| By: Paul S. Cilwa | Viewed: 4/23/2024 Posted: 10/15/2014 |
Page Views: 2427 | |
| Topics: #Chandler #Arizona #Elections2014 | |||
| In which I reveal who I voted for in the early elections and why. | |||
Well, it's that time of year again…time to vote in the state ("midterm") elections. As I did 4 years ago, I am pleased to announce I've done my homework and made my choices…and here's what I chose.
I live in Chandler, Arizona; if you live in a different Arizona town, your ballot may contain different entries for local/city selections; and, obviously, if you live in another state, none of this will apply to you at all.
Please vote! The Republicans keep saying (over and over) that midterm elections aren't important, that there's no difference between Democrats and Republicans ("they're all corrupt!"), and that nothing will make a change anyway. They say that to convince us to not bother voting, because they know the only way they can win is if the Democrats in Arizona don't vote. Don't let them get away with it! Vote!
Partisan Ballot
I'll make this easy. I voted for every Democrat, and a couple of Libertarians where no Democrats were running. There are a couple of races in which a Republican was running unopposed; I omitted voting in those cases.
Federal
US Representative in Congress
The incumbent is the evil Matt Salmon, who contributed to the infamous government shutdown last year, and probably another one in the near future.
Vote for: James Woods
State
Governor
Thank the gods that Jan Brewer isn't running for re-election, though she's already done a lot of damage to our state. Yes, giving credit where it's due, she allowed the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") to be implemented in Arizona (where it's a huge success). She also vetoed SB1040, which would have enshrined homophobia in state law. (She vetoed it because practically every corporation, including the Super Bowl, warned they would avoid doing business in Arizona if it were not vetoed, but still.) But those two good things are not enough to make me want to vote for her recommendation.
Vote for: Fred Duval
State Senator, District 17
Vote for: Kristie O'Brien
State Representative, District 17
Vote for: Danielle Lee
Secretary of State
Vote for: Terry Goddard
Attorney General
Vote for: Felecia Rotellini
Treasurer
The Republican, Jeff Dewit, is running unopposed. I left this race blank, as I wouldn't to inflate the numbers and make the Republicans think they'd gotten a mandate.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Laughing at the idea of ever entrusting a Republican with anything to do with education…!
Vote for: David Garcia
State Mine Inspector
The Republican, Joe Hart, is running unopposed.
Corporation Commissioner
We must vote for any two.
Vote for: Sandra Kennedy and Joe Holway
County
County Assessor
No Democrats are running. I chose the Libertarian as the lesser of two evils.
Vote for: Becca Kielsky
Clerk of the Superior Court
No Democrats are running. I chose the Libertarian, not only because he isn't a Republican, but also because he has a truly awesome name. I mean, Skyler Farr! How cool is that?
Vote for: Skyler Farr
Justice of the Peace
The Republican is running unopposed.
Constable
The Republican is running unopposed.
Nonpartisan Ballot
Proposition 479
This proposes to raise the number of consecutive terms a councilmember may serve from 2 to 3. Yeah, right.
Vote: No
Judges
Arizona has an odd way of dealing with judges. They get appointed by the Governor, but afterwards must receive more votes for retention than not. I looked up every one of them, and my votes are mostly based on which governor appointed them.
| Office | Incumbent | Retain? |
|---|---|---|
| Justice of the Supreme Court | Scott Bales | Yes |
| Robert Brutinel | No | |
| Judges of the Court of Appeals, Division 1 | Randall Howe | No |
| Diane Johnsen | Yes | |
| Samuel Thumma | No | |
| Judges of the Superior Court | Mark F. Aceto | Yes |
| Aimee L. Anderson | Yes | |
| Arthur T. Anderson | No | |
| Brad H. Astrowsky | No | |
| Cynthia J. Bailey | No | |
| Janet E. Barton | Yes | |
| Edward W. Bassett | Yes | |
| Dawn M. Bergin | No | |
| James T. Blomo | No | |
| Mark H. Brain | No | |
| Roger E. Broadman | No | |
| Bill Brotherton | No | |
| Katherine M. Cooper | No | |
| Janice K. Crawford | No | |
| David O. Cunanan | No | |
| Norman J. Davis | Yes | |
| Sally Schneider Duncan | Yes | |
| Boyd W. Dunn | No | |
| Alfred M. Fenzel | Yes | |
| Dean M. Fink | Yes | |
| George H. Foster | Yes | |
| J. Richard Gama | No | |
| Warren Granville | No | |
| Hugh Hegyi | Yes | |
| Michael John Herrod | No | |
| Bethany G. Hicks | No | |
| Carey Lee Snyder Hyatt | No | |
| Brian K. Ishikawa | Yes | |
| Joseph C. Kreamer | Yes | |
| Daniel G. Martin | Yes | |
| Rosa Mroz | Yes | |
| Sam J. Myers | Yes | |
| Benjamin R. Norris | Yes | |
| Karen L. O'Connor | No | |
| Susanna C. Pineda | Yes | |
| Jay M. Polk | No | |
| Gerald J. Porter | No | |
| John Christian Rea | Yes | |
| Peter C. Reinstein | No | |
| Emmet J. Ronan | No | |
| Joan M. Sinclair | No | |
| Pamela Hearn Svoboda | No | |
| David M. Talamante | No | |
| Danielle J. Viola | No | |
| Randall H. Warner | Yes | |
| Joseph C. Welty | Yes |
Proposition 122
This proposal is designed specifically to allow Arizona to ignore any Federal laws the Arizona politicians don't like. It is, itself, almost certainly unconstitutional.
Vote: No
Proposition 303
If you happen to come down with an incurable disease, and conventional treatments won't help, this proposition would require your insurance company to cover alternative, natural, and experimental treatments.
Vote: Yes
Proposition 304
This proposal would give state legislators an $11,000 a year raise. Ask me again later, guys, when you've raised the minimum wage and increased jobs in our state.
Vote: NO!!!!
Proposition 480
This is a bond proposal to raise money for our health care infrastructure, which is all but third-world quality in its present state.
Vote: Yes