The other races

A mixed bag of candidates and two ballot initiatives

If you’re wondering whom to choose for state superintendent of public instruction, chances are you’re not alone. As you’ll see from this week’s Streetalk question—“Who are you voting for?”—the race to fill the post leading public schools isn’t weighing on a lot of minds outside of those in the education realm.

That’s true for several of the contests, actually. Historically, the primary has low voter turnout, and there are a number of campaigns that haven’t made much news around these parts. Here are the basics on the less talked about races as well as the two ballot initiatives.

Of course, many local incumbents are running unopposed. They include District Attorney Mike Ramsey, Butte County Superintendent Tim Taylor and Auditor-Controller David Houser. Kory Honea, currently the undersheriff, is running unopposed for sheriff.

One local office that is contested is that of the treasurer-tax collector. Peggy Moak, who was appointed back in February following the retirement of the former treasurer, was previously the assistant treasurer. She is in charge of, among other things, the county’s nearly $400 million investment portfolio. Endorsements include dozens of heavy-hitters, including all five Butte County supervisors, as well as former Supervisor Jane Dolan. Moak is squaring off against Kathleen Dwyer, a private-sector financial manager who has served as branch manager of several corporate banks.

As for state superintendent: The candidates are Democratic incumbent Tom Torlakson, a former Bay Area assemblyman who insiders say supports unions. He’s challenged by anti-Common Core Republican teacher Lydia Gutierrez and Democrat Marshall Tuck, a 40-year-old Harvard Business School grad who wants to cull the schools of weak teachers by loosening employee protections.

Gov. Jerry Brown, aka Edmund G. Brown, is facing more than a dozen challengers, including activist Cindy Sheehan of the Peace and Freedom party. Gavin Newsom, incumbent lieutenant governor, is seeking a second term in a field of eight total candidates. The top-two vote getters for each race will go on to the November general election. The same is true in the contests for state controller (six candidates), insurance commissioner (three), treasurer (three) and secretary of state (eight) as well as all other statewide races.

Incumbent Attorney General Kamala Harris, a Democrat, is looking to defend her post against six other candidates. And Republican George Runner, current member of the State Board of Equalization, and his challenger for District 1, Democrat Chris Parker, will square off again in November despite being the only two in that race.

State Sen. Jim Nielsen, the (supposedly) Gerber-based Republican lawmaker, goes up against Democrat CJ Jawahar, a Roseville-based engineer and teacher, who’s endorsed by the California Teachers Association and Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Nielsen was a no-show at the League of Women Voters’ recent series of candidates’ forums in Chico.

In the Assembly, District 1 incumbent Brian Dahle, a Republican farmer based in Bieber, is looking for a second term. He faces Democrat Brigham Sawyer Smith, a student.

One of the more interesting primary races is that of the 3rd Assembly District, now occupied by Dan Logue. He’s termed out at the end of the year and running for Congress in a more left-leaning district against veteran politician John Garamendi, a Democrat. That leaves newcomer Ryan Schohr, a farmer and Republican, and Republican James Gallagher, a Sutter County supervisor, to vie for the district against Democrat Jim Reed, an attorney with name recognition in the North State.

Reed’s run twice for Congress, in 2010 and 2012, first against Wally Herger and then against Herger’s successor, Doug LaMalfa. In the latter contest, after being among the top-two vote-getters in the primary, Reed got endorsements from former opponents Gregory Cheadle, a Republican, and Gary Oxley, an independent. It wasn’t enough, however, to overtake LaMalfa in the general election.

The primary also includes two ballot initiatives.

The first, Proposition 41, asks California voters to authorize the sale of $600 million in general obligation bonds to build affordable multifamily housing for struggling veterans and their families. According to impartial analysis from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, about half of the funds would be earmarked to construct housing for extremely low-income veterans—those making about $14,000 a year or less.

The second, Proposition 42, eliminates state reimbursements for the costs local governments incur to comply with laws ensuring public access to meetings and records of government officials. Should the measure pass, the requirement to comply with the laws on access to records and meetings—the California Public Records Act and Ralph M. Brown Act, respectively—would be added to the state Constitution. At the same time, it would eliminate the state’s obligation to repay local governments for their related costs. Prop. 42 is supported by the First Amendment Coalition, an advocate of government transparency.