead the country, whether or not to tax ourselves to protect public education and fund mass transit. Californians will have to ask themselves if they want to abolish the death penalty or label genetically-modified foods.
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In Santa Monica, there is the rare opportunity to re-shape the City Council following decisions by one incumbent to step down and another to run for higher office. Residents have expressed concerns about the rate of development and the worsening traffic conditions, the level of homelessness and cost of parking. And then there’s the Santa Monica Airport and the looming legal battle with the FAA in 2015 as residents demand that the facility be shut down or flights dramatically reduced to cut down on noise, pollution and possible accidents. For the school district, the stakes are high as well. There’s a $385 million bond measure on the ballot, which is intended to modernize classrooms and shore up old campuses, while the school board race could be a bellwether as it features three candidates from Malibu and three incumbents from Santa Monica. There are those in both communities who are fighting to keep the school district together as calls for separation intensify. Candidates from Malibu have supported a parting of the ways. Will a victory, or even a defeat, bring momentum? Our goal is to make a voter’s responsibility to shape their community easier when they head to the ballot box on Nov. 6. Read, register and exercise your right. — KEVIN HERRERA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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