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Dianne Hardisty: Hot-button ballot will turn out voters
| Thursday, Aug 7 2008 6:07 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Aug 8 2008 11:13 AM
My phone rang at work the day before Kern County supervisors were scheduled to consider placing a countywide 1-cent sales tax measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.
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The tax idea was proposed by the Kern County Taxpayers Association to raise $3 billion over 20 years for road construction, public safety and health programs. The voice on the other end of the line was a lot more enthusiastic about the scheme than the skeptical Californian editorial that had appeared the day before.
It's a unique opportunity, my friend enthused. There will never be another chance like this.
Ohh-kaaay, I said, the doubt in my voice obvious. But I was curious. This was no political novice I was talking to. He was a pretty savvy political hand. Why on earth he did he think this sales tax would fly in November?
Particularly special about this scheme was the proponents' intention to characterize the tax as a "general" tax that required only the approval of a majority of the voters. If money from the tax was tied to specific projects, it would require approval of two-thirds of the voters.
It was to be a general tax, but wink wink, it would be used to match federal road improvement funds, combat gangs, build fire and sheriff's stations, upgrade Kern Medical Center and other assorted "health and wellness issues." The idea was to convince voters to trust the government to do the right thing with the money. Yeah, that was going to happen.
My friend theorized that tight-fisted conservative voters would not turn out to vote in November because they dislike the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain. Voting Democrats and moderates would go along with the tax.
I fought back the urge to ask my friend what he had been smoking. Instead, I just told him he was crazy.
Aside from Kern County being a very RED county, few voters in any political party trust politicians local, state or federal enough to go along with the plan.
And no matter what your interest in the presidential race, there's plenty more on the ballot to drive voters — especially conservatives — to the polls. That is exactly how Republicans planned it.
It's a ploy we have seen in earlier campaigns. Karl Rove honed its edges in George W. Bush's successful 2004 reelection campaign. Stack the ballot with hot-button issues that are sure to turn out conservatives.
It's happening in states across the country. So far in California, voters will face 12 initiatives. Two more may be placed on the ballot by the Legislature.
Certain to drive voter interest will be Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. Proposition 4 attempts to establish a waiting period and require parental notification before a minor can terminate a pregnancy. Proposition 11 would take drawing political boundaries out of the Legislature's hands and give it to a 14-member commission long a Republican goal.
Other ballot measures certain to energize voters will be Proposition 1, which would provide funding for high-speed rail; Proposition 7, which requires development and use of renewable energy sources; Proposition 10, which provides financing for alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy sources; and Proposition 2, which defines the humane treatment of farm animals.
There are several criminal justice initiatives on the ballot as well, including Proposition 5, changing sentencing, parole and rehabilitation guidelines for nonviolent offenders; Proposition 6, increasing criminal penalties to combat crime and gangs; and Proposition 9, defining victims' rights as they relate to paroling offenders.
Proposition 3 is a bond measure to fund children's hospital construction, and Proposition 12 is a veterans' bond measure.
Voters also will decide many local races, including a hotly contested one for the 30th Assembly District seat to replace termed-out Assemblywoman Nicole Parra. Shafter Councilwoman Fran Florez, a Democrat, will face Republican Danny Gilmore of Hanford, a retired California Highway Patrol commander.
Several seats on city councils, including the Bakersfield City Council, as well as special districts and school boards, including the Kern High School District board, will be filled.
My friend's dream of slipping a 1-cent sales tax by apathetic voters in November was a pipe dream that Supervisors Mike Maggard, Ray Watson and Jon McQuiston refused to place the ballot.
E-mail Dianne Hardisty at dhardisty@bakersfield.com.