County Republicans meet, state parties chart opposing paths on Nov. 3 ballot

This Sunday, Oct. 11, the Republican Party of Mariposa County will be holding a pancake breakfast. The event will be held at the Masonic Lodge, 5154 Jones Street in Mariposa from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The breakfast fare will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. The cost is $15 per person, or two meals for $25. Children under 10 years of age are free.

Contact Richard Westfall at westfall@sti.net or (I209) 347-0808 for more details.

Both the California Democratic and Republican Parties has outlined their ballot selections on both candidates and propositions for the upcoming midterm election on Nov. 3.

Now that it’s “voting month,” here are the suggestions of the two parties, which probably only matter if you’re a “party person.”

California’s Democratic and Republican party organizations have issued competing road maps for the Nov. 3 general election, endorsing opposing slates for statewide office and taking sharply different positions on many of the 14 propositions before voters.

The recommendations are party endorsements, not official voting instructions. Voters may support any candidate or position regardless of registration, and the state parties generally leave city, county and other local contests to local party committees.

Democratic Party recommendations

The California Democratic Party endorsed Xavier Becerra for governor and Fiona Ma for lieutenant governor. Its statewide slate also includes Secretary of State Shirley Weber, Controller Malia Cohen, Treasurer Eleni Kounalakis, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Insurance Commissioner Ben Allen and Superintendent of Public Instruction Richard Barrera.

For the Board of Equalization, Democrats endorsed Nelson Esparza in District 1, Sally Lieber in District 2, Mike Gipson in District 3 and Tom Umberg in District 4. In contests affecting the Mariposa area, the party endorsed Michael Masuda in the 5th Congressional District and Jaron Brandon in the 4th State Senate District. The party’s published statewide list does not show an endorsement in the 8th Assembly District.

On the statewide measures, the Democratic Party recommends “yes” votes on Propositions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 37, 38 and 40. It recommends “no” votes on Propositions 39, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45.

Republican Party recommendations

The California Republican Party endorsed Steve Hilton for governor and Gloria Romero for lieutenant governor. Its statewide recommendations also include Don Wagner for secretary of state, Herb Morgan for controller, Jennifer Hawks for treasurer, Michael Gates for attorney general and Sonja Shaw for superintendent of public instruction. The party’s published list does not name a candidate for insurance commissioner.

Republicans endorsed Shannon Grove for the Board of Equalization’s District 1 seat and Denis Bilodeau in District 4; the published state-party list does not show endorsements in Districts 2 or 3. In the races affecting Mariposa County, the party endorsed Tom McClintock in the 5th Congressional District, Alexandra Duarte in the 4th State Senate District and David Tangipa in the 8th Assembly District.

On the propositions, the Republican Party is neutral on Propositions 1 and 37. It recommends “no” votes on Propositions 2, 3, 4, 5, 40, 44 and 45, and “yes” votes on Propositions 38, 39, 41, 42 and 43.

Where the parties agree — and where they do not

The two organizations agree on Proposition 38, with both recommending a “yes” vote, and on Propositions 44 and 45, with both recommending “no.” Their positions diverge on Propositions 2, 3, 4, 5, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43. The Republican Party took no position on Propositions 1 and 37, both of which Democrats support.

Among the most visible contrasts is Proposition 39, which would add identification requirements for in-person and mail voting. Republicans support the measure, while Democrats oppose it. The parties also split over Proposition 40, a one-time tax on certain individuals and trusts, and Propositions 41 and 42, which would restrict specified state taxes. Democrats support Proposition 40 and oppose Propositions 41 and 42; Republicans take the reverse positions.

Because district lines and local ballots differ, voters should compare these party recommendations with the official state voter information guide and the sample ballot issued by their county elections office before marking their ballots. Polls close at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.